Down.

It is the final football Saturday in Arkansas.

It's the Centennial Bank three football state championship.

The Mansfield Tigers and the red bugs of Fordyce.

And with that, we say hello, JB Brazil, alongside Bobby Swofford.

Bobby, you got two teams that run very similar offenses.

One team's been here a lot.

And for Mansfield, it's their first ever trip to the big name.

The Tiger fan base has seen a lot of success on the female side of things.

Volleyball, basketball, softball.

Of all played for championships recently.

But on the boys side, the football Tigers looking for their first ever crown.

Yeah, we've had a lot of really good football this week.

It's hard to believe this is the final day of football at high school level in the state.

Last weekend we had a lot of really, really good matchups, starting with the eight man championship and then it kept rolling on.

You saw that the win for Cedar Ridge, their first ever in school history, and then Cross County in the two championship against SPC.

Coach Van Pascal raising the trophy getting the Gatorade bath as well.

And then the heavyweights the seven eight title.

Bryant really dominant over Bentonville 27 to 7 seven state championships in the last eight trips.

I mean that's so impressive.

And then Robinson takes home the hardware at the five AA classification.

They knocked off light Lakeside for the second time this year.

And then what was probably one of the bigger shockers.

It was a good matchup.

But Shiloh maybe upsetting Greenwood a little bit of a shootout and the most combined points scored.

An Arkansas high school football championship game in history, 120 points.

And now.

And don't know if we're going to get quite that many today.

Two teams that have relied on the big play, the scoreboard operator better be on standby.

That's right.

Clock ticking down.

Getting closer to kickoff between Mansfield and Fordyce.

Coming up.

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Goodbye.

Let's now.

It is just about time for the first of two today.

The three?

A state championship.

The four state championship to follow.

But for ice in Mansfield at midfield.

Well, for Fordyce they're the visiting team in this.

Let's take a look at how they got there.

They had to win four games in the playoffs.

They took care of Jeffersonville quite handily 46 to nothing in the first round.

And then a really good matchup against Charleston.

They actually won that one late 3635 beat Mayflower Gourmet.

The team 2814 before rumbling against Boonville.

They were up 18 to 7 late in that game.

Boonville scored late, made it close, had a chance to take the lead, but Fordyce prevails.

They make it to the championship game and boy, a lot of the reason why is a guy, Micah Gamble, Micah Gamble and like a lot of the other players in this contest are banged up.

But he's had a really good season, 1600 yards on the ground, 22 touchdowns.

And talking with coach Timothy Rogers, he says they're going to get the football to him.

As long as teams are not stopping him on the ground.

Some keys of the game for Fordyce.

Well, they've got to find a way to give Ellison some time.

The quarterback partially tore his ACL earlier in the season.

Find a way to protect the quarterback.

And anytime you're playing a flex zone team, JB got to stop the fullback.

And no doubt about it, that story Ellison is pretty impressive.

We'll get to that later on.

Let's take a look at Mansfield.

Perfect season thus far.

First ever trip to the big dance.

But they got a bye in the first round.

That's just how things shook up.

They won the next three point handedly beat Walnut Ridge by three score.

Same thing against a good Bismarck team, mind you.

And then the offense against Mansfield, 4822 against a good Salem team.

The Tigers haven't had an easy road here, but they've made it look easy.

They're quite impressive.

And so is Andrew Burton.

You saw the two teams they beat in the last two rounds Bismarck and Salem.

That was the state championship game a year ago.

So Mansfield's been tested into the full back.

As we mentioned earlier for four has to stop Andrew Burton 2200 yards 37 touchdowns.

He's going to be the straw that stirs the drink for the Mansfield Tigers.

Some keys to the game for Mansfield, but one they get established to run game.

That's obviously a given, but they've got to find a way to stop the other running back.

And that's Micah Gamble.

And again do what you do.

They run the football.

They run it well.

And the ball off to the fullback.

Make Fordyce find a way to slow you down.

Well it's going to be a little bit chilly out there in the elements.

And we got Tyler cast down on the sidelines.

He'll be there all game long.

He's down there battling the elements as well.

Yeah guys you mentioned Fordyce seeing to slow down that Mansfield rushing attack last week in the semifinal against Boonville.

They got pretty much the exact same kind of offense.

And Helen just 13 points.

But Red bug head coach Jim Rogers was telling me earlier this week it was a bit muddy in that game.

Yeah it's chilly down here, but well, hard to get mud on artificial turf, so we'll see how everything shakes out in the three.

A state title game.

It's only going to get colder.

Hopefully the skies don't open up.

The players will deal with it.

I'll deal with it.

The important people back in the booth though, they get to stay nice and warm.

Calling.

That's the one.

That's you guys Bobby and JB, back to you.

Thanks so much, Tyler.

Yeah, very thankful that we do not have to be out in the elements, but regardless of whatever comes our way, we're in store for a good win.

Fordyce.

Really good defense, got good offense, but Mansfield's been putting up offensive plenty.

Both teams very similar in so many ways.

I think this matches up quite well here.

You look at the path that Fordyce went through in the postseason.

A lot of teams didn't know or a lot of fans may not have thought that Fordyce had the talent, the depth to make the run through that bottom half, the bracket, which was so deep.

But they've already taken out two teams from Mansfield Conference talking about Charleston and Boonville sandwiched against the contest against Mayflower, who a lot of people thought it had the best defense in the state in class three AA.

So their battle tested their banged up.

But once you get to the final game of the year, doesn't matter.

Everybody's injured, everybody's hurting.

Everybody's going to be limping around.

Can you make the critical play in the right moment to help your team win a three AA state championship?

Both teams just about ready to go.

So is our refereeing crew.

It'll be Joey Phillips, our head referee Matt Odom, Alan Stanford, Lance Pascoe, Jeff Lewis and Bobby Tillery.

The crew today for this three a state championship.

Fordyce will get the football first.

They're looking to receive Mansfield on to kick things away.

Usually go with a sky kick.

They're likely not going to allow a playmaker to get anything rolling.

It'll be Jeff Smithson to get things rolling for Mansfield.

We're just about sat hands in the air.

Smithson waiting for the signal, got away for that clock to expire.

Everybody's ready to go.

So it's kind of like that basketball tip.

You see, a lot of times everybody's out there ready to go.

These are horses in the in the gates.

Then they're ready to take off.

And there you go.

Clock has expired.

We're set.

Nothing is in the way between the start of this three AA state championship.

Japanese Smithson hand is up.

Here's the signal and we are underway.

Sky kick going to land.

It's going to be touched by a mansfield player and we'll see what it's ruled on.

McGinnis at the 40 yard line.

Tigers may have recovered.

Oh my goodness.

We'll wait on the official signal.

The refereeing crew got a decision to make early.

The sky kick caused a little confusion with the Fordyce return team.

Red ball.

And they are going to give the football to Mansfield.

So the more important thing is, is this is just like an onside kick.

It has to cross the 50 yard line.

It looks like it does.

Mansfield recovers the football.

Fordyce not expecting the sky kick right there.

They don't come up and catch the football.

And the Tigers still a possession to start.

Well how about that for Matthew Burton to keep that ball in play.

It's going to go out of bounds.

And then the freshman Colton Moore on the kickoff team recovers.

Tigers get the football after the turnover forced on the very first play of the game review.

So this is going to be a reviewable play.

And they're going to take a look at it.

So what they have to determine here JB is did the football travel ten yards before it was touched by Mansfield.

Because they touch it at 9.9 yards.

It's going to be Fordyce football in their midfield.

And we saw that in the five play state championship game.

Lakeside and Robinson.

It went almost ten 9.9 before we touched this one here.

So it's going to be pretty easy to determine this.

Did it get the ball across the midfield stripe before it was touched.

No doubt.

So this is the the angles.

They're looking at.

They just have to make sure it crosses the 50.

Before the Mansfield player touched the football was that Matthew Burton.

Looks like that.

Swatted it back in the honestly the top angle maybe the best look at it.

Sure.

Because you got to be able to see the yard markers to establish where the 50 is.

And I don't see how they don't keep this a stands.

Right.

I mean but again that's a heads up play from Burton to tip that ball back and play because he's likely not able to catch it and land in bounds and not, you know, all week long.

Fordyce has talked to their team about that.

And here's the call review the play on the field stands.

Wow.

There you have it.

That's exactly what we thought was going to be.

They reviewed it as they should.

And it stands.

It's about what I was mentioning there is Fordyce you know they talked about that sky kick all week long.

They weren't going to get the ball kick deep to him.

They ran a kickoff back earlier in the postseason.

But you got to be ready for it.

And maybe the nerves came into it a little bit too early.

Too many white hats.

Watching the football instead and going to get it.

Well here's a look at this Flex Bowen offense for Mansfield Jubal Parks will be the quarterback under center for the Tigers a sophomore.

He's got three different options and a lot of Bertans to go to the give it off up the middle to the fullback.

Right up the gut Andrew Burton gets the first touch.

And it's a big gain that that's going to be the important part for Ford I stop the fullback first because that's what this offense is predicated on.

Here's a look at their starting lineup.

Parts of the quarterback Andrew Burton Jeremiah Burton, Silas Burton.

There's three of them to go to.

And then Carter and Carter Walters or and Martin the front five with in or on the outside.

The flex man is really all about what you're going to give me as a defense.

As you give me seven yards and fullback dive.

We're going to run it all day long.

Second down and short pass going to go toss.

Play to the left side.

Plenty of running room inside the 3025 near the 20 yard line Jeremiah Burton the sophomore with the big carry.

And it moves.

The chains hurt.

Tyler mentioned holding Boonville just 13 points a week ago, but when Boonville did have a little bit of success, it was on the in the exterior of the defense on the edge just outside the tackle where the be the option play or the toss play.

Look for Martinsville to see if Fordyce has sured that up.

In the last week so far we've seen one up the middle and one of the outside, so they've mix things up a little bit.

This is a mansfield team that averages nearly 340 yards rushing per game.

They don't pass it a ton as you might imagine.

Look QB keep for Jubal Parks.

Not a ton there.

But a three yard game inside the red zone.

That was the first look at the option there for Mansfield.

And Fordyce did a really nice job of setting the edge, making the quarterback juggle parks, keep the football and held him to a minimal gain.

That's big for Fordyce.

You got to stay with your assignments and those types of plays.

If you lose your guy, there's nobody there.

They stayed on assignment, forced him to the inside second down, call it seven for Mansfield here just now Julius Fordyce won the toss.

They received Mansfield recovered the sky kick.

So they got the football first.

But we'll have a flag here on second down.

And there might have been movement that ball motion offense five-yard penalty still five second down.

So it is a five-yard penalty.

Backs them up.

Here's a look at the red bug defense Vincent Stroud Daniel Warner, Brian Robinson and Kyle Randall T.J.

Harrison out Amos there in the loading the box.

And then the secondary.

Tristen.

Winston, Tremaine.

Turner, Xavier.

Jones, Jim.

Martez.

Stroud.

Keep your eye on him.

And then Micah gave up two really big playmakers.

Second down and 12 after the penalty.

They'll give it off to Andrew Burton needing big yardage.

He does that, gains everything back and a little bit more before they finally gang tackle him.

But that's a big gain there.

Six seven yards perhaps.

And it's third down and manageable.

Andrew Burton is going to be the the sledgehammer if you will.

King for ice.

Build a wall and shut down the interior run game.

But 2200 yards and 37 touchdowns.

Nobody and I mean nobody in class three has found a way to stop down the fullback from Mansfield, no doubt about it.

Burton scored on the very first play, the offense last week in the matchup against Salem.

He scored the first two touchdowns for the Tigers.

And I think that that kind of comes with the territory.

He scores most of their touchdowns anyway, so naturally he's going to score the first two.

Fordyce needed to get a stop here.

Third down and five pitch play.

They go to Jeremiah Burton inside the 15.

He's close to the first down marker but he's going to be short.

And it's fourth down.

Let's call it one.

Instead of trying to stretch that to the outside.

It looks like Burton might have had a little space there.

He cuts it back in against the grain of the Fordyce defense to rally to the football.

It's fourth and short and no sign of the kicking team, and this is a team that always goes for both teams.

On two point conversions.

They likely never going to kick.

Might have been movement up front where the flag comes in.

I think it was a little bit delayed.

Finally two flags come out and that might be costly.

That ball look you motion offense five-yard penalty.

They play.

They actually get lucky.

There it is Mansfield.

They get the motion.

Penalty of course.

But both of them going backwards in motion when they snap the football likely shouldn't have been blown dead unless one of the linemen up front move, which would have caused it to be blown dead.

That's a great catch there, Bobby.

So now fourth and six and we're going to ask that official turn his mike off.

No kidding.

It's a pretty loud whistle wouldn't it.

It works.

The whistle works.

So does the mike.

My ears do not.

Now here we go.

Big time play right here.

Fourth down and six.

Fordyce looking for a stop.

Mansfield trying to keep the opening drive alive.

Pitch play to Andrew Burton.

Got a hole.

Bounces off one tackle trying to get the first down.

He's going to be short.

Fordyce with a big stop Joe Martez Stroud the junior.

The big time defensive stop for the Red bugs.

Mansfield stole all the momentum early by recovering the onside kick.

The red buck defense gets a stand.

And now we're finally going to see that Fordyce offense 833 to play in the opening quarter just underway.

We'll step aside from war.

Memorial Stadium got a good one brewing in the capital city.

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Come in.

Come inside.

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It's a real treat.

What an amazing family.

Let's get this show on the road.

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There, I get presents.

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I. Want to see even more Arkansas stories.

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Welcome back to little Rock, Arkansas.

Fordyce was supposed to get the football first, but the sky kick was recovered by Mansfield.

So this will be Fordyce first look of their offense.

And Andrew Allison playing with quite the injury.

He's a tough kid Micah Gamble, TJ Harris, Caden Quimby, Ja'Marr and Xavier Jones.

The offensive players and then Stroud, Warner, Robinson, Ledbetter and Randall and left right on the front line.

First play going to go to the air.

Ellison's got a gun deep over the middle on the left side.

Just overthrew the streaking Jamal Stroud.

Exactly what we expected to see from this Fordyce team.

Three steps.

I'm going to let it go.

And they've got big time playmakers on the outside.

Micah Gamble well, sometimes line up in the backfield, sometimes they're running back.

And that time Ja'Marr Stroud who also has an offer from UCA that one came in yesterday tried to take the top off.

The defense just overthrows his target.

Yeah.

He had a step on his defender I think maybe a little communication there because if he looked up sooner, maybe he could have went out and got it.

Pass was a little off target.

Regardless I like the call there from Fordyce going to take a big shot early.

Second and ten.

They're going to give it off up the middle this time fighting for yardage.

But a swarm of tigers look around him at the 15 yard line.

Not a whole lot of room there.

Kind of a unique offense for Fordyce.

They line up in the power line but no tight ends.

So you can't really identify which is the strength of the offense.

Trying to get two lead Brock blockers in front of gamble.

But Mansel does a great job of rallying to the football and shuts it down after a gain of two.

Michael Gamble playmaker got his first touch of the game.

Third down and eight.

Gonna need to get some big yardage here and likely going to be forced to punt.

Allison going to throw a quick out route.

Completed the 20 across the 25.

First down yardage on the out route complete to Xavier Jones, the senior coming up big in the championship game.

Second leading receiver for Fordyce coming into the contest.

His 19th catch of the season.

But it's the quick out route.

Mansfield's defense knows they have to give a cushion because they don't have the speed advantage.

Take advantage of a cushion there.

The defense pick up the first down.

That's a great point.

Mansfield's not going to give up the big play.

And I think that's what you could say for both teams games like this.

Turnovers are going to be big but also penalties.

We've seen that early against Mansfield.

The penalties have hit them first and ten a big gain.

They're going big again Allison over left sideline Stroud in stride.

And he's stripped up at the 15 yard line.

Big gain but a shoestring tackle to save a touchdown.

Fordyce has already identified if Mansfield is going to go man to man on the outside we're going to make he go to work.

And that time, Stroud is on the streaking route down the sideline, quarterback missing on the first try.

But we talked about how strong the arm was.

Look at that is throw it out there.

Let your receiver run underneath it in a game.

Saving tackle made in the secondary for Mansfield Jeremiah Burton was the one.

But how about Allison.

You see the cannon there.

That ball was on the money to Martez Stroud and he did the rest.

First down and ten inside the 20.

They'll try to bounce it to the outside edge but Mansfield nice pursuit and they keep him from getting to the edge.

You're not going to have that luxury down here in the red zone.

But what you're trying to do if you're Fordyce is you throw the football deep enough times to make sure those safeties don't creep down to help out in the run game.

You hit them over the top in those safety stats.

They're sticking back.

That opens up things for gamble on the rushing attack.

That is a great breakdown of what you see.

And that's why it's important to either establish the run game or get some deep on the big pass plays.

It opens things up.

Expert analysis to Mansfield just going with the three high look.

The safeties are walk down here in the red zone.

Second down and ten Allison under center going to give it off to gamble.

Trying to go right side.

Couple of yards maybe three to the 12.

Now a lot of room in the running game so far for Fordyce.

Mansfield going hat for hat fitting the run lanes.

They're forcing Fordyce to throw the football which may not be a good thing for Mansfield.

What we've seen on this opening drive for the Red books, you get close in the red zone.

You know, yardage shrinks a little bit, so you can't go over the top as much.

Changes things.

Mansfield looking for a stop.

Fordyce got one in the red zone against Mansfield earlier.

Play action Allison got a man complete inside the ten.

Dancing around trying to get the first down.

He's going to be shy of the line to gain T.J.

Harris was the target in his fourth and short.

That's a great read by the quarterback to recognize both of his receivers are double team.

The corners and safeties are walked up, so he gets the fullback coming out of the backfield, dumps it off.

And now it's fourth and short.

Big play here in the first quarter.

No doubt about it.

Silas Burton made a big tackle after that.

Miss fourth down and short.

Call it to Allison.

Hard count.

Tigers did not move into the neutral zone.

Got plenty of time on the play clock.

And the plays blown dead might be a timeout.

Fordyce coach Rodgers wants to talk things over timeout for that for us our first has well we've taken a look at really all sides of the football.

The last piece left is the Mansfield defense Ethan Martin, James Balsley, Caden Horn, Matthew Burton, Logan Zander Walters or the linebackers and then five in the secondary Cooper Edwards, Jeremiah Burton, Silas Burton, Andrew Burton, Joe Carter for Burton's, they're on the defensive side of the ball, and that is a family that has certainly made an impact on this football program.

We had a chance to talk with Will Overton earlier this week, and what he's done since he's taken over the last three years is arguably the three best seasons in Mansfield football history.

Double digit wins a pair of trips to the semifinals before they finally broke three to the championship game this year.

35 victories over the last, handful of seasons.

Really, really impressive to see that turnaround.

Everybody automatically talks about Boonville and Charleston and even Lavaca at times from that conference, the Mansfield finally making a name for themselves, no doubt about it.

And on this staff, you know, coach, when Overton said he's basically the only one that's even made it to a state championship game, he was on staff at Boonville for Coach Crowley there.

So he's played in two or coached and two state championships.

