Turnovers, big plays and special teams are usually key factors in early-season football games. That was the case in El Dorado’s 39-21 season-opening loss to Camden Fairview on Friday at Memorial Stadium.
The Wildcats turned the ball over twice, failed on an onsides kick attempt, gave up an onsides kick recovery and failed to score twice after advancing inside the opponent’s 5-yard line.
Fairview coach Nick Vaughn gave more of a meat and potatoes answer when asked the biggest factor.
“Honestly, just the physicality. It was something we talked about all week, making sure we’re physical, making sure we play with great fundamentals and we play really fast,” he said. “I tell you what, it got really humid tonight. Both sides were having issues with cramping. But I tell you what, our kids kept fighting and kept playing physical football. That’s what I think was a major factor.”
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El Dorado ran the football to the tune of 141 yards on 18 carries by Shadarious Plummer.
“He did a really good job considering they stacked us up to stop him,” said El Dorado coach Steven Jones. “He’s an elite player. He’ll continue to get better each week. I thought we made a few plays out in space. We need more of those to keep people from stacking the box on Shadarious.”
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The Wildcats, who thrived on big plays last season, struggled to hit the long ball through the air. Torenzo Dunn had a 47-yard touchdown reception from Kolin Parker. El Dorado’s next longest pass completion was 17 yards.
The Wildcats’ only other play for more than 20 yards was Plummer’s 26-yard run.
Dunn finished with seven receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown.
Senior receiver DeAndra Burns, Jr., had just two receptions for eight yards and three rushes for nine. He did not get an opportunity to return a kick.
“We doubled him all night. We just decided that he wasn’t going to beat us,” said Vaughn. “That’s why we either sky kicked it away from him or purposely kicked it out of bounds. We weren’t going to let him dictate the outcome of this game if at all possible.”
Parker, in his first start at quarterback, completed 12-of-24 for 154 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
“Some good, some bad,” answered El Dorado coach Steven Jones when asked to assess his QB play. “We’ll get it fixed. Kolin played with a ton of effort tonight. I’m proud of him. He’s a good leader. He rallied the team through adversity all night. I’m proud of that.”
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El Dorado’s defense had a host of big plays, led up front by Takoi Steward and Nic Wilson. Steward had five tackles with three tackles for loss, including two sacks. Wilson had five tackles, two for loss with one sack.
The Wildcats forced a fumble on the Cardinals’ opening possession. Fairview’s second possession began at the El Dorado 21 after an interception. The Wildcats knocked them back to the 38 and forced a punt.
After Fairview drove for a touchdown on its third possession, El Dorado’s defense bounced back with a three-and-out. But, the Cardinals recovered a fumble three plays later and scored on a short 27-yard drive.
Jones said the defense would eventually wear down on a humid night.
“We had a couple three-and-outs and they stayed on the field for two really long drives and had to bounce right back,” he said. “They got an onsides kick on us so our defense was out there a lot. We didn’t give them great field position to work with.”
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In addition to the two onsides kicks gone awry, the Wildcats missed a 36-yard field goal while the Cardinals hit a field goal from 35 yards out.
After Dunn’s touchdown with 5:25 left in the third cut the deficit to 25-15, Fairview’s Trent Haygood returned the ensuing kickoff 56 yards to set up a short touchdown drive for the Cardinals.
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The previous game Fairview had under its belt looked to pay dividends. Some of El Dorado’s miscues could be attributed to first game jitters.
A closely-called block in the back penalty negated Parker’s 46-yard touchdown run. A long run by Burns was also erased by a flag and the Wildcats were distraught over the lack of a flag in the end zone on a fourth down pass play.
But overall, the 7 South Showdown came down to turnovers, big plays and special teams.
The Wildcats have a week to iron out the wrinkles before the long trip to Marion next Friday.
“I just hate the outcome,” said Jones. “Great atmosphere to play in, we wanted to come out on top. But, we didn’t and that’s life. You have to get over it and move on to the next game.”