With two weeks remaining in the regular reason, Prairie Grove postured themselves to win a 4A-1 Conference championship by defeats of Pea Ridge (42-21) Oct. 14 and Gentry (62-28) Friday.
The Pea Ridge win marked the third week in-a-row, Prairie Grove (7-0, 4-0 4A-1) faced a previously-unbeaten conference foe and came out on top, with victories over Gravette (4-3, 2-2) and Shiloh Christian (6-1, 3-1) (45-15) leading into the confrontation with Pea Ridge (6-1, 3-1). These three schools represent the upper echelon of 4A-1 football. All have first class stadiums and strong programs, which traditionally qualify for the state playoffs. Pea Ridge has swelled in enrollment and listed 74 players on their varsity roster compared to 47 for Prairie Grove. After the win over Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove head coach Danny Abshier said he is really proud of the Tigers for being able to successfully run the gauntlet like they have against the top teams in the league.
"They jell because, out of 47 players on our team, over 20 make straight A's," Abshier said. "They take care of business for me. If I tell them something needs done, they do it."
There is no question Prairie Grove was motivated to perform during the three week stretch of a loaded conference schedule. In rapid succession, the Tigers have beaten the best teams they figure to face in the 4A-1 this season. There was no letdown in Friday's 62-28 road win at Gentry, priming the pump for chance to capture a first-round bye with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Pioneers' final two touchdowns came with mostly Tiger reserves on the field and Gentry may have inadvertently helped Prairie Grove's special teams prepare for things they could possibly see in the postseason.
Gentry attempted a field goal and tried several onside kicks. The Pioneers recovered one in the second quarter and had another go out-of-bounds bringing that aspect of the game to the minds of Prairie Grove players. Gentry also implemented a gadget play on a kickoff return. After Prairie Grove's Aaron Preston ripped off a 47-yard touchdown run in the closing seconds, Gentry's kickoff return featured four laterals. Senior Colton Little fielded the kick near the left hashmark and before he could be tackled, pitched the ball backwards to Cole Cripps, who was cut off and pitched the ball to Myles Mcferron, who then passed the ball to a teammate at the right hashmark. As the Tigers tried to track pigskin, Cripps wound up with the football a second time. The senior saw an opening and came back to the left. He crossed midfield was pushed out-of-bounds by John David Elder near the Tiger 42. One can bet the Tiger coaches are looking at film, breaking down that play and using the experience as a teachable moment for their kick coverage.
Prairie Grove has an opportunity to wrap up the conference championship with a win against Berryville at home this week. Critics, who expect the Tigers to take the night off may have underestimated Prairie Grove's desire. Winning both of the last two regular season games will allow Prairie Grove to claim another undefeated season in conference play and a 10-0 regular season mark, something they didn't do last year. Should they accomplish that, the Tigers will have a week off as the winner of the 4A-1. The playoffs are structured this year, so the 4A-1 champion will enjoy a first-round bye, which is like winning a game that doesn't have to be played.
There is a benefit to winning a conference championship and taking a top seed that cannot be ignored or taken lightly. Prairie Grove will be home for all playoff games except the state finals which are played on a neutral field -- should they continue to advance. In the playoffs, teams are tested every week, regardless; so the 2016 playoff structure may work more to the Tigers' advantage than not.
Nobody expects getting back to the state finals and finding a way to win that game to be easy. Neither is such an achievement out of the realm of possibility. All things are possible to those who believe and the 2016 Prairie Grove Tigers believe in themselves and their coaches.
Sports on 10/26/2016