MALVERN -- Though it could not draw a line in the sand on the rain-soaked artificial turf of Claude Mann Stadium, Fountain Lake's football team can still dream of making sand castles.
Overcoming four straight losses in Class 4A's heavyweight division, the Cobras positioned themselves as a late-season spoiler if not a playoff contender with a 35-0 victory over Malvern Friday night.
In practical terms, Fountain Lake (4-4, 1-4) escaped the 4A-7 cellar with Malvern (0-8, 0-4) occupying the basement after its second-straight shutout defeat. On the field that Madre Hill, Harold Harris, Tony Ollison, Keith Traylor and others distinguished themselves for championship-caliber Leopard teams, Fountain Lake scored in every quarter against an opponent that had won their four previous meetings by an average score of 50-25. These Leopards -- in the silver anniversary of the school's 1993 championship squad -- have been outscored, 291-51.
Second-year Fountain Lake head coach J.D. Plumlee, a former Malvern aide, said the Cobras showed the same sharp edge in practice last week. Thus came reassurance after four conference losses by an aggregate score of 170-34, a 44-0 home game against previously winless Arkadelphia (3-5, 3-2) included.
"This tonight was because of the seniors," Plumlee said after congratulating his squad. "They've taken ownership of the football team and know that we still have a chance to make the playoffs."
Senior Andrew Roberson, for one, played like someone who wants to extend the season after Friday's home game with Haskell Harmony Grove (5-3, 3-2) and a Nov. 2 trip to Ashdown (3-5, 1-4).
Roberson scored two touchdowns less than four minutes into the third quarter, impersonating New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. with a one-handed interception he returned 20 yards for a score. That followed his 25-yard touchdown burst after Fountain Lake recovered an onside kick to start the second half and began padding a 14-0 lead.
Three plays into the game, Roberson's first interception resulted in a 30-yard drive that saw the senior crash 12 yards to the 8-yard line. Junior quarterback Ian Lacy later plunged four yards for the score.
Imagine what Roberson might accomplish if he were taller than his listed 5 feet, 10 inches or, in present context, fully healthy.
"He's had a banged-up knee that not many people know about," Plumlee said, "and about two weeks ago, he had a rib issue."
Besides roaming free in the Malvern backfield, Colton Simpson, who along with fellow senior Joe Murphy provided steady linebacking, scored two touchdowns. Simpson went over from four yards out with 3:17 left in the half to make it 14-0 after Lacy's long pass to yet another senior, Ahman Johnson.
Simpson got the final score after Lacy and Johnson collaborated on a fourth-quarter strike, the Cobras' fifth successful conversion making it 35-0 and setting the running clock in motion.
Malvern, on a rainy homecoming night, started with an interception, a fumble and a punt nearly blocked. This represented a segue from a 42-0 road loss to Joe T. Robinson (6-2, 4-1) and marked the sixth time the Leopards were held below double digits. The Leopards' best scoring chance came on a half-ending blocked field goal, Fountain Lake sophomore Caleb Brooks tripping up the return man at the Cobra 20.
Fountain Lake won on a night that 4A-7 received a massive makeover, Bauxite (8-0, 5-0) securing the conference lead with a 41-35 home-field stunner against Robinson. To stay on top, the Miners must negotiate a Wallenda-like finish at Arkadelphia and home against Nashville (6-2, 3-2).
A second sonic boom in Saline County was felt when Haskell Harmony Grove (5-3, 3-2) topped visiting Nashville 26-21, the biggest win for first-year Cardinal coach and Glenwood native Mike Guthrie.
The Cardinals also must walk a high wire -- at Fountain Lake, home against Robinson -- but then who doesn't in a league with Robinson, Nashville and defending state champion Arkadelphia bubbling beneath the surface.
The top five from 4A-7 make the playoffs, and in two weeks the coach of the sixth-place finisher is sure to wonder why the circus left town early.
Sports on 10/21/2018