By Kev Moye’
News-Times Staff
WEST FORK - Games at this juncture of the season aren’t supposed to be easy. Smackover was reminded of that Friday evening.
The Buckaroos were forced to battle from start to finish of their 15-6 road triumph over West Fork in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A state playoffs.
Smackover (11-2) outlasted a determined Tiger squad by using a stout effort both defensively and on special teams.
In fact, the game’s final points were set up by an outstanding play by the Buckaroo special teams.
With just over two minutes left in the third, and trailing 8-6, West Fork (8-4) fell into a bind when - on a fourth and long - its punter bobbled a snap, tried to run, and was immediately tackled by Smackover’s Trevor Eppinette.
Suddenly, Smackover - champion of the 6-3A - had the ball at the West Fork 17.
Buckaroo coach Brian Strickland wanted to immediately take advantage of the situation.
On the ensuing play from scrimmage, Buckaroo quarterback Beau Burson completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Jones. The 6-3 receiver easily beat man-coverage to haul in the pass in the front corner of the end-zone. Keiandre Purifoy’s kick made the score 15-6 with 2:21 left in the third.
From that point, as it has so often this season, the Buckaroo defense dominated the action.
One of the biggest plays for the defense came in the waning moments of the fourth period.
Trailing by two scores, West Fork - champion of the 1-3A - found itself in a desperate situation. Thus, the Tigers had to open up their offense and pass the ball.
But, that was easier said than done.
A quality drive, quickly came to an end when West Fork QB Colton Wise stepped back for what was meant to be a routine pass. However, from Wise’s blindside, Smackover sophomore linebacker Demarious White earned a sack. In the process, Wise loss possession of the ball. Quickly, Buckaroo lineman Reave Mullens recovered to give Smackover the ball on its own 40 with four minutes left to play.
Smackover, from the Wishbone formation it utilized throughout the second half, was able to move the ball via the run and ultimately secure the victory.
For most of the game, the Buckaroo offense was held in check by both the West Fork defense and the rainy conditions. But, Smackover’s defense didn’t allow the West Fork offense to gain a rhythm either. The Buckaroos recorded a total of two turnovers. In addition to Mullens’ fumble recovery, Jones intercepted a pass.
West Fork recovered a Smackover fumble late in the third. Nonetheless, the Tigers were unable to take advantage of the miscue.
West Fork represented itself well in this contest as it was the team which scored first. To Smackover’s credit, it didn’t panic showcasing the poise of a team that has played in a game of this magnitude once before.
Facing a 6-point deficit, and an inspired West Fork team in nasty, soggy, conditions, Smackover’s offense came alive thanks to a pair of its senior leaders.
With 23 seconds left in the first half, Purifoy completed a 39-yard halfback touchdown pass to Jones.
The Arkansas Razorback commit caught the heave at the West Fork five, put a move on one defender and ran over another en route to the end zone. The Buckaroos then converted the two-point attempt when Michael Edwards powered his way up the middle of the field.
When the intermission arrived, the Buckaroos led 8-6.
In regard to the West Fork offense, after its defense recovered a Smackover fumble at the 49 midway through the second quarter, it found pay-dirt.
West Fork’s drive was capped off by a 5-yard touchdown pass from Wise to Briant Bowerman. The Tigers’ two-point attempt was picked off by Smackover linebacker Willie Davis, as the score remained 6-0 with 6:47 left in the second period.