But having the Burton rank, the Burton family, there's eight of them, four biological for adopted me and they really make an impact on the team.

No doubt.

It's a big, big fourth down here though.

Kind of believe battle is going to be one up front.

Allen Dillon in the trenches.

Here we go.

Out of the timeout Allison going to give it off.

Gamble trying to go the outside.

He's not going to get there.

Tigers ball up and a big third down stop.

That play was made on the edge J.B.

Mansel did a great job of rotating up bringing pressure from the outside forces.

Gamble to push it back in the rest of the Martinsville defense rallies to the football and shuts it down top of your screen.

The pressure comes in and makes the play.

All the credit has to go to Cooper Edwards.

He's the reason Mansfield has got a fourth down stop on.

Zander Walters the big boy up front to make the big time stop.

They'll have it now.

First and ten at their own six yard line.

Tigers trying to march down the field.

So both teams have come up empty.

Oh for one on their trips.

Who can finish drives?

JB that may be the name of the game.

I think we're going to see a lot of offense between the 30s who can punch it in the end zone.

Jubal Parks, the handoff to the left side and he is stood out.

Maybe a yard, maybe two for Andrew Burton.

But the Fordyce front line great pursuit.

Yeah Riley Hilliard also comes through number ten for Fordyce.

Big hit in the hole.

Let's take a step down to Tyler Cash.

He's got some stuff for the Fordyce defense.

Yeah guys you just saw with the defense.

They will do in that first drive.

Bending but not breaking was actually a point coming into the season.

Hey coach Jim Rogers was a little worried about was he was going to step up.

They lost a lot of guys from last year.

Now though, he jokes with the defensive coordinator, hey, if you get a shutout, I can score at least once and it'll be a shutout.

But we'll see both teams probably scoring at least once, you would imagine.

So with playmakers like Andrew Burton and Micah Gamble, that's Burton there on the second straight carry.

And this time it's enough for a first down.

Vincent Stroud, 52 for Fordyce, had to hang on for dear life because if he doesn't bring Burton down, a fullback may still be running.

And that's a strong fullback.

Andrew Burton.

Not only is he strongly, he's super fast two, but very impressive player.

One that Mansfield's gonna remember for a long time to lose this game.

Burton's etched his name in the Mansfield history books.

Going to go on it.

Pitt's play into round right side.

Not a whole lot there.

Three, maybe four yards to Silas Burton, the sophomore with a nice carry.

We're talking with Coach Overton earlier this week.

And when he said of course you're going to have to fullback there's going to be a nasty streak.

And we said when when did you realize that Andrew Burton was going to be your guy?

When I walked into the weight room and saw him power playing.

350 and when you've got your strongest guy and your hardest working guy right in the middle of your offense, you're going to be pretty successful, no doubt about it.

And a great guy.

Two read great kid and he's a leader on the team.

He does it in all facets of the game.

They'll give it off to Andrew Burton, got a seam, breaks a couple of tackles, got a first down.

But hold your horses.

There's a flag in the backfield and this one might be coming back.

So one thing you cannot do if you're an offense it's built on running the football, owning the offense.

Ten-yard penalty replay second down.

So instead of the football being all the way out to the 35 yard line and a fresh set of downs, it's going to be back inside the 15 and you're way behind the sticks.

Two things with both coaches.

We talked to them.

I say, what are they going to be?

The keys?

And they said, hey, keys in these state championship games are as you might expect, it's the turnovers.

But then it's also the penalties, right?

Who limits those so far?

Mansfield had a lot of costly turnovers or penalties.

Excuse me.

Got to find a way to get that yardage back now and get to a third and manageable.

Second and 16 faking the pitch part is going to go to here.

Got a man wide open trying to go over the top.

There's going to be a pass interference.

The pass was underthrown but no chance for Jeremiah Burton to make the catch.

And that's the first penalty against Fordyce.

Not a bad penalty be declined on this game he had.

Brooks breaks up a huge gain and maybe even a touchdown as the receiver was streaking wide open on the backside of that play action.

That might have been a score.

So honestly, the pass interference, not the end of the world defense 15 yard line will be second down.

And that's the important thing of coaching high school.

It's only a 15 yard penalty.

It's not a spot foul like it is on Sundays.

And so it's it's not really that bad of a penalty.

Does he even give up a first down.

But now instead of second and a mile it's second and not very much.

My math tells me a second and two is not very long.

I'm not a math guy.

So I look at the sticks on the side.

I call it a second and a short two yard and a half.

Perhaps very manageable for Mansfield, but you're right, that penalty not the worst thing in the world to be.

Keep option left side.

They flipping out.

Spin move.

Jeremiah Burton got some room.

He rumbles past the 40 yard line and a big first down.

People who watch this and have never run the option in their life don't understand how difficult it is as a quarterback to hold the football that long.

You ride the fullback, you pull it and then you pitch it at the absolute last moment.

Almost might have been it a forward pass still behind the line of scrimmage, but a great play for Mansfield.

And what was second and 17 for a set of downs up past the 40.

And the difference of holding on later or doing too early, is the difference between a first down and a big gain, or no gain at all.

His timing was perfect.

The give it off Andrew Burton right side, not much.

Two yards perhaps.

Good job by the front line for Fordyce.

Just the scheme defensively against an attack like this is assignment football.

You have to tell your players okay you have this all game long.

You have the fullback.

You have the quarterback.

You have the pitch.

Play.

And if you have a bust and that's when you see big plays.

Timothy Rogers told us earlier this week was like against Boonville.

They played perfect essentially defensively for all for except for two plays.

Guess what happened on those two plays?

There were touchdowns for Boonville.

So you have to play assignment football when you play an offense like this.

That's why I said, coach, we only missed 1 or 2.

Those are the ones that cost you right?

You can't take a play off pitch.

Play right side outside the tackles for five yards perhaps.

And it brings up third and short.

And Silas Burton takes the toss there again.

Fordyce sets the edge, forces that back in.

We're going to say that a lot today because that really is going to be the key, which defense can force everything back to the inside, that both of these offenses can break big plays if they get outside the hashes against your defense.

Yeah, I think you're right.

I mean, there's so many things you could key on turnovers, penalties, limiting the big plays.

But you're right.

It's the battle at the line who keeps them in the middle portion of the field inside the tackles.

That's where it's one you don't think about.

Defensive backs you know coming up and play in the run game a lot.

But against these two teams your secondary members are gonna have to make big plays.

And this both these defenses know this offense really well right.

They've both run very similar.

They're gonna go back in the round reverse across midfield inside the 40 Jeremiah Burton bounced out of bounds inside the 30.

But 20 plus yards on the end around what did we just say.

JV got to be able to set the edge.

And that time a little bit of misdirection.

You get the flow of the defense going to their left in Mansfield on the end around you call that reverse whatever you want.

They handed to the wing back coming back the other direction.

And nobody's out there.

You got a couple pulling linemen out in front and a huge play for Mansfield there inside the 30.

Big run Fordyce though as you might expect you got to limit the touchdown in those scenarios.

We saw Stroud for Fordyce get stopped at the 15.

They weren't able to score.

You got to keep those big plays limited as much as possible.

Andrew Burton breaks one.

Tackle breaks two.

Can't break the third.

He's in the red zone though.

Eight yards on first down.

That's a hard nosed run.

It got to be able to wrap up and make a play one on one.

He runs through one tackle but Michael Gamble comes over and cleans it up.

But not before he pick up eight yards.

And that's why tackling is so important because you stop him for a gain of four.

Guess what?

Four yards after contact makes it second down and short.

And that last contact from gamble likely saves a touchdown.

Once again Burton's a guy who can break through any kind of tackle.

Now going in.

The information is Mansfield parks pitches it back to Andrew Burton spins around not a ton there.

He'll be shy of the line to gain third down.

Call it one after the pitch play to Andrew Burton and Mansfield can take this to the quarter and think about this third down call.

If they choose to do so, and it looks like they're going to like we expected Smashmouth football.

No points in this first quarter.

Defenses have showed up big.

That will be the end of the first quarter scoreless after one from little Rock.

Don't go anywhere.

Fordyce in Mansfield locked in a dandy.

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Touchdown!

This is a mansfield offense that has put up quite the offensive numbers in the rushing game.

As a matter of fact, they've rushed for more than 4600 yards this season.

I'll tell you what.

Let's take a look at some trivia.

What's the state record for rushing yards by a team in a single season?

By a team?

You think about all the great offenses in running backs that we've seen in Arkansas through the years.

I don't know if you've ever heard of Darren McFadden.

He played his high school for Peyton Hillis.

Yep.

But you think about the great teams and teams that ran the football cabins and coach Mike Malcolm that ran the team.

Maybe a three team that we Fordyce beat last week comes to mind.

Boonville and their state championship runs.

That's right.

And teams that run these types of offenses typically will have that.

So that's a good guess.

We'll see what the answer is a little bit later.

Second quarter action.

It's Mansfield football inside the red zone.

Third down and short.

Fordyce looking for a stop Mansfield looking for a first down.

Give it to Burton.

Up the middle.

Looks like he's got just enough to move the chains to the 15.

Right around the.

And indeed it will be so first and ten now at the Fordyce 15 yard line.

And that's what you want to see.

Third and short.

Go to your playmaker, Burton.

Let him play some hard nosed football.

And Mansfield came up with the big stop earlier on third and fourth and short.

Fordyce couldn't get the stop there.

And Mansfield can pick up a first down without scoring here.

So full Arsenal of weapons coming up.

New set of downs 15 yard line Jubal Parks under center.

Going to pitch it right side.

Silas Burton trying to get to the edge.

He's not going to be able to gang tackled.

It was Xavier Jones the one that got to him first.

And he throws him for a loss.

Great job by Fordyce of winning first down.

Keep mansfield behind the chains.

That's how you're going to be successful defensively.

They go to play.

They set the edge on the outside.

The rest of the defense comes through.

Gamble made everything turn back in.

Not going to get credit for the tackle.

But he's the one that made the play.

So Xavier Jones it'll move now to the right hash.

They'll say got back to the line of scrimmage.

But that's it.

Second and ten clock rolling under 11 minutes to play until halftime.

Parks fakes the pitch.

Gives it to Burton.

Reverses field flag comes in.

Burton inside the ten.

Got the first down.

Dives to the end zone.

They'll say he stepped out of bounds right at the five.

But the flag in the backfield it might be costly.

It's a great looking play.

You fake the toss sweep.

You go to the counter coming back.

But the play is coming off.

It's ten yard penalty.

So you know that's going to be a race A great move by Burton in the backfield.

Take a look at this.

Here's the counter play coming right at you in this move to avoid gamble uses that extra blocker gets to the outside but wipe it away instead of first and goal at the one there all the way back to the 25.

And this is something that's starting to pile up for Mansfield, right?

It's not been the turnovers, but it's been the penalties.

And of the large variety holding ten yards that'll kill you every time.

Got a chance to get into the end zone.

And you know Manziel has been able to wipe away a couple penalties one because of the big run one because of the Fordyce penalty.

This is not going to be a recipe for success for the Tigers though.

Got a short field.

Got to do something with it now.

Second down and 20 parks going to throw.

Now he's looking pocket collapse.

He's going to have to tuck it.

And run.

He's here at the 25 yard line.

Might have got a yard.

Brings up third down and 19.

You know parks does have 700 yards rushing on the season.

They don't call his number a ton to throw the football.

But that time you know that's not when Mansell's is going to be set up for success a straight drop back pass.

Fordyce knows it's coming down is well covered.

Pass rush finally gets home now in third 19.

If you're Fordyce you just can't afford to give a big play here, right?

Yeah.

You're really hoping for half of it back to be quite honest.

If you're a manziel player, Fordyce you're exactly right.

Can't have the penalties, can't lay anything over the top of your head.

Tigers trying to get it to force and manageable.

They love more than that man in motion parks option outside Burton bobbles.

It keeps it inside the 20.

Not a ton still on his feet.

And he's pushing it to the 16 yard line.

That's just what the doctor ordered for Mansfield.

It's fourth in about 11 a little different.

Look there for Mansfield.

They send the receiver in motion as soon as they snap, but he puts his foot in the ground.

Come back the other way on the quick pitch.

If he handles that cleanly, maybe he picks up another extra couple of yards, but instead got about half of it back now.

Now it's fourth and 11 for Mansfield, which is a whole lot better than they were facing.

And I think, if nothing else, for at least held on to the football.

Right.

Couldn't afford the turnover, especially if you get this first down or a touchdown here.

Holding on the ball will be crucial.

Fordyce came up with the big stop last time out.

It looks like Mansfield may take a timeout to to discuss things on this fourth play.

Another huge play coming.

Red zone stops are going to be the key today.

We've already seen two of them, one for each team.

Neither side technically had a turnover.

I guess Mansfield did recover the sky kick on the opening kickoff, so they got the football first.

You know, Fordyce was supposed to, but neither team has been able to punch one into the end zone.

Still scoreless with 909 to play until halftime.

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Well, we will see what this Mansfield offense has in store after the timeout.

Fordyce looking to make a stop on fourth and 11.

Both teams off to one on fourth downs.

And the Tigers hoping they got something in the playbook.

This is where you look for something unique.

Whether it's a double handoff the reverse we've already seen for Mansfield.

I don't know that you can really rely on Burton making 4 or 5, breaking 4 or 5 tackles right off the gut.

Parkes, under center, will move a man in motion.

Jeremiah Burton, little toss play in around pass play.

Looking to the left side of the end zone.

Broken up in the back of the end zone.

Fordyce was ready.

Pass was slightly underthrown and they turn them over on downs.

If that ball comes out two steps earlier, that's a wide open touchdown.

But the defense had time to recognize trick play to get over there.

Well-designed play right there.

Stepped up and throw it back.

He lost the footing.

Had to regroup the football that allowed the defense to get back the ball kind of hangs up just a little bit.

And the red bugs get a big red zone.

Stop.

That was a huge stop.

They were trying to find Joe Carter and near the back of the end zone.

Turnover on downs.

So now Mansfield's zero for two on fourth downs today for nice.

All for one.

But they have the football back with 901 to play until halftime.

Still no score.

Now we're going to see the adjustment to the chess game, if you will.

J.B.

Fordyce has struggled to run the football out of that power, and now they're going traditional for wide with the spread shotgun for Allison looking to throw.

He's in trouble trying to scramble.

And he's undercut at the 15 yard line.

He'll lose a yard trying to step up into the pocket but it collapsed.

That's going to be where it's really big for Mansfield to get after Ellison.

The quarterback, not real mobile because of the knee injury.

Find a way to make him uncomfortable, move the feet in the pocket and that's where they're going to be successful.

On the pass rush.

Sideline warning there on Fordyce.

So no harm there.

But you can see Ellison big big body in the backfield 632 60.

The knee brace on that right knee just cannot move as well as he could earlier in the season.

That was Ethan Martin the one who got the sack second and 11.

That's what Coach Whit Overton said for his team.

We have got to make him uncomfortable throwing the ball.

Gonna apply pressure.

They're going to give it off to gamble out of the gun.

He's hit at the line of scrimmage, and then he is brought down by a host of Tigers.

After a short gain.

It's third long front four for Mansfield won the battle at the line of scrimmage.

And that's why that play doesn't work.

If they can breaks the initial line, you've got the defense spread out with the four wide receivers.

You've got a chance to pop the big play.

But those guys who rarely get recognition up front for Mansfield, one second down, and that's what's led to this third and long.

If you're Fordyce, you've got to have time to throw the deep ball if you're trying to get that first down.

So that offensive line critical to give Ellison time he's going to throw rolls out right side got all kinds of time over the middle behind him.

It's caught first down and more across the 35 to the 39 yard line.

What a play JaMarcus Cranford with a big catch here.

Excuse me Jamal Stroud.

That's a really nice catch thrown behind him.

Still made the play great adjustment.

Tips the ball to himself.

Had to catch it 2 or 3 times.

Breaks to a tackle, a huge third down conversion to get out of the shadow of your own goalpost.

Now, JaMarcus Stroud is a very impressive player.

That's a ball that likely a lot of players aren't able to haul it in the concentration to tip it to himself first and ten with the man in motion in the round trying to get to the edge, flag comes in.

That's going to be a hole down the sideline.

Nobody's going to get him the 20, the ten into the end zone.

We're going to have a horse collar though.

But what a run from Tremaine Turner.

We'll see what happens on these penalties.

That horse collar at the very end is going to make these offsetting penalties because it's a pair of holding calls.

One in the backfield, one by a receiver near the Mansfield sideline and the horse collar at the end.

This is going to be wiped clean.

And we're just going to redo first down I would believe.

The horse collar at the end which saves a touchdown that was going to be wiped out anyway.

He's going to be a big penalty against Mansfield no doubt.

How about Turner walking the tightrope to stay inbounds.

There's the hold right there.

Stay on the play.

First one's personal foul horse collar defense.

Next one's holding on the offense.

Those penalties offset.

We're going to replay the now.

So two different holding calls against Fordyce.

And now the horse caller on the other end.

There's two pretty obvious holds.

You can see the one right there in the middle of your screen trying to set the edge there.

And Cooper Edwards trying to battle through it.

And here's a horse collar at the end.

Pretty obvious.

Grabs the back of the jersey there.

The opening of the shoulder pads pulls him down.

If that doesn't happen though, J.B., it's first and 20 instead.

Wipe it all clean.

No doubt it was already the touchdown was coming back, but now it offset.

So it's manageable for Fordyce.

Penalties have come in big today.

No question 715 to play in the half.

Shotgun for Ellison.

Going to throw on first down.

Steps up going big ball right side completed the 30.

Bumped out of bounds at the 25 yard line Xavier Jones the big cats down the sideline Jones only had 18 catches all season long.

But two huge receptions already here in the first half for Fordyce.

Man he just a rocket from Allison.

We've been impressed with his arm today.

We've been talked about how good his arm is.

You know his father Andrew Ellison as well.

Yeah a gritty player he played for Coach Rogers said they're from the same blood.

They're very tough players.

I mean, he's out there playing with an ACL injury and he makes it look effortless.

Throw the ball 40 and 50 yards downfield on first and ten at the 25.

Ellison got time.

Dumps it over in the flat.

Had a man but too tall for his intended receiver.

And it's second down and ten.

And when we got a moment let's head down to Tyler on the sidelines.

Yeah guys, you just mentioned quarterback Andre Ellison and his father Andre Ellison, senior.

And he said they wanted to give him a nickname so that no one would ever confuse both of their exploits for the red bugs.

And it was pretty easy.

In Fordyce, the quarterback is known as Cadillac.

And when I asked his dad why Cadillac?

He just kind of laughed and said, look at him.

No doubt Cadillac gives it off to Michael Gamble trying to get inside.

The 25 will get a couple of yards.

Ball is loose.

They'll say, oh, dad, for progress has stopped.

And they might have named him Cadillac.

Yeah, he's got a big frame, but, Mack Truck is a fitting title as well.

It is a big body back there at quarterback and I am excited to see him healthy.

Wow.

They go take a look.

That ball might have been coming down.

They may not go take a look at that.

That was huge I think they they say they ruled it forward.

Progress would not be reviewable.

And there is no clear and obvious recovery.

And Mansell did not jump on the football.

