Tigers Pull Out Fourth Quarter Win

PRAIRIE GROVE -- The turning point in Prairie Grove's 24-14 second-round playoff victory over Stuttgart Friday came on defense.

Dontranell Robinson intercepted a tipped Prairie Grove pass stopping a Tiger drive with 4:36 left in the third quarter. On the next play David Johnson ripped off a 44-yard run to the Tiger 36. Colin Bryant chased him down from behind and the touchdown-saving effort loomed huge in deciding the outcome.

Backed up by a late-hit penalty the Tiger defense dug in at the shadow of their own goal line defending a first-and-10 just outside the 10. Stuttgart's Derrick Amos ran the ball to the Tiger four but Ethan Guenther stopped a run on second down, then fellow defensive lineman Demarkus Coopers (6-1, 247) nailed the Ricebirds' big back Kirk Hughes (6-0, 190) for a one-yard loss. On fourth-and-four, Cooper and the Tigers again penetrated the Ricebird backfield and Trevor King recovered a fumble.

"Wow, that defensive play by DeMarkus, I don't know where that came from," said Prairie Grove coach Danny Abshier. "DeMarkus does that every once in awhile where he does his only little thing. Sometimes he gets chewed out for it and sometimes it's huge, just like it was right there."

As the fourth quarter began, Prairie Grove trailed 14-9. A drive bogged down near midfield, but the Tigers had the wind at their backs. J.D. Elder's 56-yard punt went into the end zone for a touchback. Stuttgart took over at their own 20 nursing a 5-point lead with 9:07 left in the contest. Hayden Black stopped a run on first down, then a Stuttgart receiver dopped a pass on second down. A holding penalty sent the Ricebirds in reverse on third down. On a replay of third down the Cooper nearly recorded the Tigers' second safety of the game, but forward progress was marked at the two-foot line forcing a punt.

Prairie Grove took over at the Stuttgart 42, but faced fourth down-and-four. Prairie Grove quarterback J.D. Elder, who had been under pressure, thown a pick and taken several sacks in the third quarter, looked cool as a cucumber in leading the team to victory.

"On the sacks we didn't execute certain things," J.D. Elder said. "Once we fixed those things our receivers were coming open and that made it easy."

J.D. Elder fearlessly completed a pass to Colin Bryant against double coverage and the 6-1, 172-pound senior did the rest bouncing off a hit and racing into the end zone for the go-ahead 36-yard touchdown. Garrett Heltmes ran for a 2-point conversion giving Prairie Grove its first lead since late in the second quarter.

Prairie Grove attempted an onside kick, but Donta White fielded the ball and tried to run. Clay Spinks tackled him at the Tiger 47. Following an 5-yard penalty for lining up offsides, Stuttgart tried three straight passes. Spinks blitzed forcing an incompletion, then Cooper's pressure did the same. On fourth-down Spinks sacked Tim Johnson for a 15-yard loss.

"I just wanted to hit," Spinks said. "I had to take a good angle at him cause I knew he'd take off outside and be gone. It was our last game on our home field. I wanted to win. Stuttgart was good. We just played a little harder."

The Tigers sealed the game on J.D. Elder's 15-yard pass to Colin Bryant on fourth-and-7 with 1:07 to go. Ben Beason kicked the P.A.T. giving the Tigers a 24-14 lead. Heltemes recovered a muffed-kick allowing Prairie Grove to run out the clock.

Stuttgart scored first on David Johnson's 1-yard run, but failed to convert. Prairie Grove took a 7-6 lead on J.D. Elder's 18-yard touchdown toss to Stone Bryant, Colin's twin brother.

"I'm blessed to have them as my receivers," J.D. Elder said. "Growing up in junior high I remember they were smaller than everybody else. They've grown up. They've done a great job on both the defensive and offensive sides of the ball."

Spinks recorded a safety in the second quarter when he sacked Tim Johnson in the end zone. Stuttgart regained the lead on Hughes' 3-yard run, followed by his 2-point run with 2:06 on the second quarter clock.