By Tony Burns
Sports Editor
El Dorado’s regular-season finale against Texarkana on Friday was a college recruiter’s dream on the perimeter. The Wildcats shut out the junior-ladened Razorbacks 28-0, improving to 9-1 on the season and earning a first-round bye for next week’s 6A state playoffs.
Texarkana’s receiving corps of Irijah Price, Drake Browning and DeJordan Mask, reportedly were scheduled to visit TCU on Saturday. El Dorado held Texarkana to just 142 total yards, including 117 in the air on 12-of-28 passing with one interception.
In particular, Price was held to one reception for 21 yards.
“We did a really good job on that guy. Holy cow, I mean, that kid is really good,” said El Dorado defensive coordinator Justin Wylie. “Our plan was to limit (Price) as much as possible. We were real physical with him on the line of scrimmage. We had two or three different zone combinations with a guy underneath and one on top.
“The biggest factor in that was both of our corners not giving the guy a free release and being physical with him. It really frustrated him. You could see it.”
Cornerbacks Kameron Buie and Donnell Thompson more than held their own in the matchup. Mask was held to three catches for 16 yards while Browning had two for 28 and three rushes for six yards.
Against the run, the Wildcats held the Razorbacks to 21 rushes for 25 yards. They also put constant pressure in the face of sophomore quarterback Sean Foreback, who impressed Wylie with his toughness in the pocket.
“Our guys up front were getting to him quick. The guys on the back end were making him pat the ball one extra second. If we didn’t sack him, we were getting hits on him. He got hit hard all night,” said Wylie. “He’s impressive for taking those hits and bouncing right back up.”
Linebackers Tyrek Rucks and Mon-Trae Marshall led the Wildcats defensively. Rucks had eight tackles, six unassisted, with four tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery returned for a touchdown and two quarterback hurries. Marshall had nine tackles, including five solos.
Noseguard Gavin Heustis had three tackles, with one tackle for loss, one sack, one fumble forced and three quarterback hurries. Safety Bishop Foster had five tackles and one pass break up. Defensive end Donovan Walter had five tackles with two tackles for loss and two QB hurries. Tackle Jerric Jefferson had one tackle for loss, one sack and six quarterback hurries. Thompson had four tackles and one tackle for loss. Peyton Perry had an interception.
Wylie said El Dorado recorded 12 tackles for loss in the game.
“I’m really proud of how we played them. It was good for us to execute that well going into the playoffs. We played good at all three levels. It all works hand-in-hand,” said Wylie, who looks forward to the open date this week to heal and to improve.
“This is a really good week or us to fix some things fundamentally. As well as we played, there are things we need to keep emphasizing and keep correcting. This is a good week to hone in on some of those things and get better.”
El Dorado will host the winner of next week’s matchup between Lake Hamilton and Searcy.