Campbell though got tangled but he saw the end.

His foot got locked back.

He's hobbling off the field for the play.

Keep an eye on that third down and six.

Nonetheless Ellison rolls right.

Going to go to the sideline.

It's complete for a first down inside the 15 Xavier Jones again with a big time catch I don't know if people understand how big of a throw that is.

You're on the hash the near side and you throw a dart to the far sideline again.

Jones with the reception.

He's having himself a day here in the first half.

That's a great concentration.

Ball's a little tall but you put it where you want to Ellison a nice job to get it to him.

And Xavier Jones does the rest.

First and ten now at the 15.

Both teams have not been able to capitalize in the red zone.

Let's see what Fordyce does this time.

And we'll have a flag.

Pre-snap penalties will kill you every time, especially in the red zone.

That ball false start offense five-yard penalty gonna be first down.

These two teams are just moving the ball up and down the field.

150 one's already for Fordyce.

120 for Mansfield.

But can they take advantage inside the 20.

And so far we have seen the penalty bug really fight inside the red zone for both teams.

First down and 15.

Now.

Ellison going to give it off to gamble just does.

There's a big hole inside the 15.

He's met at the 12 and stopped there.

But seven maybe eight yards on that big carry for Michael Gamble.

It took everything they had for Ellison to even get that football to his running back.

The bad snap had to reach behind and gives it off.

Might have been TJ Harris.

The big fullback gets a rare carry.

What they do with Fordyce is really impressive with Mike a game.

Well of course you do this with all big time players.

They move him around the football field a bunch.

They lining up in the slot, they'll put him in the backfield, makes the defense try to lose account number one.

And we still have yet to see Michael Gamble back on the field.

So it's still going to be T.J.

Harris the junior back there with Ellison second.

Now Ellison going to throw lobs it for Harris.

Got the catch inside the ten.

Inside the five down to the three yard line.

Should be enough for a first down.

And Fordyce knocking on the door.

Just a simple clear out route there JB you run your two receivers off.

The defense goes with them.

You sneak your running back in the flat behind him.

He makes a couple defenders miss first and goal for the red bugs.

Three yard line.

Gamble's back in the ballgame.

That's a great thing to see for Fordyce.

And now they're going to go under center with Andrew Ellison.

Muscle Wing-t look to give it off to the fullback up the middle.

Not much there.

Maybe got back to the line of scrimmage and that's it.

Mansfield sees this every day in practice.

So those are big guys up front aren't worried about fullback dive.

He did a great job of shutting that down before it got going.

No kidding.

That middle's where they were trying to go second down and goal from the three.

You got three more tries if you're Fordyce Mansfield's defense trying to blow up big Tigers row for two inside the red zone.

Fordyce is all for one.

They're trying to make it one for two I formation Allison oh.

Might be a false start.

Five yards moving back.

Slot back.

Move to two early at ball.

Oh.

Start offense five-yard penalty.

Well for Fordyce and Coach Rogers over there he's got to be frustrated.

Both teams really shot themselves in the foot.

But Coach Rodgers kind of be pretty frustrated on that.

And that's just a mental error.

You're trying to get off the snap as fast as you can and try to get leverage against the defense, but you move too early and again, penalties pushing them back.

Red zone mistakes have been the name of the game here in the first half for both sides.

Feel like maybe both teams a little too amped up inside the red zone when yards are so hard to come by down here in the 20?

What we've seen so far, you're looking for any advantage you can get them got another Presnap flag?

No, they're a flag.

We'll see what this one's about.

They go to gamble.

Nothing doing.

If it stands, it'll be third down and long.

But let's see what this penalty is about.

And it's going to be illegal.

Shift there on Fordyce.

Didn't get set.

Mean.

Have you.

In motion offense Mr.

clock.

It'll be fourth down third down.

Not a bad call there for Mansfield.

Back him up.

Give you back him up.

It opens up more space in the passing game.

So you keep him down here.

Low in the red zone inside the ten.

Third and seven.

Now for third and goal from the seven.

I like the idea of declining that.

Penalty downs are more important for Mansfield not the yardage as much.

You don't want for us to get more chances and more point.

You don't give them that extra space.

The five yards in the red zone opens up things in the passing game, and they've not been able to run the ball well.

That's something you've been able to stop force them to try to do that.

Allison going to throw this time they'll pocket collapse.

Going to have to dump it at the five.

It's caught.

No more yardage to come by though.

Ja'Marr to Stroud had nowhere to go.

And it's fourth down and goal for six.

They're going to rule that the ball came out.

And that's why they're marking it all the way back at the nine yard line.

Because the pile was moving back.

The catch was really closer to the six.

But the ball came out went out of bounds.

And so if it goes out of bounds at the nine, that might be why this ball is being placed there.

So if it's a fumble out of bounds at the nine, we'll see what they roll it.

Really on the field once a fumble Raiders recovered it and out of bounds.

So red box now Mansfield football at the nine.

They force a turnover.

You got to be kidding me.

What a break for Mansfield.

Let's take a look at it here.

The ball went.

Looked like it went out of bounds.

So the ball's definitely out.

Always down right there.

They're saying that Andrew Burton took it away and then went to the ground which was caused him to be down.

Then he fumbles out of bounds after the play.

What now of course the officials right there on top.

This is going to be a very interesting review.

Wow I can't say I saw that coming.

I thought it was out of bounds off.

Fordyce fumbled the nine.

They're going to give it to Mansfield and they're going to review it.

But man if the call on the field is Mansfield football you can have enough to overturn that right.

Yeah.

So that was they're going to have to look for in the review is did Burton have complete control when he went to the ground.

He clearly takes the football away from it.

Okay.

So that's going to be a fumble for sure on Fordyce.

But did Burton zero for Mansfield have control before he hit the ground?

The officials deem that they did.

He did.

Excuse me.

And it's going to be really hard to overturn because the play on the field was ruled Mansfield football.

That's right.

So as it stands it'll be Mansfield football.

They force a huge turnover in the red zone.

That would put both teams.

Oh for two inside the red zone.

Now wow.

Fourth down.

If it goes Fordyce is way.

It'll still be fourth down and goal at the nine.

But if the call stands it'll be Mansfield Football and a huge turnover.

And this may be JB just what was called on the field because they're clear and indisputable evidence that one word that nobody had ever heard of 15 years ago indisputable.

Looking for that evidence.

Now everybody knows what that word means.

And let's be real, it doesn't mean that one call the other is right or wrong.

It's just you got to have enough to overturn it.

Here we go.

That's a great look at the plays overturned and is fourth down Fordyce on the ten yard line.

That's so I think that's a really good job by the review crew.

To recognize that Burton never truly had full possession of the football.

Did take it away but never secured it before he hit the ground and lost the ball out of bounds.

So in theory then it was just a fumble all the way because he never got full possession of it.

So fourth down and goal now at the ten he's still not terrible.

If you're Mansfield knowing you just got one more down to stop.

And if you're Fordyce you're going to be kicking yourself if you're not able to get six again, great job by the replay crew and our officiating crew to make sure they get it right.

No doubt that was a great play by Andrew Burton by the way.

No no no, no matter how you slice it.

Fourth down and goal from the ten.

Fordyce trying to capitalize.

Mansfield trying for the stop Allison going to throw back foot back of the end zone incomplete.

And Mansfield's defense holds both teams off for two in the red zone.

Well pass rush got to the quarterback Ellis.

It was falling backwards.

Did not have his feet set.

And that one kind of sailed on him.

Could not hit his receiver.

It looked like it was 61.

Katie in or gets into the backfield forces the quarterback to hurry and it's another big red zone stop.

We haven't seen necessarily the live ball turnovers, but it's been the turnover on downs that have come into play and I got to say, Bobby, the penalties in the red zone have really killed both teams.

If you want to get real cliche with a job, every yard matters.

If this was a 90 yard field, we'd have a lot of points of no doubt.

That's a great point.

But as it stands, first and ten, Mansfield at their own ten with 345 to play in the half, still without a score.

Pitt's play Andrew Burton cuts it up field.

Got a hole across the 15 to 20 turnovers strong one man to beat across midfield.

Nobody's going to get in Andrew Burton party time.

The big 90 yard TD.

How about a house call from the fullback going the distance.

He says this doesn't matter if it's a 150 yard field.

He broke that initial wave, runs through an arm tackle.

And that's what Mansfield fans have seen all season long.

Andrew Burton impossible to bring down.

He's in the end zone.

You see the strength breaking the tackler to the vision to cut it upfield, and then the turbo turned on the speed of Andrew Burton.

Nobody going to get zero 90 yard touchdown run.

The big plays is what it comes down to.

Andrew Burton.

That was a big play.

Full backs aren't supposed to run for six.

That's just not fair.

Burton shows off some speed.

Neither one of these teams going to kick extra points though.

So we're going to go for two.

And what a swing of momentum you think.

You get the fumble again.

Fordyce gets another shot at the red zone possession.

He turned it over on downs one play house call six.

Nothing but these two point conversions are big two hits play left side Jeremiah Button.

The two point conversion is good.

Ain't nothing.

Mansfield.

What a swing, what a swing.

How do you handle that adversity?

Now, if you're Fordyce, you think you're about to put it in the end zone and take the lead here in the three a championship game and two plays.

Incomplete pass 90 yards to the house.

And all of a sudden you're down eight.

Nothing.

Do they have a response in the final three and a half here in this first half you see Andrew Burton a nine yard touchdown run.

And then the two point conversion for Jeremiah Burton.

Tyler tell us a little bit more about Andrew Burton.

Hey guys.

Like you said, you're going to set a record for most number of times in the game.

A lot, man.

Set a lot of Mansfield records this year.

Most of them that he broke were also previously held by a burden.

He's going to stay in the family business, he said.

When he's done playing high school football, he's going to join up with his father's construction company.

So on the football field, off the football field, it's all about family.

For the Burns, no doubt.

And he constructs a lot of points to every single season.

That's number 38 touchdown runs of the year.

He is the sledgehammer in this offense.

And then I gets moving forward.

He's going to be handling the sledgehammer.

Oh no kidding.

Well and I mean I think you can't state how big that fourth down stop was.

And then the response that big play Burton.

It you see so many teams and Harding University at the Division two level here in the state is a prime example of it.

The flex bones.

No McCain just give it some time.

It's finally going to take effect.

And that time of day sky kick from Jeff Smithson fair catch called for the 36 yard line.

So that's where for 34.

Excuse me.

That's where Fordyce will have it.

And that story on Jeff Smithson.

You know he's from out of the country.

He said one thing he wanted to do is play American football and he's living out his dream.

It's very cool to get a chance to play in the state championship game like this, as well.

But Fordyce made the adjustments after the miscue on the opening kickoff.

They didn't call for the fair catch on the sky kick that time, coached up well by Coach Rogers and company.

Make sure they made that fair catch signal.

Yeah, they get their offense.

The football back getting 331 left here in the first half.

You got to feel like this is a big possession for Fordyce because Mansfield gets the football to start the second half.

That's exactly what was going through my mind.

The response from Fordyce has got to be there.

Allison going to throw looking deep right sideline.

Got a man underthrown just a little bit.

Lots of contact.

But the refs let him play.

Really good job by Joe Carter to not break too much.

It looked like an out and up was beaten by a step or two.

But the closing speed for Carter got there.

Timed it just right.

Pretty good play by the defensive back.

No call needed.

That is great awareness to know when to go up.

Watch those receiver's hands.

As soon as they go up you go up with it.

We've seen a lot of different penalties today, but they've let those go and I think that's the right call.

Oh nice content with just throwing the football.

Second and ten Allison in the flat dumps it to Micah Gable across the 35.

The lunges and lowers his shoulder to the 40 a five yard pitch and catch.

And it's third down and five.

That's just an extension of the run game though.

Get gamble out there in space hoping he can break a tackle.

But Manziel did a nice job of rallying to the football.

Forget about a half of that.

Yardage needed third and manageable as we're inching towards the three minute mark.

Well, you know both teams have the capabilities to bust.

When we saw Andrew Burton do it that's been the name of the game right.

Don't give up the big play for nice.

And Mansfield up to this point and getting a few big plays.

But they stopped him in the red zone that time.

They couldn't get Burton.

Fordyce needs something similar to try to tie things up.

They're going to give it off.

Gamble from the gun, hot pursuit trying to bounce it outside.

The 40 flag comes in.

He's got the first down.

Another flag comes in.

Could be costly.

We'll see what it's all about.

Let him sort it.

We've seen the yellow flags fly.

Good that Jeremiah Burton was trying to battle through a block.

And I believe he drew a hold holding offense.

King, your penalty for the third.

You know what Mansfield's doing on the outside?

That they're doing a good job of fighting through blocks, but they're also doing a pretty good job of some theatrically, they're throwing their arms up in the air when they feel like they're not going to get there.

That's an obvious hold on the outside.

Got to call it every time, especially at the point of contact.

But Mansfield's been coached up.

Hey, you're getting hold on the outside.

Held on the outside.

Throw your hands up.

Do a little acting job.

Get the attention of the officials.

Well, I think what you're seeing, too, is how the battle in the trenches, right?

Maybe it's, you know, getting stops or not, but it's also getting those flags.

The false starts, the holding calls.

Got to clean both of those up on both sides.

Allison got to throw right side looking for the comeback route.

Man falls down, throws harmlessly to the sideline.

But now it's fourth down and long.

And you got a punt.

Yeah.

Luck.

Lucky that one went out of bounds.

But the receiver slips at the top of the route.

They're looking for about the 15 yard comeback.

Jones lost his footing there.

Luckily that wasn't picked off going the other way.

The throw too far out of bounds.

But you just mentioned it.

Mansfield's about to get the football back.

They've got all the momentum.

A chance to put some points on the board here before the half.

Now coming out of the half they get the football.

Big stop for the Mansfield Tiger defense.

So you got Silas Burton and Isaac Carson back deep to receive this kick in for nice.

It's Chase Humphrey.

The junior will handle the punting duties.

High snap.

Able to put it away a tight spiral.

Low line drive.

Bounces at the 48.

Takes a bounce to the 37 yard line.

And that's where Mansfield will set up shop.

So a nice punt for Fordyce pushes Mansfield back where they got 219 to try to go 63 yards.

A sports is a funny thing, JB.

You feel like you've got all the momentum.

You're Fordyce got the ball first and goal inside the five penalty backs you up and then all the momentum pushes the other way.

You give up a 19 yard touchdown.

Now a quick three and out.

Mansfield got a chance to take complete control of this football game.

Here's a look at Coach Whit Overton.

He's got to be pleased with how quick this game has shifted.

You got to make sure you protect the football.

If you're Mansfield in this situation.

And for Fordyce your defense has got to respond right.

You gave him that big play.

But you can't give him another one.

Under center out of the arc.

Parks pitches it to Andrew Burton.

Got room outside the tackle.

The 40 across midfield.

They'll bounce him out of bounds.

But that's a big gain on first down.

It moves the chains and they're in the red zone territory.

Mansfield seeing the same thing I saw when I went back and watched that game against Boonville last week from the Ford defense, there were some running lanes on the outside.

The option the toss gave the Fordyce defense some trouble against Boonville.

Mansfield's got some more speed, the playing surface a lot cleaner.

Not playing through the mud like they did last week.

Tigers are taking advantage of it, trying to ride this wave a little bit too.

They got the momentum.

Under center parks, they'll move.

Silas Burton in motion.

Play action.

Looking to throw going right sideline locked up defensively dangerous pass but it's caught.

It's caught to the 18.

Touchdown Mansfield Joe Carter took it away from the defender.

And it's a two touchdown lead I thought Joe Carter was going to have to go play defensive back.

That throw thrown into coverage is really a 5050 ball.

I thought it was going to be easily picked off.

But here's Randy Moss when he went up.

High point of the football and Carter makes a heck of a play on top of the defender and waltzes into the end zone.

And Mansfield's got a 14 nothing lead.

But I think the impressive part was the catch.

Within the way I see the spin move to get away from the defender.

A touchdown for Joe Carter, the senior playing like a veteran.

What a sequence of events for Mansfield defense turns into offense and momentum is rolling straight downhill for those guys.

And Ray you got a 90 yard touchdown run and then a 48 yard bomb.

They're going to go for the two point conversion again.

Bounce it on the pitch.

Play to Silas Burton.

He's in stood up at the pylon.

But it's 16.

Nothing.

Mansfield in my goodness.

Five minutes ago we were scoreless.

What a swing in the Vince though.

The two point conversion man that's been so successful.

Adding the points after the score.

Been able to put up 16 points in the last one two minutes or so.

But play big, big swing.

Fordyce has got to land a big blow before the half.

You feel like.

Well, we talked about the trivia question we had earlier, right?

The rushing yards that Mansfield has this season, but who holds the most in a single season for any team?

And it was one you mentioned back in 2022.

Boonville just 44 yards shy of 6000 yards.

That's incredible.

I believe that was the Boonville team that won the state championship as well, led by Dax Golf who's playing for Harding now power running football team.

You know Mansfield throws it a little bit more.

And we just saw it there with a long touchdown pass.

Then Boonville normally does the flexible when you get it working.

And you've got talented running backs like a Dax Golf or a Burton.

It's hard to stop no doubt.

And then you got playmakers like Carter when you do go to the air to make a play like that.

Smithson with the sky kick, it'll be taken.

No fair catch.

Called for.

A flag will come in.

Or maybe there was a fair catch.

Didn't see it.

There might have been kick catch interference though.

Yeah.

Didn't give him the one yard radius to catch the football.

Either way, I'm surprised Florida didn't try to call for a fair catch there.

Again, almost another disaster on special teams, but let the refereeing crew did a great job today.

Sort things out.

As it stands it's Fordyce Ball at their own 42.

But here's the call.

There's no flag on the play.

Again, Mansfield almost created another turnover for themselves.

Just got there a hair too late.

Fordyce though with two timeouts JB feel like they've got to make a push down the field, maybe get some points before the half.

It's not imperative but but man, he'd like to have it right the way this game is going.

Mansfield and get the football in the second half as you mentioned you got to get something.

You just really need some momentum, something to build upon.

And points would be nice.

Ellison was it the right sideline just under through.

Didn't kind of get a good grip on that on the go to the out route, but too short in front of the intended receiver in his second attempt.

Also had pressure right in his face as well.

The Mansfield defensive line going to be able to pin their ears back because they've really made Fordyce a one dimensional football team.

They're not even trying to run the football.

They're just lining up in five wide, said, hey, we're going to throw it.

And those big guys up front wearing red or feasting.

Completely shifted their game plan.

You're exactly right.

They've abandoned the run trying to go big ball.

Allison got all kinds of time to dangerous pass in and out of the hands at the 43 yard line.

Logan Moore wants another crack at the interception.

He was thinking in return for a touchdown on that one.

There was nobody in front of over.

But he's also showing why he's wearing a 50 number.

Those guys didn't really don't have the best hands.

Hit him right in the breadbasket.

Worst place to hit you right in the hands.

That's one where you can't really excuse your way against coach.

Right.

You got to believe Fordyce is flustered right now, though.

They're throwing the football every time they drop back.

Mansfield's got it honed in.

Red bugs need something to go their way.

Third down and ten at their own 42 Allison the snap he's got time.

