HARRISON STARTS CONFERENCE PLAY 1-0

Cameron Jones might have been one of the smallest players on the field at F.S. Garrison Stadium on Friday night. On a night of many big plays, the 5-foot-7 senior might have made the biggest. He blocked a point after attempt by Morrilton at the end of the second period. That single point was the difference in Harrison’s 35-34 win over Morrilton in the opening game of the 5A-West. It was night of many turns and twists, however it was Harrison outscoring 21-7 in the final half to claim the victory. Harrison’s defense had to make three big stops in the final 6:20 of the contest to preserve the victory. The Goblins used a 2:20 drive and eight plays that was highlighted by a long run from Noah Ditmanson of 22 yards and a 14-yard run by Gabe Huskey. Huskey capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to tie the contest at 34-34. Hunter Holtby kicked the point after attempt to set the final score. Morrilton had possession of the ball next and quickly gave the ball back to the Goblins with a punt. Harrison picked up a pair of yards from Huskey and 3 yards from Ditmanson, but the team was unable to compete a critical third down pass giving the Devil Dogs new life with 4:14 left. Having success on the drive, the Devil Dogs marched down the field. The drive stalled with a fourth-and-12 from the 29 yard line. Morrilton was looking to make a play, but Harrison sophomore Brooks Both would have nothing of it as he had a sack. With the ball back in their possession, Harrison needed a first down to run the clock out. However, a false start to start the drive set the tone for the next three plays. After each Goblin play, Morrilton called a timeout stopping the clock. Harrison had the ball for 18 seconds before giving it back to the Devil Dogs. The Devil Dogs first offensive play resulted in Mason Martin deflecting a pass. The second play lost 2 yards with a swarming Harrison defense led by Cody Glover. Facing a third-and-12, Morrilton picked up 7 yards with a run up the middle. The fourth down play was a pass, that was juggled and dropped by a Devil Dog giving the Goblins the ball back with 54.1 seconds left in the game. Morrilton started the game quickly. On their second possession, they scored on a 39-yard pass play. An interception returned for a touchdown just 50 seconds later made it a 14-0 contest. The second Harrison interception gave the Devil Dogs the ball on their own 39 yard line. It took only one running play to give the Devil Dogs a 21-0 lead with 2:48 showing on the clock in the first period. Harrison’s first possession of the second period started a momentum change in the contest. A roughing the passer call gave the Goblins the ball on Morrilton’s 39. A Ditmanson strike to Daniel McCormick for 16 yards gave the team its second first down of the game. Ditmanson found a seam on the next play and ran 23 yards for the score. Holtby’s point after attempt was blocked leaving the Goblins trailing, 21-6. Harrison had two more possessions, but was unable to move the football until the Goblins took the ball at the 2:42 mark of the second period. The Goblins had five plays on the drive with each of them being more than 10-yards each. Huskey started the drive with a 19-yard rush. Ditmanson had a 13 yard pick up. Ditmanson found McCormick to pick up 18 yards. Ditmanson ran for 11 before Huskey picked up the final 19 yards for a touchdown. Harrison used only 74 seconds on the drive. The Goblins used a little trickery on the two-point attempt. The ball was hiked to Huskey who handed off to sophomore Ben Johnson. Johnson threw the ball to Ditmanson in the end zone to make it a 21-14 contest. Harrison got the football back on the kickoff. The ball was bobbled by Morrilton and Logan King recovered for the Goblins. However, the magic of the last drive was gone and three incomplete passes gave the ball back to Morrilton. The Devil Dogs were able to score to set the halftime score at 27-14. Ditmanson started the second half by capping a scoring drive with a 7 yard run for a touchdown. Harrison’s next possession gave the Goblins the lead as Huskey covered 50 yards with a run. Holtby gave the Goblins a 28-27 lead with both PAT. On the final play of the third period, Morrilton scored its last points of the game to hold a 34-28 lead. In the contest Caleb Huskey had an interception for Harrison and Ben Lunsford recovered a fumble. Harrison is on the road next week at Clarksville.

HARRISON STARTS CONFERENCE PLAY 1-0

JEFF BRASEL

Arkansas Online | 9/22/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Harrison Athletics