PEARCY -- Two excellent Lake Hamilton scoring chances were stymied in the first half, and Alma's defense chipped in the eventual deciding touchdown as the Airdales ended the Wolves' offbeat season with a 14-7 first-round Class 6A playoff win Friday night at Bank of the Ozarks Field.
Alma, 6-5, had limited offensive success against an always-game Lake Hamilton defense, but struck for Evan Burris' 24-yard touchdown pass to Heath Friddle late in the first quarter. The Airdales held Lake Hamilton twice on fourth-and-goal from the one in the second period, and led 14-0 after Curtis Lloyd returned a fumble 19 yards for a score in the third.
The Wolves, 6-4, finally scored on an eight-yard Jess Ledbetter touchdown pass to Austin Phillips with 2:26 left, but Alma's Landon Brigance covered the ensuing onside kick. The outcome was assured when Noah Dotson went eight yards on fourth and one with 1:32 left and Lake Hamilton out of timeouts.
Alma plays at Jonesboro in the quarterfinals. The Hurricanes had a first- round bye.
A big play on offense and pair of goal-line stands put Alma ahead 7-0 at haltime.
Both offenses struggled until Alex Beneux came in at quarterback for Alma on its first possession. Running blasts, Beneux gained 41 yards on four carries. He was stopped for no gain from Lake Hamilton's 24 by end Darius Cooper on a fifth-straight try, starter Alex Burris coming back in and finding Heath Friddle uncovered over the middle for a touchdown at the first quarter's 1:35 mark.
The Wolves controlled the rest of the half, but had nothing to show for it after getting stopped at Alma's one twice on fourth down. The second time, the Airdales stopped four runs from the one.
The first treat came after Dallas Baldwin's 49-yard kickoff return to Alma's 33, Jess Ledbetter passing 19 yards to Bryce Briggs for first down at the nine. Three-yard runs by Josh Nazario and Jarred Woodall runs and a penalty made it fourth down at the one before Jonathan Buss was stopped a half-yard short.
The Wolves averted disaster after Alma's Darek Archer recovered a botched handoff at Lake Hamilton's 22, linebacker Skyler Cox intercepting Burris in the end zone on third down from the eight.
Nazario got loose on the following drive, breaking 25- and 26-yard runs to Alma's 29, Ledbetter hit Buss for 18 yards on the next play, and Nazario raced for eight to the three. A Ledbetter sneak made it first down at the one, but Buss, Ledbetter and Nazario were stopped inches short of scoring before Brock Daily dropped Nazario for a half-yard loss on fourth down with 6.8 seconds until the break.
Sports on 11/15/2014