Lobs it right side.

Got a man.

It's complete.

What a catch from Micah Gamble over his shoulder.

It was placed perfectly in gamble with a first down catch.

What an adjustment on the football.

That ball's hanging up.

Not a lot of wins here at Memorial Stadium.

That ball is kind of floats out there.

Does a great job of adjusting on it.

Looks like a center fielder tracking the ball near the warning track.

Hauls it in, gets a couple feet down, but a huge first down for the red books.

And those are tough passes to get super accurately.

So Ellison did a nice job of lobbing it up there, giving your receiver a chance to float underneath the football and make a catch because good receivers will do that.

We saw gamble make the play rolling right to the left side off his back, but it's tempting.

Intercepted picked off by Cooper Edwards.

Mansfield's got it in to four guys territory A flag comes in late but a big turnover for the Tigers.

Ellison has shown off that strong arm again.

And Bell trying to find his receiver.

But this couldn't be handled.

Deflected.

And what a great play by Cooper Edwards.

The the wherewithal to recognize the ball's tipped.

Go get it and make a play after the catch I out if you want to play that part.

Now.

So the penalty is after the play the interception will stand.

Here's a look at that pass play.

Nice one handed grab to pick that ball off.

That was just off the fingertips of Chase Humphrey for Fordyce.

But a big turnover.

The ball just too high overshoots his target just a little too much.

And Mansfield makes the play in the right place at the right time.

The penalty does back it up 15 yards.

It's essentially just wipes off the return after the catch.

But again, the Tigers now have a chance to be the one that scores points going into the break.

They're up 16.

Nothing with a minute 36.

To play Andrew Burton trying to get to the edge.

And he's not going to.

Nice open field tackle by Micah Gamble.

They found something.

They're trying to get to the edge.

But gamble that time wasn't going to allow it.

He's able to shed his blocker and make the play at the line of scrimmage.

Miss gamble doesn't make that play.

It's another big play on the ground, on the edge.

Mansfield certainly found a chink in the armor and no doubt he hemmed him in.

Right.

Try to push him back to the outside.

He did not want him to get around him if he gets past gambles.

You mentioned Burton's running for a while.

I think Mansfield, more importantly than points before the half, is making sure that Fordyce doesn't touch the football.

Well, it's final 60s and no hurry.

Methodical for sure.

Play action.

Oh, boy.

Dangerous option.

Left side Silas Burton has nowhere to go.

But that is a dangerous pinch.

Fordyce is going to take a timeout as well.

That was really dangerous.

I'm surprised that Juba Parks decided to pitch it out there.

I know that's the design of the play.

How about but risky for us.

And that's the one thing for Mansfield in these types of games, right.

Times winding down in the first half don't give the opponent any opportunity to bounce right back into the game.

So here's a timeout for Fordyce.

And I think I'm not.

Naturally this is not a desperation timeout.

But they want the football that they want to get this.

They feel like they need to get points here at the half because they know if their offense is out there for one play, they've got the ability to pop a big one, whether it's Micah Gamble or Ja'Marr Stroud or even Jones receiver on the other end, they've got playmakers and they've been on the edge of breaking a big one a couple times already, 172 yards or so of offense in the first half for Fordyce.

They haven't been able to take advantage in the red zone.

Now Mansfield they're starting to jack up some yards.

They're inching towards 300 yards of offense in this first half.

They've moved the football.

Fordyce got some red zone stops early but they've got a chance in the final 47 seconds thinking they can convert to third down to blow this game.

Hope no doubt 16 to nothing.

Mansfield certainly wanting to do that.

Third and 11.

This is a big play for Fordyce too.

They need to stop.

If Mansfield gets a first down and marches down and puts it up three scores, you got to imagine it's desperation time for Fordyce.

Yeah.

If you're Mansfield here, you probably run the football.

Maybe go back to that toss sweep.

But the most important thing is you make Fordyce use another timeout and they just send the punt team out there hoping the defense can hold for the final 30s or so I formation for Mansfield.

It's Jubal Clark's third down and 11.

Maybe that counter play we saw in the first quarter as well.

They'll toss it to Burton.

Slips one tackle looking for the first down at the midfield line.

He's looks like he's got it.

What a run for Andrew Burton again that time they go short sweet.

You see LSU kind of made that pop over the top.

And you let your running back find a hole a little closer.

You don't bounce it all the way to the outside.

Take advantage in overflowing defense.

Now Mansfield with a fresh set of downs at midfield.

They take a shot clock rolling 36 seconds to go.

They're not in a lot or a big hurry at all.

Do you have a couple timeouts left?

Under 30.

Parks under center.

Fakes the handoff.

Going to go to the air.

Overthrows his intended receiver and it's intercepted for nice.

Picks it off back at the nine yard line.

Savior Jones there's going to be 16 seconds to play.

But Jones he's a receiver two and three back picks it off.

Parks got lucky on the touchdown pass.

And he wasn't picked off there at that time.

He was picked off.

But Joe Carter made a great play from going receiver to defensive back.

Makes the stop because if he doesn't Jones has a lot of space to return this.

So going receiver to deep back in a hurry saved a lot of field position if not points.

It's a small things like that, right?

That you're not going to go back and think.

But if Carter doesn't do that immediately grab him.

Bring him down.

There's a chance that's brought back for 90 yards or at least the game.

Mansfield I like the idea, but sometimes you got to throw a toe to the outside where your receiver has a chance to grade it.

Don't throw it back to the middle of the field where the secondary has got help.

Yeah, a safety coming over there and you're essentially going two on one versus one be one.

And that's what we saw Carter win a moment ago.

Right.

The 5050 ball Underthrown doesn't stand much of a chance when it's two versus one.

Yeah.

But what you do like though is the faith in your players to go make a play at 5050 ball, you feel like your receivers are going to have a chance to make a play.

If not, at least limit the damage by making a play in the back end.

16 nothing.

Mansfield.

They're talking it over.

They're trying to make sure they don't give up the big play.

And four guys trying to dial something up.

Tyler is going to have coach Will Overton going into the locker room as well coming up, so don't go anywhere.

Also coming up on the half we've got one of the greatest pranks of all time coming up, because we've got the story of a wide receiver factory in Warren, the 2025 student All stars in a prank that's still legendary to this day.

It's the Arkansas PBS halftime show that's coming up after the break.

Wide receiver factory.

It's, trailing Burks, Jarius.

Wright, Greg.

Childs, Chris.

Greg a missing film, sure, but they've produced another one.

Who's at the movie right now who got hurt this year.

Didn't get to play a lot for the haul, but he's expected to be the next big thing.

So out of the timeout 16 nothing.

We'll see what Fordyce elects to do.

Hey, taking a knee.

And that's exactly what it is.

They want to make sure nothing more can happen.

The final play of the first half Fordyce takes a knee.

It's 16.

Nothing Mansfield.

And it's the two big plays.

That's the difference here.

It really is.

I mean you think about the red zone stop for for for Mansfield.

They get the football back for their offense and then they go big play.

90 yard touchdown run from Burton in the 52 yard pass on the outside.

Momentum has swung in a hurry.

And Mansfield going into the locker room feeling pretty good about chasing down state championship number one.

Over ten right now.

Yeah coach the last ten minutes or so of that half really felt like they changed things.

I mean was that just adjustments or guys loosen it up.

Yeah.

Just filling these guys out.

You know we we haven't played these guys.

And we're just trying to, you know, trade punches right there and figure out what they're going to do defensively, how they're going to play us.

And made a couple adjustments there.

And it's always good when you give zero ball.

You got the big plays the red zone offense.

What has to change in the second half.

We just got to execute better.

We can't have penalties.

You know we get down there two different times and get holding penalties.

Knock ourselves out of what we want to be in.

We need to be in second and medium, third and short, fourth and short.

And we didn't do that in the first, half, especially first quarter getting the ball coming out.

What are you telling the guys in the locker room?

Same thing we always tell them next play mentality.

Take care of the football.

Don't commit penalties.

All right I'll let you go tell them that yourselves.

Thanks coach.

All right.

Back up to you guys.

Well he's got to be pleased nonetheless with his team at the big play 16 nothing.

Mansfield the lead over Fordyce red bugs.

We'll talk to Coach Rogers coming out right before the second half begins.

Red bugs got work to do, but it's Tigers over.

Fordyce 16.

Nothing.

Stick around for a halftime show in little Rock.

This broadcast is underwritten in part by.

Since 1937, the electric cooperatives of Arkansas have been providing power to homes, farms and businesses across our state.

The cooperatives are member owned and worked together to serve Arkansans.

The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas proudly support high school students and athletics in Arkansas, and hope you enjoy watching the state championship games on Arkansas PBS sports.

Better connected together the electric cooperatives of Arkansas.

Hey, everybody.

David Barzal here.

It's halftime at War Memorial, and that means we are back here at Arkansas PBS Studios to share with you a little bit of what we've been working on.

In a few minutes, Christina munoz will introduce you to some All-Stars both on the field and in the classroom.

And we're going to introduce you to a high school football team that is literally beyond belief.

But first, deep in the heart of South Arkansas.

The town of Warren has been cultivating a culture of elite wide receivers.

Here's their story and.

More to the small town is known for its tomatoes and wide receivers.

Saw Mill town good salt of the earth people grew up with 4000 people.

I graduated with only 99 people.

Love you there.

The people love football there.

And when Friday night is packed, there's no way that many people are going to a high school football game in a small community.

And I do.

They turn out.

You got a big community that's on, like they on your side.

And I just want to win.

That's all I want to do.

Well, Warren has always been a football town.

But Coach Emery is taking it to the next levels.

Oh, started in 2000.

So this makes my 26 years a head football coach, both coming in and taking the job over as a young coach and just switching from a pow wow to more of a spread offense shotgun with, with one back and then four receivers and then translated into no backs, people running five wide and nobody else was doing it.

I mean, honestly, we were the only team in our conference doing it.

I don't think a lot of people really believed in it early.

But as you see with this, you know, the back to back state championships, the system started to work and kids started to get recruited.

You know, we started with Brett Smith and Sean Fellows and Terrence after the 2001.

And, it kind of grew.

College coaches all over the country can tell you, Warren, Arkansas is one of those places we're going to look at.

The thing that kind of prepares you, coming from Warren, is about teaching football.

You know, our guys start in the seventh grade and we learn how to catch a football.

Want to catch a football?

Where to catch a football?

Because a lot of little things go into running great routes and getting open, not just being fast or athletic.

He taught me everything I know.

He helped me become like a better player on the field of the field.

Q our kids play both sides of football in a higher classifications.

They only play on one side.

When they get to college and don't work out, then they're pretty much in trouble.

Whereas our guys, they played everywhere.

I look at Allen Burks, he was our fourth NFL pick since I've been here, which is crazy.

But our first first round draft choice, he played linebacker.

He played safety, he punted.

He returned to return gigs.

He played quarterback.

He played wideout Antonio Jordan.

Same thing.

Jerry's right.

You go back and you look at the list tomorrow night.

AJ Ricardo, camp Chris Greg Greg.

Giles Darby on Brown and Jalen Marshall who played at Arkansas State.

So you're not getting a wide receiver.

You're getting a football player.

Growing up I seen a lot of guys like Antonio Jordan, Charles Lindbergh just keep pushing their selves.

And, you know, it just makes me want to strive for more.

You know, when Brett and Roshan and they were they were at Tennessee, they would come back in the summer workout with our guys.

When you had Jason, Greg and Chris, they would come back, workout with our guys.

I remind them that I sat in the same chairs and the same in the same elementary school, that they did the same junior high at the same high school, the same locker room.

Man.

Like I literally helped build those locker rooms.

We we had to say in the walls and stuff, when we first got that indoor, knowing it, you got those people didn't came to hear know you coming through the same organization feels good.

Feel like you on the right road.

You know it's tough to make it out of South Arkansas.

I'm good at football.

That's what I'm good at.

That's what I know how to do.

This is my ticket to get out and war.

And that's one thing that I use and it means more to us down there.

It just means more.

Football has been the ticket to a much better life for a lot of kids in those football towns of rural Arkansas.

Warren is going to continue to produce great talent, and I truly believe that the sky's the limit for that football program down there.

You know, I wish he would come out of war.

You know, it's a lot of hype about it.

And I love just playing under the pressure.

They live for football.

It's just part of the culture.

It's who they are and what they do.

And we had a dessert auction, a dessert auction now where people made desserts and we raised over $12,000 and people were buying pecan pies for 500 bucks.

And it wasn't because of the camp, it was because they want to support the war and lumberjacks, man.

Every Friday the tail shuts down just to come watch, you know, lumberjack football show.

You think this town is pretty big.

Everybody comes out to show out or part of the very culture, not just the sport, but part of the fabric that holds that whole town together.

Football puts Warren on the map.

And to see all the fans, you know, filling up the bleachers and standing around the fans and things like that, because we helped make football important, to that town is, it's kind of a feeling you really can't replace.

From tomato crops to first round draft picks, Warren keeps proving that small towns can raise big dreams.

Now let's kick it over to Christina for a look at the 2025 Arkansas PBS Student All Stars.

Christina.

Thanks, bas.

Every year, we scour the state to find athletes who not only excel on the field, but more importantly, in the classroom.

Here is your 2025 Arkansas PBS Student All Star.

We kick it off with the eight man Arkansas PBS student all star that is Cash Martin, a linebacker and running back for the Cedar Ridge Timberwolves.

Cash has a 4.0 GPA and plans to go to college and get an engineering degree.

Next up in the two A classification, we have Peyton Willoughby, a senior with the Indians of Mark tree.

Peyton has a 4.11 GPA and is planning on attending college for the Air Force ROTC.

Moving on to the three A classification here is Micah Gamble with the Fordyce Red bugs with a 3.7 GPA.

Micah wants to play football at the collegiate level and major in criminal justice.

Brayden Simpson with the Southside Charter Southerners is our four.

A Arkansas PBS student, all star Braden has a 4.0 GPA and plans to attend Harding University to play football and major in civil engineering.

The five AA classification is well-represented by Walden Walcott, the quarterback for the Lakeside Rams.

While he has a 3.5 GPA and wants to play football at the collegiate level and become a coach.

The Benton Panthers Derek Pilkington is the Arkansas PBS student all star from the six A classification.

Garrett has a 4.06 GPA and is planning on attending UCLA and going to pharmacy school.

And finally, our seven.

A student all star is Trey Thompson, the quarterback for the Bentonville West Wolverines.

Trey has a 4.0 GPA and wants to major in marketing in college.

Congratulations to all and way to go.

You know, we may see some of these faces again in April here on Arkansas PBS for Quiz Bowl.

Now, if you haven't seen Quiz Bowl, you'll want to make a note to watch.

This year, some of the smartest high school students in the state meet up right here in this studio and square off not only for bragging rights, but for some pretty big checks, too.

And it is all live right here on Arkansas PBS.

Now let's throw it back to Babs for a look at a little bit of trickery in Arkansas football history.

Beth, thanks, Christina.

What do you get when you mix two Mary jokesters and a fake football team?

One of the greatest pranks in Arkansas history.

Check out the story of the Village Academy Beavers.

The very first game was September 7th.

Actually, that was the day that the article was published.

Seven.

It would have been September 6th.

We played rival Louisiana and Jess Norman gained 94 yards on 11 carries.

Jess Norman is one of the star athletes of all time here.

The air in Arkansas.

He was an outstanding running back quarterback.

Whatever you need position for the Village Academy Beavers back in the mid 80s.

He was indescribable.

His capabilities were limitless.

A lot of muscular definition could jump run.

He was fast.

He was very intelligent.

I mean, he could outsmart the defense wherever, wherever village up appeared, just knowing was going to be the just so happened he didn't exist.

That's true.

He did not exist.

It was all made up.

Bob Seville's band director.

I was the girls basketball coach at Jesse the high school.

Gary and I called it the scores.

And for Jacksonville every Friday night.

And we were talking about the fact that when we would call in the scores, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette at that time, we're having a newspaper war.

They're trying to get every score in the state within an hour, and we would call in a score and we'd say, Jesse, Bill, and they'd say, who are y'all?

Jacksonville?

And he'd say, no, no, we're Jesse, Bill, and you're the Eagles.

No, we played the Eagles.

We're the Lions.

And Gary got so frustrated that I could not keep straight where we were, who we are, he said I don't even know if they know if our school exists or not.

And the conversation began that we could probably just call in a make believe score, because the people taking the scores really had no idea about some of the small schools in the state that had a ding with me.

And I said, well, let's test it out.

Bob Seville's made that first call.

You went across the street from Jezebel School, went to First Baptist Church to the pastor's office to make the first hoax call.

Here I got the village Academy football scores, and the guy that I got knew a little enough to say the village has a football team.

Well, you May says, I've never heard y'all before.

He says, is this your first year for football?

And and Bob said, yes, this is.

And he said, who's your best player?

And I said, yes.

No.

I mean, we thought of that.

Our principal high, Jessica High School, his name was Norman Jespersen.

It'll be a kind of a play on words on his name.

And.

But nobody will know who that is.

So we turned his name around and called it just Norman.

And he said, what's your mascot?

But we had even talked about a mascot.

So Bob quickly came up with beavers.

But he asked me so many questions that I knew it was going to be in there the next morning.

There was, I don't know, I don't know if we ever gotten going.

I don't know if I would have ever made a call.

But when he made the first call and it got started, hey, it was all.

As we progressed with this and started calling in scores each week, I would make some calls.

Bob would make some calls, had them play out of state schools, were smart enough to realize we couldn't play other schools here in Arkansas.

There'd be two scores in there.

We knew that we could not win every game.

Okay, if you know, we did not want to create too much attention to ourselves, we weren't going to let just one run for 400 yards.

Anything that would attract attention where there were no to say, wait a minute, that doesn't seem possible, and start working.

So those were just general guidelines on what we had to do to keep from being caught.

Coaches and band directors and fans around the state, they couldn't wait to get a paper, you know, Saturday morning, to see how Village Academy did the night before.

Once they caught on.

Hey, this is real.

We got a lot of people saying, I just want to kick a field goal or an extra point.

We had a lot of fans that were getting into this.

We had bumper stickers printed.

They.

One of the faculty members wrote a fight song.

We had an album motto.

We were really getting into this big time.

A lot of Village Academy fans.

Village Academy Nation was big.

The elementary school principal was the only one that didn't think it was funny.

And he said, y'all need to stop that.

If something bad were to come of it, I can't stand up for you.

And we said, we totally understand that.

And we kept doing it.

We thought, okay, we'll call it, get it in there one time and you know that that'll be it.

And we'll laugh about it and and they'll figure it out.

That's there's, you know, and they won't put it back in there.

Well they didn't ever figure it out.

We kept doing it for four years.

And there's the article of when we were actually caught by a reporter named Robert Yates.

One of our administrators sent in a note to the Arkansas Gazette and said, you have a group of people in the state calling in fictitious football scores.

He misspelled fictitious.

By the way, he said, they called our school village academy.

There's no such school by that name.

So Robert Yates took that letter and started investigating.

He eventually figured out, no, this is not real.

We had a great program for four years until we got shut down.

But.

I said, you feel it?

The Village Kennedy coach said, hi.

