PRAIRIE GROVE -- Physically out-matched a game Prairie Grove squad competed as best they could, holding No. 1 Warren to seven first-half points before eventually succumbing, 35-13, in Friday's Class 4A quarterfinal.
Warren's top player, junior wide receiver Treylon Burks (6-3, 215), a widely-sought Division I recruit, showed why rushing for 239 yards and 4 touchdowns on 19 carries out of the shotgun at quarterback. Last season, Burks caught 8 passes for 202 yards, including touchdown receptions of 38 and 40 yards against the Tigers. Burks, who came in with more than 2,000 all-purpose yards this season as a receiver, kick returner, and quarterback, started Friday's contest at wide receiver.
Warren 35, Prairie Grove 13
Warren^7^0^14^14^—^35
Prairie Grove^0^0^7^6^—^13
First quarter
Warren — Treylon Burks 8-yard run (Jesus Tinoco kick), 3:05.
Third quarter
Warren — Treylon Burks 1-yard run (Jesus Tinoco kick), 9:18.
Warren — Treylon Burks 65-yard run (Jesus Tinoco kick), 10:27.
Prairie Grove — Dustin Burton 4-yard run (Ben Beason kick), 1:03.
Fourth quarter
Warren — Treylon Burks 69-yard run (Jesus Tinoco kick), 11:50.
Warren — Treylon Burks 59-yard interception return (Jesus Tinoco kick), 10:47.
Prairie Grove — Demarkus Cooper 5-yard pass from J.D. Elder (run failed), 6:42.
"No doubt about it he's hard to guard, he's a good player," said Prairie Grove coach Danny Abshier.
After Prairie Grove forced a three-and-out on Warren's first possession, he shifted to quarterback from whence he dominated the game. He had 3 carries for 29 yards, and capped an 8-play, 66-yard Lumberjack scoring drive with an 8-yard touchdown run to put Warren ahead, 7-0.
Prairie Grove wasted a golden opportunity to answer after marching 51 yards in 14 plays to Warren's 17 before losing a fumble. They converted twice on fourth down with halfback Anthony Johnson (19 carries, 87 yards) rushing 4 yards on fourth-and-one from Warren's 33. The scenario repeated on the next series with senior Tiger quarterback J.D. Elder throwing complete to Jake Watson on fourth-and-9 only to have the offensive foray undone by an untimely turnover. J.D. Elder finished 11-of-22 for 133 yards, 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions. Two of the picks showcased athletism by Lumberjack defensive backs.
Following the fumble recovery, Warren drove 60 yards before missing a 41-yard field goal with 3:39 remaining in the first half. Garrett Heltemes jump-started a Tiger drive with a 26 yard run up the middle. Facing third-and-nine from the Tiger 48, J.D. Elder passed to Colin Bryant for a 22-yard gain. Both teams took time-out with the Tigers looking at fourth-and-five from the Lumberjack 23. Finding nobody open, J.D. Elder tucked the ball in and ran for the first. He completed a pass to Demarkus Cooper to the five, but Warren stopped Johnson at the one and stuffed another run as time expired in the first half.
Burks played like a one-man gang in the third quarter. He carried six straight times for 41 yards and a touchdown giving the Lumberjacks a two-score lead of 14-0. Three plays later Keemontrae Mcknight's acrobatic interception gave the ball back to Warren. Burks covered 81 yards in three consecutive carries, breaking off a 65-yard touchdown run for a 21-0 Warren lead with 6:11 to go in the third.
Prairie Grove refused to lay down and quit. The Tigers gathered themselves and went 70 yards in 13 plays, scoring on Dustin Burton's 4-yard carry on a wingback reverse. Ben Beason kicked the extra-point and the Tigers had life, although they trailed 21-7 with 1:03 showing in the third.
On the first play of the fourth, Burks ripped off a 69-yard touchdown romp against a tired Tiger defense. The game got out of reach when he intercepted a pass that fell short as J.D. Elder was hit while throwing. Burks ran the pick back 59 yards for a touchdown and Warren upped its advantage to 35-7.
Prairie Grove mounted an impressive 9-play, 89-yard touchdown drive featuring Johnson's 29 yard run and a pair of Heltmes runs, sandwiched around an illegal participation penalty against Warren. Heltmes gained 26 and 14 yards on his rushes. J.D. Elder passed to Cooper for a 5-yard touchdown. The extra-point attempt went awry leaving the Tigers with a 35-13 deficit and 6:42 to work with. They couldn't convert an onside kick, but Cooper forced and recovered a fumble. The Tigers' last chance was turned back by Mcknight's leaping interception.
The Class of 2018 finished with 36 wins in three years, the most in school history. Their overall record was 36-5. They won two conference titles outright and shared the 2017 league crown with Pea Ridge. As sophomores many played key roles in helping Prairie Grove make its first appearance in the State 4A finals, a game which the Tigers led 20-19 at halftime before eventually losing 39-20 to Nashville. Last season, Prairie Grove lost only once, 48-28, to Warren in the semifinals. The Class of 2018 finished with a 7-3 playoff record.
Abshier said the last game is always emotional for seniors and the loss kind of hurt. Yet, overall he desribes the campaign as a lot of fun and a good season.
"I feel like we didn't play our best against Warren, but Warren had something to do with that," Abshier said. "We had some good times, we created some memories."
Fond memories that will live long in the hearts of Tiger fans.
Sports on 11/29/2017