HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK No. 2 Dardanelle at No. 16 Dover. The winner gets the No. 1 playoff seed and at least a share of the conference title. Dardanelle hasnt won a league championship since 1987, while Dover shared the 5AAA championship in 2002. Dardanelle hasnt been challenged this fall, beating every opponent by at least three touchdowns. Sand Lizard senior T.J. Tucker has 96 carries for 1,055 yards and 13 touchdowns this fall, while senior quarterback Kristian Thompson has 76 carries for 708 yards and 11 scores. Thompson has completed 55 of 84 passes (65 percent) for 1,163 yards and 15 TDs. Thompson attended Pulaski Robinson as a sophomore then moved to Dardanelle. He returned to Robinson last week, passing for 217 yards and four TDs and running for a pair of scores. “They stretch the field with playmakers,” Dover coach Greg Smith says. Senior Parker Witt (22 catches, 404 yards and two TDs) and junior Chris Kershner (23 catches, 652 yards and 10 TDs) create mismatches on the perimeter. Senior Easton Carter (64 tackles) and junior Daniel Craig (68 tackles) spearhead a defense that gives up 12 points a week. Dovers seven wins this season are more than the previous three years combined. The Pirates only loss was this season was 14-0 at Clinton in Week 6, and the game was delayed more than an hour because of lightening. “They have a great scheme for their personnel,” Dardanelle coach Josh Price says. “They want to keep the score in the teens or low 20s. They want to shorten the game by playing their kind of ball, run it and milk the clock.” Junior tailback Luke Price has rushed for more than 1,000 yards this season behind a veteran line featuring senior right tackle Justin Smith (6-5, 260), junior right guard David Beavers (6-2, 280), senior center Lucas Warhurst (5-10, 270), senior left guard Ty Morphis (6-3, 280), senior left tackle Tyler Abel (6-2, 275) and junior tight end Jacob Janssen (6-1, 190). Senior receiver Keeton Shaw proves an efficient receiver. Senior outside linebacker Cort Griffin paces a defense that yields 16 points a game.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 21:33:56 +0000