SEARCY -- Jessieville made its first post-Thanksgiving football appearance in more than a decade, but reigning state champion Harding Academy showed it is very familiar with playing this time of year.
Behind a strong ground effort from Andrew Miller, the Wildcats rolled to a 45-14 rout of the Lions during the second round of the Class 3A playoffs Friday night at First Security Stadium.
"I'm proud of what we accomplished," said Jessieville coach T.J. Burk, leading the Lions to their first playoff victory since 2011 last week against Harrisburg. "These seniors deserved it. They've played their hearts out, and we've fought through adversity time after time after time. These seniors who are going out tonight, we talk about leaving a legacy all the time, and they left a legacy and set the bar for these underclassmen. I'm extremely proud of them, and they never gave up tonight.
"We just ran into a buzz saw, and they're a really good football team. They've got a really good shot to win it again this year."
Harding Academy (9-1) entered the game with a potent passing attack led by senior quarterback Caden Sipe at 24-1 all time as a starter and still without a loss to an Arkansas opponent. But it was Sipe first getting it done with his legs on the Wildcats' opening possession, keeping it 8 yards to give the hosts a 7-0 lead with 7:34 to go in the first quarter.
"I think it's three weeks off, and I think it has to do with our defense being on the field for so long, it's hard for him to get into a rhythm," said Harding Academy coach Neil Evans of his team preferring the ground early in this postseason. "He's got so few plays to where he hands it off and it's a 20-yard gain, and then it's just a short pass. He's unable to really get into a rhythm because our plays are so explosive. He's not putting together eight- or nine-play drives to where he can come into his own and feel himself."
Harding Academy's defense, along with the ground game, set the tone with four sacks throughout the contest. The Wildcats stoned Jessieville's first two drives, the second stop leading to Miller's 7-yard touchdown run, making it 14-0 at the 4:48 mark of the opening period.
"I think a lot of it had to do with our secondary because we were trying to take away some of their top plays, especially pass wise," Evans said. "I think a lot off those sacks you saw were coverage sacks."
Jessieville (7-5) finally gained some traction thanks to a 51-yard reception by Charlie Davis that reached the Wildcat 5-yard line. The Lions still needed to convert a fourth down to get on the board, but Carson Hair ran it in from a yard out to pull his team within 14-7 with 46 seconds left in the first quarter.
Jessieville tried an onside kick, but it was easily recovered the Wildcats. They only needed one play to respond because Miller stiff-armed a pair of defenders downfield while breaking a 52-yard touchdown run, making it 21-7 heading into the second quarter.
"I think any time you can run the ball in the playoffs, it's a really big deal," Evans said. "I think it's a game of physicality and a game of fundamentals, and being able to run the ball is paramount. You can watch at any level of football. Guys who are winning at a high level have the ability to run the ball, and for us to come out and establish the run like we did, it starts with our offensive line but certainly Andrew played outstanding."
Jessieville wasn't deterred by the big play, answering with a 16-play, 66-yard drive that chewed 8:42 off the clock. But the time-killing possession stalled at the Harding Academy 14, and the Lions' 30-yard attempt at a field goal was short and to the left as they came away with no points.
"That was kind of a momentum kill," Burk said. "We're still in the game at that point, and to drive right down the field and not come away with points, that's tough."
What was even tougher was Harding Academy only needed 22 seconds to answer the long possession. After Jessieville dropped an interception to start the drive, Sipe bounced back to hit Carter Neal for a 37-yard completion.
One play later, Miller rumbled for a 43-yard touchdown run, making it 28-7 with 3:30 left in the half. The Lions compounded their woes when Peyton Cole made an interception for the Wildcats in the final minute of the half.
They quickly moved within field-goal range with a pair of explosive plays, leading to a 32-yarder by sophomore Kyle Ferrie as time expired to make it 31-7 at halftime. Ferrie thrived in his first postseason experience, booting three touchbacks with two more kickoffs ending inside the 20.
"He's a huge weapon," Evans said. "Very few times do I play that scenario out, down there before the half where I'm playing to kick. That doesn't happen in high school ball, especially low-level ball like 3A, very often. It changes the way I manage the game. It changes the way I manage all special teams, not just there but him putting it into the end zone."
Sipe came out and put the game well out of reach with a pair of third-quarter touchdown passes to Landon Koch, starting with their 52-yard pitch-and-catch on the opening play of the half for 38-7.
Harding Academy finally had poor starting field position to begin the next drive, but Sipe drove it 91 yards in only seven plays by completing 4 of 5 for 74 yards while rushing for 11 yards, hitting Koch on a 5-yard TD toss to enact the mercy rule at 45-7.
Even with the clock continuously running, Jessieville fought hard for another touchdown in the fourth, Hair scrambling 20 yards for the score with less than 7 minutes left. Hair finished with 227 yards of total offense, completing 8 of 14 for 159 yards while rushing 16 times for 68 yards.
"The kid never quits. He's a competitor," Burk said. "Not just him, but everybody that stepped onto that field tonight. Nobody ever quit, and that's something to take pride in. I'm proud of the season our guys have had. They deserve everything that they've got."
Hair's backfield mate all night, Matthew Huff, finished with 105 yards on 23 carries. Hair's top target was Landen Daley, Daley catching three passes for 77 yards.
Miller wrapped the evening with 153 yards on only eight carries (19.1 average). Sipe was 11 of 14 for 243 yards, hitting Jackson Fox five times for 94 yards and Koch three times for 71 yards.
Harding Academy advances to face Booneville next week in a battle of the two most recent 3A champions.
Jessieville7007--14
Harding2110140--45
First quarter
HA -- Sipe 8 run (Ferrie kick), 7:34.
HA -- Miller 7 run (Ferrie kick), 4:48.
JV -- Hair 1 run (Quinonez kick), 0:46.
HA -- Miller 52 run (Ferrie kick), 0:34.
Second quarter
HA -- Miller 43 run (Ferrie kick), 3:30.
HA -- Ferrie 32 field goal, 0:00.
Third quarter
HA -- Koch 52 pass from Sipe (Ferrie kick), 11:48.
HA -- Koch 5 pass from Sipe (Ferrie kick), 7:54.
Fourth quarter
JV -- Hair 20 run (Quinonez kick), 6:36.
JVHA
First downs1620
Rushes-Yards39-18321-210
Passing yards159257
Total offense342453
Passing8-14-113-17-0
Fumbles-Lost1-00-0
Penalties9-753-25
Individual Leaders
Rushing -- Jessieville, Huff 23-105, Hair 16-68. Harding Academy, Miller 8-153, Hoover 5-29, Sipe 2-19, Smith 5-15.
Passing -- Jessieville, Hair 8-14-1-159. Harding Academy, Sipe 11-14-0-243, Smith 2-3-0-14.
Receiving -- Jessieville, Daley 3-77, Huff 2-19, Freeland 2-12, C. Davis 1-51. Harding Academy, Fox 5-94, Koch 3-71, Dugger 2-41, Citty 2-14, Neal 1-37.