He said, are you?

Happy to try out for the team.

Once we got caught and we said, okay, we've been exposed.

We'll have a celebration banquet at Rod's Pizza Cellar in Hot Springs, and we had well over 100 people for us to tell the story of the Village Academy Beavers talking about a make believe football team that did not exist.

There was no one else there for anybody.

And.

The village academy were just normal beer, just pop up places you never expect.

I mean, yeah, I've just got a wild blue.

I am amazed that it still pops up every once in a while.

You know, this many years later.

That was 1985 that we started started it and who had an 88?

I think the fact that it went so long for four years had a lot to do with, you know, if it was only a couple of times, nobody be saying anything about it.

So I think that's what keeps it going is just how much fun it was back then, how many people enjoyed following it and being a part of it.

I don't know if it'll ever die.

It'll it'll go on forever on our.

From a joke to a statewide following, just Norman and the Village Academy beavers continue to spring up across Arkansas, breathing new life into the prank.

More than 40 years later.

Now, Christine, it's about that time.

Yes it is.

Let's get you back to War Memorial Stadium for the second half of the high school.

State football championship, right here on Arkansas PBS.

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Is.

That's one fly for the entire company side.

Is the icing on the cake for the Deuce.

Here's a big play by Roberts.

He'll go down the left side.

One man to beat.

He'll walk in the end zone for a touchdown.

And here's a running lane at the five.

He'll walk it.

Touchdown.

There we go Johnny.

The S5A baseball championship hot hit once again down the left field line.

Double and score for nothing downfield.

The wall hits goal three.

Run home two.

This is the time to dig in and get the job done.

Kenzie Freeman with the big swing from the right side, she puts down another kill.

All that hard work finally paid off.

Hyatt.

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Nobody home right in the middle.

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Friends.

Okay, I know this is just incredible to watch how they have been impacted by this experience.

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Good.

Let's now.

We are just about set for the second half of action for Nice in Mansfield.

Red bucks have yet to find the endzone.

Mansfield's done it twice on the big plays and it's all about the adjustments in the second half Bobby.

Yeah Fordyce is going to have to find a way one to get the stop here.

But to maybe rely on that running game a little bit.

Mansfield has obviously landed a couple blows defensively and shut down the running game of Fordyce up to this point.

But they got to find a way to get Micah Gamble going.

And you feel like that's going to be the best chance to get their offense going.

Here's a look at the halftime stats.

Passing game for Fordyce has been all they've been able to muster.

The rushing yardage has been really stuffed by that Mansfield defense and Andrew Burton and company.

He has really piled on the rushing yards 230 and has certainly been huge for the Tigers, well down on the sidelines.

Tyler Scott Coach Rogers for Fordyce.

Yeah coach coming out of the locker room down a couple of scores is what was the message to the team.

We just got to relax and play.

We told them all week long and everybody I've interviewed talked.

Everybody I told we couldn't give up big plays and turn the ball over.

We turn the opening kickoff over, we threw an interception.

We gave up two big plays and we're behind 16 to nothing.

So everything I said we've been do we've done it.

First time we got to do something to say, I have to get back in the ball game.

We just gotta get action, stop the turnovers and stop giving up the big plays and try to get back in the game quick.

Offensively, been moving the ball kind of in the middle of the field.

What needs to change in the red zone.

Well we just got a block go downhill.

We've been trying to bounce everything out and they're doing a good job of keeping us from getting outside.

We just got to cut it back and get up in the air.

Penalties.

When we get penalties, we get penalties at the most inopportune time.

I mean, we're all first and go over to three and we get a motion penalty and then we get another penalty when we're going in motion again.

Inside the ten.

I mean, so our penalties are big time.

I mean, we I don't know what it is.

We just make them into play time when we don't need to.

But penalties are killing us on offense.

All right.

Appreciate you coach.

We'll see how things shake out in the second half after you guys.

Thank you Tyler down there with Coach Rogers I mean you saw it there from from Coach Rogers.

His adjustments that he's looking to make.

But here are the highlights from the first half defense build up big early.

Yeah that was the red zone stop early for Mansfield.

We saw a lot of that on both sides as both Mansfield and Fordyce both the neck a little bit if you'd call it that in the red zone.

But eventually Coach Rogers hit the nail on the head.

Inopportune penalties in the red zone.

Gave up two big plays.

And that really is the difference in this first half.

And for Mansfield early they had the penalties right in the red zone and couldn't get things rolling.

But it was the two big plays.

We've harped on it a ton.

That's been the difference.

16 nothing.

They've capitalized on both two point conversion and that's what's giving them a 16.

Nothing on it.

Here's that run from Andrew Burton busted after a fourth down stop at the ten.

He goes 90 yards.

You get a fourth-down stop.

You mentioned their defense creates things for your offense.

Fordyce obviously a little bit dejected at that point gives up the big run.

And how about this play.

Go up and catch it over the top of the helmet, but the defensive back and put it into the end zone.

Those two plays I mean that's the difference in this football game.

But that's what this offense does.

If you don't play assignment football every snap, they'll make you play.

That's why Mansfield's up 16 nil.

Back when it was still scoreless it was fourth down and goal.

The ten Fordyce handed at the three yard line.

Now looking like they're about to punch it in penalties pushed them back.

And then the defense for Mansfield stops them.

Nine yard touchdown.

Mansfield gets a stop again 48 yard touchdown pass.

It's been the stops for Fordyce.

The adjustments that they've got to make.

Coach already talked about it but.

But your thoughts heading up the second I think they've got to be able to run the football.

I mean it's first and goal with the three.

You've got to be able to pound that.

In they go.

They run the ball on first down they get nothing.

Then the penalties start to happen and push them back.

I mean all you're talking 11 carries for 17 yards in the first half for Fordyce.

That's not going to be good enough.

You've got to be unique enough different enough.

Balance the field on offense.

Fordyce has run the football.

We mentioned the numbers on top of the broadcast.

1500 yards for Michael Gamble on the ground.

Find a way to get that going.

That's going to make things a lot easier to be successful in the passing game.

And how important for Mansfield if they can score on this possession, it really punch Fordyce in the mouth.

Yeah.

You and I were talking during the break.

You know Martinsville gets the football obviously you know turnovers can happen.

But if they chew up five six yards per carry and two of 5 or 6 minutes off this clock and they put it in the end zone, it's kind of got that feeling that the game may be out of reach.

Trey Coates will handle the kickoff duties for Fordyce.

Red bucks can't allow any more points to go onside kick.

It's scooped up at the 48 yard line maybe 47 for Mansfield.

So they will have good field position on their opening drive of the second half.

Here.

We saw Mansfield also line up in the I formation a couple times in that first half as well.

And they're going to go toss, sweep, get the ball to Burton and try to create a play.

They found a lot of success on the edges of this Fordyce defense.

And I think we're going to see that.

But also it's almost a clean reset for Mansfield as well.

We're going to go back to running the fullback out of the flex zone, run the toss, sweep, maybe breaking a counter to or here.

You act like it's nothing.

Nothing, because you really do feel like this drive to start the third quarter is massive for the Fordyce defense.

They get a stop.

You're going to feel like they can get back in this game.

If Mansfield puts it in the end zone, it's going to be a huge hill to climb.

You talk about a lot of different things, but it really is a second half adjustments.

Who makes the better adjustments and finds ways to do what they do best.

Mansfield trying to go to Andrew Burton, do what they do best.

Burton gives him four yards on first down to the 49.

Yeah, that's what this offense is built upon.

Again we're going to reset it.

You know for yards four yards four yards as a first down.

So Mansell is going to be content with that.

And because more importantly the clock continues to move.

The Fordyce offense is on the sideline.

And it's just it's just crippling to the psyche that they are giving up four yards five yards five yards.

You can't find a stop against this.

Awful.

Isn't that the name of the game though.

That flexible and wink team right is hey we know if we just get 3 or 4 yards every time, you can't stop it.

Yeah, it's the old three yards in a cloud of rubber pellets.

Used to be dusty.

It was kind of mud yesterday and last week for Fordyce.

Got to give it off to Burton up the middle this time.

And there was nowhere to go.

He'll get a yard, they'll say.

But Ford progress stops him there.

That's what it's about.

Kyra Randall right there in the hole meets Burton, shuts it down.

Now it's third and five and this is when the defense can kind of tee off the third down.

These are the kind of plays though in games like this.

Who makes the plays.

Third down and five.

If you're Mansfield you're kind of in that no man's land.

You might be going for it on fourth down if you get a close enough.

Jubal Parks, under center move a man in motion that Silas Burton.

Oh movement up front.

Back him up.

512.

You can't afford if you're Mansfield now, it's third and long.

Oh, we didn't hear it, but microphone wasn't turned on.

But it was a false start.

So five yards back him up the, I believe it was a left guard or moved a little too quickly, pushes it back.

And now you're against the sticks and maybe you go to the passing game.

You trust that again, not a whole lot of wind in the stadium.

Mansfield already thrown the football three times today.

One of those on a trick play.

So now it's.

Yeah.

Third and ten.

If you're Fordyce how imperative is to not allow a lot of yardage.

It's big here is Fordyce.

You've got to find a way to get a stop defensively.

You get a stop here on third down.

Don't give up a couple.

You're likely to get the football back on a punt.

Mansfield kind of go pitch play Andrew Burton in the backfield.

Nearly loses the football.

Reverses his field.

Parks gives him a block but there's not much there.

He's tangled up near the far sideline right back to the line of scrimmage.

And Fordyce with the big stop Fordyce defense, came out of the locker room ready to play.

Just the toss play.

We saw them have success on in the first half.

Blown up in the backfield a great job by Winston getting penetration.

Then try to reverse field.

Nothing doing on that side of the ball either.

And for three and out for the Fordyce defense.

How hard is Andrew Burton to bring down my goodness.

3 or 4 different guys hit him.

He finally goes down.

He's going to be the one to handle the punting duties.

One thing looking at this Fordyce roster up and down and and Winston right there is a prime example a lot of sophomores a lot of young players for the Red books.

Burton punts that one out of play.

Jim Martez Stroud was back deep to return but not going to be able to.

And they'll have it at their own 31.

But Fordyce has broken a couple returns this year and the postseason kickoff and punt returns, man.

So it's not even about to flirt with that.

That's why we're seeing the sky kick on kickoffs.

And that one these punted out of bounds.

You're not taking a threat of gamble or that time Joe Martin Stroud being back there and a chance to break a big one.

That's exactly right.

You're telling your team, we're not gonna let those guys beat us in.

No scenario makes them march at 70.

Don't give up the big play on special to sure for Fordyce.

They get the stop that they also desperately need and they'll work from the shotgun with Andrew Ellison.

How does Fordyce change things up in the second half with their offense?

We shall see.

They've not been able to run the football the way they want.

It's been heavy dosage of passing game.

They're going to hand it off to the tailback left side.

Not much there.

TJ Harris might have gotten back to the line of scrimmage, but that's it.

Zander Walters read that one perfectly.

The linebacker just comes up, makes a play in the hole and drops it for no gain.

There.

I like the idea for Fordyce trying to go to the run game, just trying to establish that.

But Mansfield's front line, I mean, they have done exceptionally well.

Yeah, I mean outside of a couple go routes on the outside, Fordyce has really struggled to get anything going offensively.

Second down and ten Allison going to throw this time.

Got all kinds of time.

Unloads over the middle.

Low throw can't be scooped up by Tremaine Turner.

Pass was just a little bit too low to the turf.

Yeah Turner's frustrated there.

He had some wide open space on the crosser right about the first down marker.

If that throws on the mark he catches that in stride and picks up big yardage.

But instead it's third and long for Fordyce.

And now if you're the red bugs in order for you to even consider going for it on fourth down, you've got to be really close to the first down marker.

Find a way to the create something with your offense.

They're struggling to get it going.

Allison going to throw got time off his back foot in and out of the hands of Micah Gamble.

It would have been shy of the first down anyway.

But man Campbell just couldn't quite haul it in.

Yeah a lot of mustard on that pass from Ellison.

But again kind of fading away.

Pressure in his face is too tall for gamble.

Tried to go up and make a play, but just like we saw with Mansfield on their first possession, quick three and out.

So both teams, the defense's flexed the muscle and back deep.

For Mansfield.

It's Silas Burton and Isaac Carson.

It's Chase Humphrey getting set to punt the football away to tight.

A little spiraling punt.

They'll take a hit at the 46 yard line and take a red bug bounce all the way down to the 37 yard line.

That's where Mansfield will set up shop for their second drive of the second half.

We'll step aside 16 nothing Tigers on top of the red flags and 835 to play in the third.

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Goodbye.

Let's now.

Well, as we do every single contest, we name our Arkansas PBS student All star.

And this one's actually on the field today.

The star running back for Fordyce.

Micah Gamble, the junior.

Well, he has had quite the career, but he's our Arkansas PBS student.

All star.

So Mansfield will have the football at their own 38 yard line.

And for Fordyce, I mean, we said it.

You feel like this is almost like the opening drive again, right?

Gotta have stops.

Hit those.

That front four, front five defenders in the box.

Going to have to do a job here for Martinsville.

Defense can keep your offense to as long as you can.

Eventually you feel like Fordyce is offense is going to break through.

Jubal Parks going to give it off to Andrew Burton breaks one tackle.

Bring in the pile pushing it deep across the midfield line into the 45 of Fordyce.

Gonna put him over 170 yards already for the contest of course 90 coming on one play.

And it shows you how difficult it is to bring zero down with one defender jump on his back.

Doesn't matter.

He's going to carry it for extra yardage.

And one thing the coach over to talked about with Burton that he's been so impressed with is the way that he protects the football.

And in this game you've seen him when he's bringing through, he is making sure he does not lose that football.

Possession of the football is the name of the game for this offense.

Can't afford to give it away.

First and ten at the 44.

Fordyce going to go pitch play on the end around Jeremiah Burton two three yards.

They keep on pushing the pile.

They'll give him the 40 yard line.

Well the far ref says 40 near 41.

We'll see where they spot at 3 to 4 yards.

They they'll split the difference right in the middle.

And that's a win on first down for Mansfield.

You're looking for four yards.

Every time you snap the football they pick it up there.

You know Fordyce one first down on the opening possession of this third quarter.

Got a three and out.

Now Mansfield starting to get a little momentum.

And really what do you see a flexible an offense.

Pick up the first first down of a drive.

That's when they feel like they're in rhythm.

That is exactly right.

Fordyce looking to find a stop.

They've loaded it down low in the box.

Give it on the inside to Andrew Burton.

And he has nowhere to go.

Big stop.

Christian Wax Winston was the one leading the charge that time.

Yeah.

Winston again right in the hole.

Did a nice job.

Everybody around the football crashes in from the outside.

Also, to give credit to 52 on the inside, Stroud stacks it up at the point of attack.

Now it's third and medium for the Tigers.

It was such a great play from Winston because he had to wait to see if the quarterback still had the ball right, he state his position.

It gave him a spot to make both tackles if he needed to.

Now it's third down and six at the Fordyce 40.

Big play up coming Jubal Parks.

Little fake the handoff.

And on the left side this time not much there to Jeremiah Burton.

Fordyce the stop.

It's fourth and five.

Yeah.

First and half we saw Mansel to run that play the wing back around.

They had the defense flowing that time.

Fordyce stayed at home and there's not many running lanes on the counter play.

And now it's fourth and medium again.

And no sign of the punt team.

Yeah.

If you're Fordyce and you stay with assignment right there don't don't get fooled by the misdirection.

You're able to get some stops.

They were fooled last time as you mentioned the offense was moving and now they're going to make some adjustments on the offensive side.

Might be putting the football.

And when you've got a 16 nothing lead that clock's moving Hardy halfway home here in the third quarter.

See if he can pin Fordyce deep and make them march it 7580 yards.

Three seconds on the play clock.

Going to have to go.

They will.

Burton's able to get a high punt.

It'll take him down to the 15 and bounce right out of the 14 yard line and let's say 15.

So that's where Fordyce will have it.

They'll have to go 85 yards for response with 546 in the third.

So Fordyce defenses rose to the challenge here in this third quarter.

Back to back.

Stop giving their offense the football back.

But they've got to get something going on the ground and try to do anything to get see Micah Campbell break one in the run game.

Because the passing game consistency has not been there for Fordyce, no doubt.

And Tyler, you've talked about how good this Fordyce defense is now.

It gives their chance for the offense.

Yeah.

And guys the offense actually helps out the defense from the mental stamp.

You mentioned it.

Quarterback Haddock Nelson playing the last half of the season through an ACL injury.

And the defenders even told me this week anytime they're down they think about their quarterback and they say hey he's putting potentially his career on the line for us.

We could find something with him.

So no matter how much they get down, don't expect them to quit.

Thank you Tyler.

Great stuff down there on the sideline.

Tremaine Turner got the toss.

Play on the end around.

But he had nowhere to go.

They'll lose four yards.

Mansfield defense once again great pursuit.

And they pin him in the backfield.

So it's second down and 14 now.

And you know for all intents and purposes we've talked about the Mansfield offense.

But this Mansfield defense is no joke.

They're doing a job holding.

It's explosive Fordyce offense just 180 yards in the first half.

Pass play into the flat.

Nice move Harris makes a man miss.

Can't stay on his feet.

He gets to the 20 yard line.

But man if he's able to keep his footing he's running for a while.

Jubal Parks catches just enough of the right foot and the right leg there to prevent a big play.

Mansfield's had some excuse me.

Fordyce has had some success running the two receivers off, sneaking the running back into the backfield behind them.

That time.

They've got it back to third and manageable third down and manageable five yards.

In fact, how important is it going to be for Ellison to find some accuracy in these big moments?

It's going to be big.

You know, Mason's dropping everybody they're trying to avoid the big play is what's leaving things really in the middle of the field.

And the underneath stuff has got to be able to set your feet and drive on the throw.

Ellison in trouble.

Back foot hit as he throws.

Got a man wide open.

It's complete.

JaMarcus Stroud all alone.

Nobody's going to get in Fordyce their first score of the game and they're right back in this thing.

Give a ton of credit to Ellison.

Stood in the pocket, knew he was about to take a big hit, and delivered a throw to a wide open receiver bust in coverage for Mansfield.

Let's the red bugs right back in it.

How about the concentration two from Stroud with that defender closing in quickly.

Ellison I mean I know he threw that ball, but he's throwing off his back foot.

That is a cannon to get that ball towards playable.

And most importantly, you see a receiver that wide open.

You can't overthrow him.

No they're throwing him.

There is not a bad decision.

Again he knew he was about to take a big hit.

Delivers the football and the first real big play we've seen for the red Bucs 16 six but not done yet.

You got to get the two point conversion to stay two for two with Mansfield, Cadillac, Allison what a throw at Jamal Stroud to finish looking for the two point conversion here.

Can I go shotgun Ellison again.

Going to throw it all kinds of time.

Back of the end zone broken up silence but knocks it down.

He's trying to find his receiver in the back of the end zone.

But if he would have gone to his checkdown receiver TJ Harrison, the flat was wide open.

That's a big stop.

Even though Mansfield gives up the score, they still got a ten point lead.

And that throw was even though was slightly underthrown.

