Lake Hamilton and Texarkana have played a lot of big games, but probably none like this one.
Barring an upset later in the season, the loser of tonight's matchup at Texarkana remains winless and likely headed out of the Class 6A playoffs. Both are 0-4 overall after conference-opening defeats, Lake Hamilton falling 35-28 to Sheridan.
The only probable victory the rest of the season for either team is against Little Rock Hall.
"They're all big right now," Lake Hamilton coach Jerry Clay said.
Texarkana beat Lake Hamilton for the 2007 6A title after losing to the Wolves in the regular season. Lake Hamilton beat El Dorado for the 2008 title and led the Wildcats for most of the 2011 final before losing.
Clay attributes Texarkana's rough start to a rugged schedule capped by last week's 40-0 loss to 6A top-ranked Pine Bluff. The Razorbacks' nonconference setbacks were to crosstown rival Texas High (28-14), also near-by Liberty-Eylau, Texas (66-21) and perennial Texas power Marshall (56-28).
"They've been playing on a different level," Clay said.
It doesn't get easier for either team soon. Texarkana's next three games are against El Dorado, Benton and Little Rock Parkview; the Wolves' next four foes are Pine Bluff, El Dorado, Benton and Parkview.
Lake Hamilton plays tonight and next week without two-way starter Jarrod Woodall. The senior slot receiver/safety left last week's game with a concussion.
Clay said Woodall will be replaced on defense by sophomore Juan Jackson, junior Jacob Porter seeing time at slot receiver. Porter also is a regular at linebacker, helping fill in for injured classmate Noah Rengstorf.
Staying on the injury front, Clay is unsure of No. 1 tailback/cornerback Johnathan Buss' status. Buss missed this week's first three practices with a sprained ankle, junior receiver Ramar Easter taking over at tailback.
Clay has been hoping to get Easter, a 2014 all-state cornerback, more involved on offense.
"We're not getting the ball enough to him as a receiver. He's one of our best athletes," Clay said.
"On the bright side our offensive line is healthy. It's played well every game."
The Wolves have won six of seven against Texarkana since the Razorbacks, led by future Arkansas Razorback Dennis Johnson, won 13-0 at War Memorial Stadium in 2007. Last year's 27-16 victory was Lake Hamilton's closest call, Texarkana winning 21-18 in 2009.
Pine Bluff held Texarkana to 95 yards, scoring all of its points by halftime and with the clock running continuously in the last two quarters.
Texarkana runs the spread offense, Keaundre Banks quarterbacking the last two weeks.
"The quarterback is very athletic," Clay said. "He's a good runner, (and) they try to throw the ball."
Banks passed for 207 yards and ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries against Marshall, his second TD run pulling the Razorbacks to 35-28 in the fourth quarter.
"When your quarterback is a runner it gives you an extra runner and blocker," Clay said. "That's really what the spread has done; it gives you an extra runner."
Senior Billy Sprayberry threw for 222 yards against Liberty-Eylau but had only eight completions in 23 attempts. Classmate Jalen Moss has also taken snaps.
Junior running back Kaviron Oliver rushed for 182 yards on 20 attempts against Marshall.
Turnovers and penalties have been costly for Lake Hamilton. Coaches disputed some of last week's calls, including one for an illegal block that erased a Buss touchdown run.
But, Clay said, "You have to overcome those. You have to keep playing."
Mistakes and a faulty passing game have haunted the Wolves' offense. Last week's 28 points were the most they have scored, topping their 21 in a 14-point loss to Malvern.
Quarterback Nash Teague was 4 for 10 for only 23 yards against Sheridan.
"We're going to have to throw the ball more effectively," Clay said. "We're going to continue to work on it. We have to be more balanced, and we're capable of it. We can do it."
Sports on 10/02/2015