He got it there and that ball carried a lot more than I thought it did.

And for Fordyce, you almost feel like that was a must have.

Yeah, yeah.

Their defense has done the job in the second half and now the offense returns the favor.

Nothing really going.

We knew this offense was built on the big play.

They finally hit one.

And you feel like this is a whole new ballgame.

16 to 6 now though both those two point conversions for Mansfield huge they are.

And again that's the name of the game.

You see it all the time in small school football.

It's the score.

Yes.

It's always important when the two point conversion is instrumental.

Mansfield's been really successful at it now obviously here today two for two but all season long.

And that's why the margin still stands at ten.

Trey Collins looking to roll with the onside earlier will do the same here.

More of a pooch.

Jet kick taken at the 40 yard line.

Going to be returnable.

And then sliding down at the 41 yard line for Mansfield.

That was Jubal Parks at quarterback.

Not going to take any unnecessary hits.

He takes enough run in this flex bone offense secures the kick goes down and now the man's hauled off.

It's going to try to go back to work because you think about it.

Yes 310 yards of offense is a lot in a game, especially for a ground oriented attack.

But take away two plays.

And Mansfield really struggled to move the football as well.

Yeah that's a great point.

And then you know outside the red zone too.

They haven't been able to get in the red zone at all for two.

Their defenses have made place down the stretch.

You take away the big plays.

And again even for Fordyce there's a big play right.

Three big plays two for Mansfield one for Fordyce.

And that's all the scoring.

Yeah.

You got three touchdowns, all of which are 50 yards longer in this contest.

Crazy.

409 to play in the third quarter Fordyce all kinds of life now see how they respond defensively.

They're two for two on stops for this time Burton breaks one across midfield and one man to beat at the 20.

Andrew Burton with the response and Mansfield.

And again I say three touchdowns of 50 or more of it.

Four because how about another House call Burton on the toss.

Sweep cuts it back.

Uses the momentum in the flow of the defense against the red bugs.

And again, fullbacks aren't supposed to be that fast jab.

It's not fair.

Wow.

The ability to bounce off and break tackles.

My goodness I don't know how this guy's not got any offers to play at the next level.

I mean, you're talking about a 2400 yard rusher now on the season.

That's impressive that somebody give this guy a chance to play on Saturdays.

He won't make you feel bad about that off.

Not at all.

Breaks a tackle and then breaks one loose I think his speed is strength.

One thing.

But then the way he just breaks tackles like nobody.

And this is a good Fordyce defense.

Two point conversion.

This is big Jubal Parkes could have tossed it Jeremiah Burton to the end zone.

Ball comes out.

It's loose for ISIS.

Got it I don't know if he crossed the plane or not.

No signal I think that might be ruled a fumble.

But still no indicator from the officiating crew.

On if that if he crossed the goal line or not.

This would be a reviewable play because it is a scoring play.

Yeah.

So all the football has to do is touch the white of the goal line.

Results of the tries no good balls out before crossing zone for the was.

He lost control of the football before he crossed the plane.

You can't really tell from this angle is too many bodies.

I think they're going to go back and look at that.

That's should be a successful try.

I agree with you.

So we'll see if they do indeed decide to review it.

If there's a shot from up top that shows the goal line and where the runner is, maybe the best angle that can convince the replay crew.

Previous plays under review that it was a successful try.

I mean, look at it right there.

At least what we're looking at on a monitor, it looks like he's across the goal line.

His feet are across the goal line before the ball comes out.

He's kind of got the ball up in the air with two hands.

And here's the look that you're going to get to see.

So right here all it has to do is touch the line.

He's got possession.

That's a cross.

Yep.

That should be a successful two point try.

And also should be a quick review I certainly would think so.

How cool is it though that we get this a million years ago you didn't get this review and they get a chance to get it right.

Yeah.

And that's the most important thing.

You want to find a way to get it right.

And they've got so many different angles at it.

And you're looking at what exactly the officiating crew is going to be able to look at here in the booth mean this is the same equipment that the when the Razorbacks play here more it's the same equipment.

They use the same angles they're looking at.

So rolling out the red carpet, that's what these kids deserve.

You deserve to get the call right I believe at least of course I'm unofficial.

This should be a successful truck.

You would think so.

And it'd be huge because it would put it 22, six, 24.

Excuse me.

Yeah.

And then put the lead right back at three possessions.

So it's 16 now.

So that's why this is so big.

It's a two possession game.

I mean this is a monumental call.

They're going to take some time to make sure they get it right.

But I'm with you I mean you got to have enough evidence.

And I think he's still got the football firmly by the time he crosses the pylon.

And this is what coaches always tell you never reach the ball out.

But on a two point try, you're just trying to touch the whites of the goal line to break that plane.

Again.

This should be a successful try.

But the longer this draws out, more Fordyce fans should be feeling pretty good about themselves because it has to be clear and indisputable.

So even though it may be clear to us, you got to have the perfect angle at them if they're following the rules to the law, right to the get a crumb, dot the i's, cross the T's, make sure that everything's done legally.

Let's see if this angle you can see anything definitive.

Yeah, maybe too many bodies in the way.

Yeah.

This is a good opportunity to give a shout out to the crew out there on the field battling the elements because this, not a lot of fun to be outside today.

So kudos to those guys working the cameras.

It's a little chilly out there.

And yeah.

Tyler mentioned that he's having to suffer with it as well.

You know better he than us, right?

He's better suited for that.

He does a much better job on the sidelines, young and tough.

And he's good at what he does.

They certainly are taking a good long look at this.

Use taking down almost three minutes.

Looks like he may be getting the call.

And the verdict.

White hats getting set to take off the headset.

And he still hasn't taken it off though.

Here he goes.

We'll get our final call here in a moment.

Remember, the call in the field was a fumble.

No.

Go to the two point try.

Let's see what the call is after review in the overtime.

And it is a two point drop.

Yeah.

But you and I expect the JB the conversion is good.

Looks like he broke the plane.

Mansfield gets the two point try and more importantly lead now three possessions.

How about the story for coach.

Went over to two right.

His first ever trip for Mansfield in the state championship game.

Their boys team was 2018 the baseball championship.

That's the only thing that's ever made it.

And boy, his story too.

You know, he worked at Walmart, a distribution center, not too long ago, he told us, and got into coaching.

And I think he's, I think he's answered his calling.

Yeah.

He said he really came into his own working on the staff for Crowley in company at Booneville.

And you can see you can watch this offense and say, this has got Boonville fingerprints all over it.

But sometimes that's all it takes.

You know, you think about, you know, what you're going to do in life.

He said he thought he was going to work for Walmart forever.

And it's all tied to the trade in all his stock.

Go back to pay for school, became a coach.

And that's he's made a pretty good decision.

He's turned Mansfield into a state power, which is a lot of, you know, fans of football ten years ago would have laughed at you if you said that.

And it crazy the story that you have.

We got stories aplenty across the sports.

What makes it so fun, so cool.

Well, that's what's great about small school football is the kickoff goes out of bounds, because all it takes is, you know, a change of culture.

You know, you get a coach that believes in the kids and invested enough to, like, Mansfield didn't have that before.

It's not what I'm saying.

But sometimes, you know, the stars align.

Kicked out of bounds.

Kicking team.

The stars align.

And then you get a really good group of players.

Come in and you can turn what used to be the third or fourth or fifth best team in your conference into the the envy of the entire state in your classification.

Well, you know, Mansfield is kind of close to your neck of the woods where you grow.

They've got a player, Trevor, and had a ball on their team.

Who has a relation to your old high school coach?

Yeah.

Bob had a ball a long time coach.

I played a role in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma side of Fort Smith, and he was my coach, all through junior high and our sophomore year in high school.

And he he popped over and actually coached Coach Overton when he was at Mansfield when he was a player.

So kind of kind of unique tie in there.

Shout out to Coach Hannibal if he's watching at home.

Maybe here in the stands.

He's a tough guy.

You know flat back express I remember.

The glory days.

Fordyce will have it.

It'll go pass into the flat.

Allison.

Nice throw.

It's complete to Xavier Jones.

You know we've we've talked about Joe Martin's Stroud, the big plays that he's made.

But Xavier Jones has held his own.

He has he's the number two receiver coming into it on the season for Fordyce.

And you can tell they're giving him a cushion.

A lot of the attention is going to go to Stroud on the other side.

So Jones is stepped up.

Had a really good day.

You talked about your role in high school team talk on the break.

Hill had a pretty good junior and senior season and just couldn't couldn't get the job done.

Well, I would like to.

You're going to bring up 25 year old wounds David.

Oh I love it.

So it makes it fun.

And to make it to this point for both Fordyce and Mansfield, it's such an incredible feat.

Ellison going to throw it, dump it to Harris, undercut at the 45 yard line.

Had some daylight but couldn't shake the one tackle.

Yeah Cooper Edwards comes up.

And that play is kind of indicative of how this game has gone.

They dump it off to the back into the backfield for Fordyce.

And these are the plays.

They've been able to break those tackles all season long.

Mansfield's done a really good job.

One on one in space preventing a dink and dunk pass to go for more yardage.

Second down and seven.

Ellison going to throw again.

Dumps in the flat.

Got Harris daylight inside the 45.

The 40 out of bounds near the line to gain at the 38 yard line.

We'll see where they mark him as they decide that we'll go down and talk to Tyler.

Yeah guys, you have been talking about it in a game like this with these two styles of football, the two point conversions incredibly important.

We saw the overturn on that.

But even before after Fordyce finally broke free for a touchdown, the Mansfield sideline stayed up because as they were telling their players, hey, you got one of the stops, they got the stop on the two point conversion and then immediately turned that momentum into another Mansfield touchdown.

It was quite the response.

Andrew Burton busting it for a 50 plus yard run.

Now Fordyce has chances to return it bringing the pressure pocket collapse.

Completing the flat.

Got a man inside the 25.

The 20 tangled up at the ten.

Still on his feet.

He's gone.

Touchdown Micah Gamble spoke too soon J.B.

Mitchell had his credit to the Mansfield making those one on one plays that time they couldn't get gamble to the turf shows you why he's got all kinds of Division one offers breaks for a big one.

And the Fordyce red bag offense is showing lines.

Wow, that was some pressure.

How about Ellison to step in and make the throw a clean throw right to Micah Gamble.

And they just couldn't bring him down?

Jeremiah Burton was trying to hang on for dear life.

But Micah Gamble would not be denied, just different.

That strength.

It doesn't look like he's got the frame that you might expect somebody to break one through tackles, but Micah Gamble, really impressive strength on the outside gets in the end zone.

And that guy's a dude.

Like a gamble two point try here.

Ellison needs it.

And after roll outside lobs it back of the end zone two far in front and incomplete.

Wouldn't have counted either way as the receiver stepped on the end line.

You saw the official throw his hat.

That means Jones stepped out of bounds.

Could not be the first player to touch the football.

The pass falls incomplete either way, so it doesn't matter.

But take another look at what Micah Gamble can do with the football in his hands.

So impressive.

I mean, goodness and just the strength in that go down.

Stayed inbounds.

Another big play for a touchdown.

Somebody's going to get a really really good football player in a couple of years.

You mentioned the offers.

He's got Arkansas State Central Arkansas a handful of other Division one player programs.

He's going to do nothing but get better and better.

And, you know, I mentioned the number of young players that Fordyce has.

Stroud Junior, Gamble, the junior Cadillac sophomore.

They got a chance to be back here next year.

Of course they're trying to win it right now.

Yeah.

They don't want to take about next year.

They want to finish now.

But you talked about gamble.

He's also got an offer from Minnesota up north and a Big Ten starting quarterback from the state of Arkansas already right out of Fayetteville.

Novel idea for quarterbacks in your state.

Well the pooch kick fair catch called for by Mansfield.

They'll set up shop.

It's 24 to 12.

Still a two possession game.

That's why those two point conversion drove big.

So a 12 point lead.

But Mansfield not feeling probably as good as about themselves right now as they were at halftime, had a 16 nothing lead in Fordyce is offense especially in the passing game has come to life, but I think they're probably just going to turn around, say, hey, zero carries.

All he's done is have 234 yards and a pair of scores.

Today I was at all 13 yards per carry.

Sources tell me that's good.

I'll tell you right now that Andrew Burton kid, he can play at the next level, no doubt.

QB keep Jubal Parks on his block, lunges forward for a couple to the 45 yard line.

And that is all.

Second and eight.

You don't see parks keep the football to himself, but that time Fordyce really took away the option and he added his tuck and didn't try to get what he could.

Lunges forward just for a couple.

What about this game?

Had a little bit of everything in it.

You saw defenses go up big, some red zone stops.

But then we've seen a ton of really fun chunk plays.

Yeah, I mean, it's kind of what we expected between these two teams.

And that's what they've done all season long.

Because if you don't play a 100% sound assignment football, you're going to get the big play against Mansfield in Fordyce.

Scott speed to burn it.

Almost every skill position play 218 and counting to play in the third quarter.

Fordyce loads the box and hand it off.

Burton trying to bounce it around three four tacklers on him and he finally goes down.

It's progress was stopped at the 47.

So a two yard gain and it's third and six.

This is a massive third down up coming for the Fordyce defense.

Your offense is clicking.

Got a chance to get off the field.

Easier said than done.

Got to find a way to win this third down in a game like this.

Don't get me wrong there's still plenty of time left, but possessions come into play.

You don't have as many as you'd like, so you get to stop here.

You got to capitalize and you believe they get 4 or 5 here.

The offense may stay on the field for Mansfield.

Sure.

You got to think so.

Third and six hard count.

Now looking to the sideline is Jubal Parks with nine on the play clock.

Winding down.

Going to have to go somewhat quickly here three seconds.

They get it off.

Parks going to give it off to Silas Burton up the middle trying to get to the 50.

He's not going to stood up at the 49.

And Mansfield's got a decision to make.

Yeah this is decision time indeed.

You're looking at fourth and a long three.

Has to get the football all the way to the 47.

Might have cut that up a little too early.

But again Fordyce did a nice job of setting the edge on that counter play, force things back into the interior of the defense, and now we'll see what Mansfield wants to do.

They bring a couple of different players on the field.

Cooper Edwards and Colton Moore might be a punt job for Burton if it is.

Do you like the conservative call?

Looks like they're not.

But yeah they're going to keep the offense out there.

This has been a heavy toss formation for Mansfield.

See if they stick with it.

Fourth and three big play.

Biggest play of the game thus far.

Going to toss it Burton trying to follow his box.

Cuts it up near the first down.

He's not going to get it.

Fordyce stops him with a yard to go big time.

Fourth down stop for for Micah Campbell right there.

Normally makes the plays on the offensive end.

But that time he sticks his nose in it and stops it right a yard shy of the first down marker.

And what a big big play for the Red bucks.

So Coach Overton rolls the dice a little bit.

Let's head down to Tyler now.

Yeah guys you can hear it going on behind me.

You can hear whenever Fordyce has a ball.

The Mansfield supporters this year have been bringing the cowbells and bringing them loud.

They've already broken four during the game today, and they're going to stay loud the rest of the way.

They have certainly been loud.

That's kind of played a factor.

And that Fordyce sideline has got a lot to cheer about right now.

I control the the inbox in the old Triple-A Facebook page.

If I got asked once I got asked 30 times this week, are cowbells allowed inside the stadium or they they are.

So they weren't illegally.

They're not snuck in.

That is not contraband.

They're not air horns are not allowed.

No.

If it has an external power source, can't bring you well there you go.

So coming tonight to the game now you know no second down at ten after the incompletion from Cadillac Ellison Steve Roberts has a fever in that fever a curious Bill Callahan.

Little SNL I like it.

Fordyce would love a little more cowbell.

Allison steps in the pocket.

Got a man wide open.

Harris inside the 40.

He'll run.

It bounds at the 34 yard line, but T.J.

Harris with all kinds of running room credit.

The offensive line there.

Gave Cadillac all day to throw.

Able to go through his progressions.

Realize nobody's open downfield.

Checks it down.

Makes the right decision.

Big gainer.

I think he also sold it looking for that big ball.

It gave a lot of separation for Harris to have even more running room, seeing a lot of Harris in the backfield using gamble as a slot receiver, it's going to be on the left side of the formation.

Harris can make some plays in the passing game as well, listed as a fullback, but he's more of a running back when he's got the ball in his hands.

First down and ten with 2020 one seconds to play in the third quarter.

Allison pump fakes, flicks it to Harris.

Nowhere to go though.

It was a nice idea.

And Harris is in a lot of pain for that gamble on the receiving end there.

But again what a great play by Ellison.

The pressure is getting there.

He's got the strength to recognize, hey I've got a receiver right there.

Instead of a loss there.

5 or 6 able to flip it out to his running back.

It's a no gain, but it's a win in the column for Fordyce, as is his second and ten.

Here's Flynn to see him okay.

Walks off of his own power.

But here we go.

Fourth quarter off coming 20 for 12.

Mansfield the lead but Fordyce is driving.

Don't go anywhere.

We've got a good one in the capital city.

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Let's start.

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12 minutes left to decide the three day state champion.

Four days trying to score and make this game real interesting there at the 34 yard line.

Allison with the pocket collapsing, breaks one tackle, but it can't break another unloads.

I think he was down there him before he got rid of the football.

That's a ten yard sack and it's third down and 20.

The pass rush has been close a handful of times for Mansfield, but finally able to break free, get in the face of Cadillac and finally somehow get him down on the ground.

Tip of the cap to that front four for Mansfield.

And now it is third and a mile.

And actually for Fordyce, it's four down territory.

You got two downs.

You've just.

And we say this, we break it down a ton on third and long like this.

You just got to get it to fourth and manageable.

Get half of it back.

Just trying to get that sack yardage back here.

Give yourself a chance on fourth down third and 20 Allison going to throw.

Got time over the middle.

Intercepted.

Silas Burton picks it off.

Taking it on the other end to the 45 midfield.

Huge turnover from Allison A flag comes in late extracurricular but Silas Burton picks it off.

Burton was just playing center field that deep high safety for Mansfield, reading the eyes of the quarterback.

And as soon as Ellison let it go, he just undercut that route.

Easy interception and maybe 15 more coming up for Mansfield High and ball slightly underthrown Burton just jumped in front and snatched it.

And you're right, that flag after the play likely going to be a personal foul and an extra 15 for Burton.

Did a great job of just reading the quarterback's eyes.

Ellison kind of stared down that deep post, knew where we were going with the football.

Tom, it was snapped, made an easy play.

Out to the plays.

Interception after the play.

Dead ball.

Unsportsmanlike.

Fordyce 15 yards for the first down.

So bad goes the worst.

JB you got to be able to maintain your composure after the turnover.

But as you mentioned the extracurriculars 15 yards and Mansfield's in business.

There's that pick from Burton and he just kept rolling.

And then a little bit of extra pushing going on.

But I also think the flag came on the pancake on the other side.

It did.

He has some frustration there from Fordyce.

You understand that you've you've kind of been struggled other than the two big plays, to get anything going.

They got to be able to maintain that composure.

There's way too much time left in this football game.

You think it's over, that there is.

And if you're Mansfield, you're licking your chops and you think, hey, we got to score lead, let's milk some clock and plus field position.

Jubal Parkes will be under center 1112 to play in the football game.

Turnovers and penalties, name of the game and state championship games.

And right now, Mansfield winning both will hand it off.

Burton slips one tackle brought down after three yards to the 31 clock rolls.

Second and seven.

Yeah, the clock isn't as much of a teammate for Mansfield right now.

Is the other guys in red and white on the sideline to make sure that that continues to run?

If you're a mansfield ball carrier, make sure you stay in bounds.

Obviously you're trying to pick up 3 or 4 yards a carry just like they did on first down.

Find a way to keep the offense on the field, move the chains and keep that clock turn.

Jewell parks again under center as he's been all game long.

Keeps it option outside Burton.

Silas Burns spin move breaks a tackle inside the 20.

Inside the ten rumbles inside the five.

They finally bring him down around the three yard line.

What a run from Silas Burton.

And he's slow to get out.

I like the idea of getting the ball to Burton.

He already made a big play defensively.

Try to reward him on the offensive end as well.

He's still down on the turf.

Might have got rolled up on but takes the option pitch breaks through.

One arm tackle going to be first and goal Ten-yard penalty from the spot.

They'll be second down.

Late flag comes in there, at least one in the pile.

So wipe off the big play from Burton.

My fault.

Wow.

So they'll bring it back while they've got that sorted out.

Let's head down to Tyler.

He's got something on Silas Burton.

Yeah, guys just saw the nice run.

Even if it comes back there.

And obviously the huge interception.

Silas just a sophomore last year as a freshman he got called up to the varsity team to join them for depth in the playoffs.

So even at such a young age, he had that important experience getting into playoff games last year.

And we're seeing that pay off now.

Thank you Tyler.

Well Silas Burton still on the field.

They're getting tended to him.

He gets up on his own power.

So that's good to see right there Bobby.

Yeah that's not only good for their offense good for their defense as well.

And they need him on both sides of the football.

Good to see him get up and walk off on his own power.

Mansfield though again, we saw that a lot happen a lot in the first half.

For both of these teams.

You get a big play.

You think you've got a first and goal.

Instead, wipe it away.

Now, second and long the play of these Burton's you've mentioned it.

I mean they've got enough siblings to have an eight man football team right.

You know.

Yeah.

And two graduated last year get two eighth graders are going to be on the team next year after they move up from the ninth grade season ends.

I mean, I mean, what a great story.

To see, you know, you get four and you got four more.

And it's just a great family there in the Fort Smith River Valley that's making an obvious impact.

Okay.

It's such a cool thing.

I've got eight brothers and sisters as well.

3 or 3 adopted, five biological.

So I know there's a little bit a lot of backyard football team that much.

So the Burtons certainly come by naturally.

They get a lot of time to play.

They go pitch play.

Jeremiah Burton slips a tackle.

Could he go run?

Maybe it's a house call for Jeremiah Burton.

Option worked on one side.

Came back because of penalty.

Run it to the other side.

But again a flag on the far side of the field.

That one's down around just inside the 20, the 19 yard line on the far end.

And it might be coming back.

We'll see.

Might have got a Fordyce for the personal foul coming over the back of a mansfield player.

During the play unsportsmanlike Fordyce.

So the touchdown is going to stand.

You kind of see it behind the play there.

Just kind of ran over the top of a mansfield player.

Touchdown for Burton.

Likely going Mansfield will take half the distance on the try here for they had the option of taking it on the kickoff.

I don't think you saw it on your screen.

The penalty will be enforced on the kickoff.

But Jeremiah Burton after the signal was called, they have officially ruled the touchdown.

He did a really fancy back there.

But family's got talent, no question about it.

Been a ton of fun to watch.

You saw the during the trivia question 4600 yards rushing.

They're inching towards a 4000 marker.

Excuse me, the 5000 yard rushing mark for the season got 460 on the ground or thereabouts.

Right now.

Excuse me.

400 is pretty impressive, Well, they've certainly capitalized another big play.

We haven't seen a one yard touchdown run.

Really?

We've seen some big ones that might have been the shortest touchdown we've had all day at 36 yards.

No kidding.

Two point try up coming for Mansfield.

They're up 3212.

Trying to go up by 20 points.

Inside handoff Burton untouched.

The two point try is good.

It's 32 to 12 four for four on two point tries.

That's another touchdown in itself.

Mansfield taking advantage when they need to have more touchdowns today JB 90 4880 5938 and 36.

If you like big plays, you found the right place that you have.

Here's the back flip from Burton.

Now I knew he had it somewhere.

Look at there.

Oh, for a little salsa on there.

Having some fun out there.

I can tell you what.

Let's head down to Tyler.

He's got an update on Silas Burton.

Yeah, guys.

The update.

Well, have you see, right now he's jogging back on the field with his helmet on.

Justin, some pain trainer asked if he wanted a brace.

He said no and then he chugged a couple of mustard packets, something I've personally never seen.

They said it's just for cramps.

No pickle juice available.

They went with mustard.

And there you go.

He's back on the field.

There's got to be some relish packets around here somewhere.

What are we doing with mustard?

Well, when you don't have pickle juice here, the second best thing must.

So remember that unsportsmanlike conduct penalty will give Mansfield the kickoff at the Fordyce 45.

So red bucks have hurt themselves and have penalties a couple of times really throughout the contest in the red zone.

But here of late for sure.

Mansfield still going to stick with the sky kick.

He's got to believe.

But instead a chance to pin Fordyce inside their 30.

Jeff Smithson approaches wobbly spinning kick Mount to the 25.

Going to be tried to return by Micah Gamble.

He'll get out across the 35 to the 36 so they'll have 64 yards to go.

And Fordyce needs to score quick.

Mansfield maybe a little fortunate there.

I don't think that was a planned squib kick.

And that was also the opposite side of the field, where the majority of their players were expecting the football to go.

Micah Gamble would have had a lot of running space, but kudos to the four gunners on the far side to recognize the miss.

It kind of like my short game on the golf course and rally to the football.

See what you're telling me is Smithson unintentionally gambled on that one and, make a gamble trying to make it pay you so that try, I try.

That was actually not that I should have done a little better.

There we go.

3212.

Fordyce.

Gotta get something.

They go a toss it on this end around across the 4045 stays in bounds bounced out Tremaine Turner he had one called back a moment ago early in the first half.

That was a good game.

Yeah.

Great job of stretching that out eventually caught the corner and just pushed out of bounds.

Was an inch away from breaking a really big one.

And then outside the tackles I mean that's the name of the game for Fordyce right now.

You got to have stuff quick.

You need to chunk plays.

Still a lot of time left, don't get me wrong.

But the way this game has gone, Fordyce hasn't been able to stop Mainz for the last three tries.

Ellison got to throw this time.

In hot pursuit.

Dumps it over the middle.

Underthrown to the 40 yard line.

Zander Walters the senior from Martinsville, was close by.

I think that was a prime example of Ellison not being healthy.

He did enough to get to the outside but couldn't play on his feet.

Didn't have the legs in that throw, didn't have the strength to get there.

All arms.

And that's where that that torn ACL comes into play, even though he avoided the pressure, just didn't have enough zip on the football to get to his target.

I mean, the ability that he's even out there playing right now, first off is it's really real.

Yeah.

I mean, you don't have guys playing with a torn ACL.

That just doesn't happen.

It shows you the type of player he is, but also the type of teammate that even they will be willing to risk.

That.

And knowing that he gives his team a really good chance.

Gonna need a lot of help though here down the stretch.

Ellison in the flat.

Nice catch by Harris.

Makes one man miss.

Got another one.

Cuts it up trying to stay on his feet.

But he's tackled in the open field Joe Carter a big one on one tackle.

That's been the most consistent play for Fordyce all afternoon long.

You run the two receivers to the side out and you sneak the running back behind them and again you break a tackle.

You crossed midfield and you got another big gainer.

It was a great play call.

But how about Carter though to make sure he kept him in front.

Because if he gets by Carter ain't no one left.

Adding to the big play the touchdowns list we already have.

That would have been one Allison and then trying to go quick out.

But a flag and the play is that receivers on the right side of the formation did not get set.

Back it up.

Fires that ball.

False start offense five-yard penalty still be first down.

But there's one thing that you look back and forth as if they're not going to win this football game.

And if they don't, they're going to look back at the picture.

But it all goes back to that one possession inside the red zone with about 4.5 minutes left in the first half.

You got it.

First and goal to three a chance to punch it in.

Take an early lead.

You never know how a team's going to respond, especially one like Martinsville that hasn't been behind essentially all season.

They had a tough couple of tough games, yes.

But instead you back it up, then you have a couple of penalties and man gets the offense rolling.

Ellison going deep left sideline complete.

JaMarcus Stroud and he'll walk it into the end zone for the big time.

Touchdown.

Much needed for Fordyce.

You're starting to see why you got pulled in.

Division went off for over the weekend.

It's almost tough to guard or even impossible to guard on the outside.

Not a mansfield defender.

Within five yards of him he can waltz into the end zone.

This one's not over yet, Fordyce.

Keep hanging around.

Jim Chase around.

He watched into the end zone to his little strut.

Yeah.

The offer from central Arkansas that came yesterday won't be the last.

That guy can make some plays 100%.

Two point conversion trap coming.

It's still going to be a 14 point game regardless.

But if they make this it make it a 12 point game.

Five catches 200 yards for Stroud.

Unbelievable.

Allison too tall.

Looked for the crossing out over the middle.

Incomplete.

So no good on the two point try, but it's 3218.

Fordyce showing some fight.

They trailed 1480 and Mansfield looking to take home the hardware 3218.

The lead.

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Goodbye for now.

While nine and 28 remains in the football game.

And boy, take a look at this.

Opposites attract.

That is certainly the case.

You read it on your screen.

403 total yards for Fordyce, 396 of those are by passing plays.

They have seven yards rushing.

And then of the 444 for Mansfield it's the opposite 396 from rushing.

And these two teams are putting up yards and big plays in bunches.

What we expected and honestly you take away the two plays right before this half.

This game is going exactly how I think.

You and I both anticipated it too.

No question.

It has been.

It's been a good one, even though it's a 14 point contest.

3218.

Onside kick going to be recovered by Michael Carter, the sophomore for Mansfield.

They'll have it at their own 47 yard line.

But yeah I mean this game's been honestly a treat defense early and then a lot of big plays.

And there's a lot of playmakers on the outside.

And both these two teams trust to go one on one in the home.

I think we may see some adjustments for Mansfield Secondary should the Fordyce get another possession at this time.

One on one is on the on the outside and allowing Fordyce to make some of these big plays.

22 of 35 passing for Cadillac Ellison 396 but does have the two interceptions.

Turnovers have been big.

Penalties have been big.

But for us looking to overcome that, if they can get some big stops down here, down the stretch.

Parks gives it off to Andrew Burton.

But you got to figure out a way to stop that guy first ten yards on first down and that'll move the chains.

The one thing that you don't talk about a lot was play in the flex zone is how physically demanding it is on your body.

You're you're essentially running into a brick wall every down.

And Fordyce is defense is going to have to make a business decision.

Do you go ahead and meet the football in the hole, or do you let them get five six in that case ten yards a carry?

Yeah.

And Burton's not a a light body to hit either.

I mean that wears on.

It stings right every time.

He's a hard nosed runner.

Yeah.

It also tells you the kind of offensive line that Mansfield has to be able to do that on every play all season long, knowing that they're putting their body on the line.

No kidding.

Beef up front.

They certainly are putting it out there.

That Ole O-line has done a great job.

Give it a Burton slips one tackle.

Give him ten more yards maybe 11.

First and ten again.

They're starting to recognize a weakness there in the Fordyce defense.

They're just running behind left guard there.

They're running the wing back in motion away from that running back right back where it was.

You see the slant by the nose tackle for Fordyce creates a big big hole.

And that's why it's another first down for Mansfield.

Clock rolling.

Mansfield loves it.

They're getting ten yards a carry.

They'll take that all day on this drive.

But to slow it down a little bit to maybe bleed a little more play clock.

You know that would probably be the only knock for Mansfield.

Their last two touchdowns came so quick it didn't look like a clock.

Right?

Right.

I don't think they care.

And why would you.

Yeah.

So far Fordyce has had some stops.

But here in the bigger moments Mansfield had the big chunk plays and a toss play to Silas Burton again following his blocks inside the 25 wrapped up down to the 15 red zone for Silas Burton.

And that's what 17 yards.

That's what makes this offense so tough to defend.

You go fullback dive left, fullback dive left and all the sudden you fake it and toss it the other way.

Defense can't find the football.

Big play after big play.

And they're now over 415 yards on the ground.

And you move that wing back over right in that time you toss it to him.

You think it's going fullback dive again to that left side.

And that's what's great about the flexible on offense.

There's essentially four players on every snap that can handle the football.

You got two wing backs.

Your fullback quarterback can always keep it.

And it's it's just pick your poison.

But as you guess we're going to make you pay.

Yeah.

You've got to stay with your assignment.

If anybody gets beat it's game over this time Burton up the middle.

Not much there.

Undercut at the 15 maybe a yard and then whistle blows a little bit like no flags come in T.J.

Harris blew that up from the start.

We've called his name a bunch in the offensive backfield for Fordyce for that time.

He makes a play in the Mansfield backfield.

They're going to get it.

So he got a yard.

But Harris was right in the hole.

And Mansfield content to milk that clock 707 to go 20 on the play clock.

They can get this one all the way down.

Around six minutes and 45 seconds.

That's their friends.

No question about it.

And they're going to be obvious for down territory if it gets to that point as well.

For Fordyce you got to get stops.

You got to get them now.

Handoff Burton slips one man one man to beat again.

Throws him off and walks into the end zone.

And Drew Burton have a game young fella.

It's just so hard to bring down one on one.

Doesn't matter if he's playing at three or at seven.

That guy would find his way onto the field.

If you're a college coach watching this kid play, go out and get him.

He is a dude.

I mean, you said it about me.

I mean, I'm just shocked that he does not have any college offers 278 yards in his third trip to the end zone.

And that right there.

And I would say almost every touchdown he's had, he's broken 1 or 2 tackles to do it.

At least I don't know what he's doing.

Only a 15 yard touchdown run.

We don't do that around here.

That will be 40 plus.

Another two point try 3818.

Well that's a backbreaker two for against Fordyce.

He'll toss it right side.

Trying to go five for five on two point conversions Isaac Carson's in and the two point try is good.

It's been really impressive to see what they do.

A lot of the two point conversions have been to the outside.

Again, we mentioned in the open, I thought that's where they may have some success.

Based on what you saw on film a week ago, and Mansfield has certainly taken advantage of, especially in the red zone on two point tries.

They have five touchdowns in five, two point conversion gives you 40 points.

And here's Burton's touchdown run.

Just threw his man off.

That was Ja'Marr Stroud.

And that's the thing about Burton.

He's doing this against D1 talent right now.

It's a good Fordyce team.

Yeah he is.

And he's also doing it against a defense that knows it's coming again.

That's a lot of credit to the offensive line up front for Mansfield.

But he's running through tackles and he's he's big time.

Well the offensive line is giving you 4 or 5 right yards.

But he's doing the rest.

And how about the Mansfield faithful looking for their first ever state championship in school history?

Morgan Freeman played God in Bruce Almighty.

We saw him here last week and hey man that was funny.

We did.

That was, the highlight of my week last week.

Oh, it's kind of kick.

Why do they let me do this?

Oh, goodness.

Well, Mansfield's had a lot to cheer about there.

Darn near six minutes and 43 seconds away from their first ever state title in school history.

It's a long time coming for them.

They made it to the semis two years in a row.

They finally made it.

Mansfield has 449 yards rushing today.

If you're wondering at home, what's the record for most rushing yards in a state championship game?

Third possession away from it for 85.

Wow.

Barton in 1987 as a record.

It's been held for a while.

So quick math.

How far away then is it?

Make me do some math there.

36 yards.

Okay.

Ellison throws it into the flat.

He's going to be hit behind the line of scrimmage.

We'll see where they spot him.

Two yards back, maybe second down and long.

Fordyce running out of time.

Bobby.

They're gonna have to have big plays and have him in a hurry.

And put him down on.

616 and counting.

Cadillac Ellison and the offense.

They've got to get something going quick.

And also the second most rushing yards ever by an individual in a state championship game.

Burton has with his 278 fumble pocket collapse.

Ellison Off-balance throw, trying to find Campbell in and out of his hands.

And he's hit after the play.

Incomplete.

Good coverage.

Football fans are going to recognize this name Kenneth Dixon.

Oh yeah.

348 yards 2011 state Championship game.

Had played a couple seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.

After a great career Louisiana Tech that's right.

He was a strong, strong need.

Help them win a state championship.

So there's your trip down the record book.

Well done Bobby.

You did a great job keeping up with all that.

Can't take all the credit.

I promise you a lot of really smart people before me.

Hole deep left sideline to Jim Artis strum.

Nice catch.

Keeps his balance hit in the air.

It's going to be a close to a first down.

I think he's going to be just shy at third and one.

And another really strong throw to the outside.

But again no yards after catch.

Great job by Mansfield Secondary to rally up around the football.

Excuse me.

It's fourth down and one.

So now it's a must have for Fordyce.

You got to think if they don't get it here that's ballgame.

Yep.

Yeah.

No question about it.

And.

Two rushing attempts in this half for Fordyce.

And one of those was a quarterback sack timeout Batesville.

So Fordyce has completely just sold out.

So we're going to throw the football.

If we're going to have success.

And you've got the playmakers.

The problem has been you haven't been able to get the place to them.

As much as Mansfield credit though.

Yeah the Mansfield front their front four is one the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football.

And that's why they've got 449 yards rushing.

They're winning at the point of attack.

You know I think in any contest you can point to a lot of different things right.

Turnovers have penalties in that.

But at the end of the day I think it's the team that wins the line of scrimmage nine times out of 1013, no injuries.

Absolutely.

You and I, we call it the seven day championship game.

And a lot of people thought, hey, Bentonville is going to have a chance to win this game because of the skill players.

Bryant won the game because they want the line of scrimmage.

They dominated up front.

They can run the football and big 99 for Bryant and the name escapes me.

I've watched so many football games the last week.

But he took the center and essentially putting two yards in the backfield every play and you're going to be really successful when you do that.

Manziel's having a lot of success up front.

Big push and they're winning at the point of attack.

And if you don't give Ellison time to throw it, that's where it's at.

It doesn't matter.

Yeah I mean we saw a record number of points teams giving up 7080 points all season.

But guess what?

It still matters in the trenches.

You still got to play big boy football.

You can play all the seven on 71.

To have dudes up front going to go under center this time.

Ellison got to give it off.

Gamble got the first down.

Still rumbling to the 46 yard line.

But clock with 5518 to go.

Still got to get things rolling for Fordyce.

And that's a soap box too.

Of course I played line you know a former high school in college offensive linemen.

Those guys up front will win or lose you football games.

You can play seven on seven all summer long.

You can go and say, hey, we're going to score 50 points.

But if you're good up 65 or 80 on a Friday night, you got no chance of being successful.

Doesn't matter who your coach is, doesn't matter who your players are, your defense can't win up front.

You're not going to be successful.

Allison Off-balance couldn't get the throw over and that's the deal, right?

Because if you've got a team that likes to throw the ball and is good at it, if they don't have time to throw it, it doesn't matter.

You take that away from them.

If you've got a team that likes to run the ball, but you shut it down because you're defensive line, you're taking away what they want to do.

Yeah, I mean, you can talk X's and O's and we certainly could do that all afternoon long.

But if you win at the point of attack, you're not going to be successful.

In today Mansfield's front line has won the battle.

Really on both sides of the ball for people.

You will always looking for analogies.

Line plays a lot like layups and free throws in basketball.

If you don't make them, you're going to lose.

If you don't have good line play, you're not going to win.

They add up.

Ellison trying to go deep.

Got a man at the 30.

Was the ball uncatchable.

And there there comes the flag pass interference.

Yeah that was just a tough break for Mansfield defense.

The pass is underthrown.

So the receiver stops and comes back through the football but also goes to the defender defense 15 yards.

Will be a first down.

It was a delayed call.

But you're right.

He didn't have a chance to come back to it.

Right.

You got to give the receiver a chance to come back and make that play again.

But as a defender it's a penalty that you can live with.

Yes it's 15 yards and a first down but you're not giving up 50 and a touchdown.

Something that has been the theme of this game.

It's been the big plays, the big touchdowns.

You take that away.

Fordyce did that earlier on a pass play that Mansfield had a guy wide open the first down and ten.

Fordyce at the Mansfield 39 with 454 to go.

Red bucks need touchdowns and they need a quick Allison got to throw into the pocket.

Almost intercepted.

Tipped in the nearly caught.

And a flag comes in late.

Ellison on the turf.

He might have got hit late.

On the field personal foul roughing the passer defense 15 yards automatic.

First down.

Mansfield faithful don't like the call.

Wilson steps into it.

I think they got him with a low hit.

You know I don't know if it looked really late but it was low around the quarterback's knee.

And we've seen that at all levels high school college in the pros.

They're going to protect the quarterback.

And that's another first down via the penalty.

That's right.

And I like that you have a quarterbacks.

You want to you want to protect him I think sometimes at the NFL level maybe they predict the move too much.

But that's a different topic.

You don't disagree with him.

But you know obviously if you got a chance to be able to hit them in the in the midsection, you want to go for that.

Don't want to go for too high or too low.

I don't mind the penalty.

So much.

Empty set.

Ellison going to tuck it this time.

Dumps it the flat.

Got a man.

It's TJ Harris at the 20.

Trying to escape the tackles.

Four defenders in the area.

And Harris goes down there.

Ellison just creates a little extra time.

Dumps it off to his running back in the flat.

And Mansfield does a great job of again rallying to the football, keeping everything in front and watching that clock turn Fordyce going a little bit.

No huddle, but not really showing a lot of urgency right now.

Well, you know on the sideline coach was telling me he wants him to go go, go.

But they're not in any sense of urgency at all.

You feel like the wind's been knocked out of their sails.

Ellison kind of go the out route complete to Jamal Stroud makes a man miss, ten five.

Touchdown for Fordyce.

Joe Martez Stroud with a touchdown.

Again this unguardable averaging 40 yards a catch that time on the much shorter variety.

But makes a man miss in space and you get the ball to him one on one.

Not many times is the defense going to win that battle?

Makes it a 4224 ballgame.

Very impressive receptions today for Jamal Stroud.

But if you're Fordyce, you really need this two point conversion.

16 point game right now.

So it's still back to two possession.

But you're exactly right.

I mean you look at the big difference in this contest has been Mansfield success with the two point try in Fordyce.

They're in ability to finish off their offer.

If they don't get it they're still down 18.

But you're going to get a two point conversion at some point.

They're trying to get one here to the pylon.

It's close.

It's all going to depend on the spot.

Will they roll him in or out.

They didn't get it over again for Fordyce unable to connect.

Still two possession game though JB but you're exactly right.

Just the difference in that.

I mean two point drive the two yards doesn't seem like a whole lot.

Three yards.

Excuse me.

That's not able to get it done.

4024.

You know if you make all your two point tries at this point for Fordyce, it's 40 to 32, right.

Completely different contest.

You're exactly right.

You know the onside is coming.

So if it's 4032 to 1 possession game you just you feel a lot better about it.

Now you done still two scores and you got to convert convert both two point conversions.

If you're Fordyce with 410 to go and you're also giving Mansfield the football back you got to go onside kick.

Talking about all the love for Burton in the record book in the state finals.

Yeah.

Also got to put JaMarcus Stroud in that conversation.

Receiving yards as well.

He's knocking on the door.

Top five 229 yards receiving 234 will get him in the top five all time in Championship games.

You don't think we're going to get to the record though with 406?

If we do, then Fordyce has got a good chance to win this game, no doubt, but a couple 90 yards may put us in that conversation.

Seven catches though.

229 three touchdowns.

He is making plays on the outside.

He's been impressive.

And yeah you're right.

He's going to get a lot of more college offers.

Here's a kick from Daniel Warner going to be recovered just inside the 50.

Didn't quite go ten yards.

It was so close.

You're talking a half of a foot JB.

It's so hard as a gunner right there.

You're you want the football to hop up in your lap.

But he just made contact with it right before the 50 yard line where it has to travel to here is going to be a good look at it.

Got to get to the 50 just shy of it.

Great work by the camera crew and that's going to be Mansfield football kick.

They go ten yards deep.

So it will be Mansfield football.

They will have it in good field position.

And Fordyce naturally you know with time running down 14 you got to have stops now.

Have to.

Yeah.

You've got to get a three and out.

They do have a couple timeouts remaining but they they can of course man still thinking oh we got a four minute drive that can turn up 49 yards and we can take a knee.

We'll certainly take that.

And see the numbers there.

You don't care about it right now.

They need 37 yards to break the state championship game record for most rushing yards in a title game.

Wow.

That's just a carry though for for Andrew Burton.

It sure is.

Here he goes trying to get to the outside edge and he's not going to be able to Micah Gamble cuts him off and trips him up.

That's big for Fordyce.

They get a stop on first down.

It looks like they're going to take a timeout as well.

Can.

Yeah I think they are calling that timeout.

So clock will stop with 401 to go timeout for the plays.

But 403 on the clock 403.

So it's an interesting take here.

And everybody has a different look on it right.

Calling the timeouts this early.

You're rolling the dice a little bit.

Because if Mansfield gets the first downs and you wish that timeout.

Yeah.

But yeah you're going all in.

You're exactly right.

Sorry to cut you off there Jamie.

That's exactly the point.

It's like because the next possession doesn't matter if you don't get a stop.

Now let's go ahead and burn the timeouts early.

If they turn up 2 or 3 first downs, the game is going to be over either way.

So let's go ahead and sell out.

You get you win first down.

You win at the point of attack.

You shut that down for a no gain.

And now you've got a chance to be successful on the defensive side.

You know part of it too.

You're riding that momentum.

You just got to stop.

Second and ten.

You also just got a touchdown.

You need everything to go your way.

Take that timeout.

You feel like if you get a couple more stops and you get the football back with, you know, 3.5 minutes left, you still got a really good chance to try to make something happen.

We'll tell you what.

Let's head down to Tyler on the sidelines.

Yeah guys.

The city of Mansfield showing out for their first trip to War Memorial.

Check out these sweatshirts in the stands.

They printed up with the Grinch as they try and take state.

The population of Mansfield.

Just over a thousand.

They told me they had to print 1500 of these sweatshirts.

So the buying is real, and they're excited to hopefully cheer on their first state title here.

Thank you Tyler.

Well, there about four minutes and three seconds of doing that.

Unless disaster strikes they're in control of this football.

Game up two scores.

Can I hand it off to Burton.

He's got room first down inside the 35.

Still on his feet.

The football is loose.

Fordyce forces a turnover.

Oh, my.

It's the one thing you couldn't afford.

Happen if you're Mansfield is turn the football over.

And the red books were jabbing at a planet and they finally get it out of the grasp of Burton.

So wipe out the 20 yard pick up.

The fumble for Texas.

Got the football.

Wow.

First down.

That is a huge turnover.

Ball definitely comes out before he's down now no question.

Great job by Fordyce.

And number ten McGill Aragon gets his hands in there and is ripping out the football.

Sometimes as a running back you want to break every play.

You got to go down there for Burton instead.

It's a turnover in Fordyce with four minutes left they still got life.

I still got a chance.

Allison going to give it off to gamble up the middle.

Got room breaks.

It's Harris.

Excuse me.

First down rumbles to the 44.

Nice a big run by TJ Harris I love the play call there JB you've been going pass pass pass all half long that time you go with the delayed handoff 12 yards up the middle.

Chains are moving.

The clock stops momentarily.

Well you got to know T.J.

Harris has gassed him.

He's playing both sides of the ball.

He's laying it all out there.

But you got to go quick for Fordyce.

337 and counting.

Low snap.

Give it off.

Harris cuts it inside to the 4546.

Clock's going to continue to roll.

Second down and six.

Yeah that one.

Not quite as successful there for Fordyce.

And the clock's going to run though.

That's the important thing here.

They're going to lose about 15 or 20s on their running play.

Trying to lower the sleep a little bit.

Right now you expect a pass play right here.

You have to look for a big play.

They can hit a big one over the top.

They're right back in it.

Three-man front for Mansfield.

All kinds of time for Allison.

Hit as he throws.

Got a man.

It's complete at the 25 yard line.

What a play Tremaine Turner pulls it in.

It's a great throw.

Had plenty of time.

Did Cadillac in the scanning cross.

Then it finally goes all the way back to the right in his progression and able to hit his targets.

And a huge, huge play in the passing game.

How about Tremaine Turner to make sure he caught that football?

A lot of guys might try to stay in bounds, but you risk not making the catch.

He hauls it in steps out of bounds.

Clock stops 303 to go.

Fordyce marching down the field.

They'll hand it off up the middle.

Hard run to the 20 yard line five yards.

You know that Three-man front for Mansfield I think Fordyce taking advantage guys my IFB battery is about.

247 to go clock rolling and I still taking some time here.

Kind of surprised by the handoff.

You get five yards but it is taken way too much time to get this second down.

Snap off.

They're going to hand it off again.

Cuts it up.

He's tripped up shy of the line to gain it's third down and short.

But clock continues to tick.

And Mansfield loves that.

Yeah those two handoff.

So you're going to lose 30 to 45 seconds of game time.

Turning off the clock as they try to get a new play in get set offensively and snap the football.

Sure they have a couple timeouts remaining according to the In-stadium scoreboard but still taking too much time between plays.

Shotgun.

Ellison going to throw.

Got time.

All kinds of time.

Still winning.

Lobs it into the flat.

It's going to be complete Harris spin move another spin move.

Touchdown Redbirds you got to be kidding me.

There was just a lot of people standing around on that play.

JB the pass rush was non-existent for Mansfield and in including the secondary, it might have been Andrew Burton look of ranging over thought he was going to be able to make the play, but goes after the football instead.

Misses the tackle.

And what have we just seen this.

This is we're a two point conversion away from being a one possession game.

Wow TJ Harris a big touchdown.

But this right here is what it comes down to.

Fordyce is going to have a chance.

They've got to convert this two point conversion.

Have not been able to convert a two point try yet.

They are zero for four.

Mansfield's brought up big here in short yardage gambles in the backfield.

They got gambler going to pass it.

Ellison going in the middle in and out of the hands.

Incomplete.

Wow.

They had the man but he couldn't bring it in.

Had the exact call that you want wide open in the middle of the field was Tremaine Turner.

And just a little too much on that pass from Cadillac and right through the hands of his receiver.

Well, if you're Fordyce, naturally you can't point to one play.

They've had a lot of chances for two point lead, one of them to give them a selves a chance to one possession game.

That one just in and out of the hands of Tremaine Turner.

But now if you're Fordyce, you're going to have to have an onside kick recovery or a quick, quick stop.

The onside likely coming because you're down two possessions and then you're going to burn timeouts defensively.

Well, how big are those 52. conversions for Mansfield now man massive I mean I can add guess what 5.2 conversions is.

Maybe it's ten points or eight points here.

Yeah it's a tie game.

If you don't get those no kidding or Fordyce gets theirs.

We're tied at 40.

Yeah well we talked to Coach Overton before the game and I talked to him on the field right before I said last kind of thoughts.

He said two point conversions.

He said, I feel like it might come down to that.

And I think he's right.

Now.

You're exactly right.

I mean, it doesn't.

It almost seems like a foregone conclusion.

Hey, we just scored.

Go at the pat.

You're up seven.

Nothing.

But this is the difference.

And also the momentum that a two point conversion can give or take away is massive.

Yes.

We gave up an 80 yard touchdown.

Well, we get a two point stop.

You don't feel quite as bad about yourself.

Sure.

And the fact that they are five for five, if they didn't convert on any of them or on one of them, just one, it's still a one possession game.

Yeah.

Onside kick.

It's not going to go far enough.

They're going to wait on.

It's not going to go far enough 43 yard line.

It's down flags going to come in.

And that's where Mansfield's going to have it.

Yeah it's another break on special teams for Mansfield.

Pick a team that's your Tigers.

You feel decent about this.

Up ten with 202 to go.

Two first downs.

This game puts it away.

Obviously Fordyce is going to be able to use a couple timeouts but two first down for Mansfield.

We'll put this game away.

If you think about it here and you get two stops in your Fordyce right.

And then you get another stop, you're still going to lose about 40 45 seconds.

You have a minute 20 left with the football.

But you can score twice.

That's going to marry.

You're up against it.

They've got the offense to do it.

Sure.

476 yards passing today for Fordyce and Cadillac in that offense.

They're going to be able to move the football through the air.

This is do they have enough time?

Mansfield you're right.

That two first downs away from putting this one to bed Jubal Parks under center.

We've had a dandy give it off to Burton.

He's got a whole big gainer all the way to the 35 yard line at second down and short at first.

The time out there for Fordyce, their second of the contest, comes in now time out.

That's second charge.

Time out of the half.

Burton's over 300 yards rushing.

Imagine that.

Let's go out and live in your dream.

You go to a state championship game.

That's the dream of every high school football player.

And then you run for 300 yards or find yourself in the end zone three times.

Think he's going to sleep tonight?

I think so he'll sleep a lot better if they come out with that trophy, no question.

You know.

And that's something that's a good point right.

Do you have a lot of players that you highlight before a game.

You know in lacrosse Valley state championships knowing that the other team is going to try to stop you.

Deuce Williams for Robinson.

We saw he had a decent game but Lakeside stopped him.

You know it's going to Andrew Burton right.

And you still can't stop him.

That's how impressive he's been.

Yeah.

His second most rushing yards in a state championship game ever.

By an individual I mean it is really remarkable.

Of course the entire Mansfield offense deserves a bunch of credit and we're only focusing on him.

But the offensive line, the other guys who are the decoys essentially on every play.

But I mean, how many broken tackles and some people are going to point to the fumble, I get it.

But I also picked up 25 yards on the fumble.

Yeah, as well.

I mean, it's just a really impressive performance.

And that's what this offense is built on.

You can't run this type of offense if you don't have a guy like that.

The line up and say, hey, I'm going to get hit by two different people on every snap and still break the tackles.

It's been impressive.

But you're right.

Silas Burton, Jeremiah Burton, Joe Carter, all the role players are what allows him and that offensive line.

Jubal Parks, the quarterback.

It's a it's a team effort to allow Burton to do what he does.

Second down and two a first down away from really putting this thing in control.

First down for Burton.

He's got five maybe six yards.

Is that enough to break the record for?

One.

That's going to be awful close.

Bobby, get your abacus out.

Is it a five yard gain is a six yard gain.

That's what the difference is going to be.

It's first and ten and clock's rolling.

And for all intents and purposes, Mansfield may have just won the state title.

I think they'd love to break that record too.

No question about it.

So they haven't posted the last official rush.

If you get 2 or 3 yards here, that will for sure do it.

They're going to load the box.

Got to give it to Burton outside.

He's got yardage.

That should do it.

Yep 23 yard line.

You break the record and Mansfield's a minute 11 seconds away from a state title.

It's a record that stood for 38 seasons.

But Barton's mark of 485 yards rushing goes down Mansfield over 490 yards after that last carry.

Wow.

That's a record that's going to take a while to be broken.

You got to imagine.

And Coach Overton, he is moments away from his first ever state title, the first ever in Mansfield history.

And they're lining up.

Looking.

For the QB Neal.

Here it is.

Victory formation.

The snap from Parkes.

He lays it in with 28 seconds to go.

Mansfield is going to take home their first ever state title in school history.

What a performance from the Mansfield Tigers.

They're going to be able to run this one out JB.

We saw history on the team side and what a team effort for Mansfield taking home a title for the first time ever.

They came up short two years in a row.

Here's the Gatorade bath.

It's cold out there.

And Coach Overton I guarantee he didn't mind one bit.

Back to back years of being eliminated in the semis, their first ever trip to War Memorial.

And they come out a big winner.

For what, a second half for Fordyce though, they thought they found something to finally get going at their offense.

They're going to be back.

They've got a ton of youngsters on this team that can come back in 2026.

But tip of the cap to Mansfield.

It's been a long time coming for that town to see some success on the football field, and they deserve has a lot of success in that area, right.

With Greenwood close to Fort Smith.

But Mansfield, the powerhouse in the three a they take down a very good Fordyce Red book team 40 to 30.

The state champs for the Tigers, their first ever in school history.

We'll step aside trophy presentation and our interview coming up.

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Let's now.

Bring.

You.

And there it is.

The first ever state title in Mansfield history.

And Coach Overton, hoist the trophy.

The Tigers living the dream.

What a cool story.

Plays.

They're able to come back.

And in turn, Mansfield, which is always thought of after the match.

Schools you mentioned in the Fort Smith River Valley and Fort Smith South side and all the success in North Side, Greenwood, Charleston, Boonville.

But finally Mansfield can say, hey, we're king of the mountain this year.

Puts us in that category as well.

Take a look at these stats.

I mean, ginormous numbers for both teams.

500 plus yards of total offense for both offenses.

But a little bit reversed.

Right.

It was Fordyce 475 yards through the air for Mansfield 489 yards on the ground.

Really different mix of offenses.

But we saw a little bit of everything.

This is what you get when you see small school football.

Just find a way that your kids can be successful.

Fordyce had a ton of success through the year.

Mansfield, a state record for 89 on the ground in the finals.

Find a way to get it done.

Fordyce just turned the offense a little bit too late and they couldn't catch up.

You know something we mentioned both teams scored five touchdowns.

The difference in the game all five Two-Point conversion converted by Mansfield.

That was the difference.

Five trips to the endzone for each side.

I don't think we have to tell you who the MVP is going to be.

Andrew Burton, 30, carries 321 yards, three touchdowns, second most ever in a title game.

Have yourself a day.

Yeah I think I've heard of that guy now.

And I think everyone else in the state should be on notice again.

I'm not so sure he doesn't have a college offer.

You got to think one's coming after this.

I mean, he shouldn't leave the stadium with that one.

To be quite honest with me.

I don't know if you're allowed off him today, but whoever you are, I mean, my goodness, he will make your program better.

And Andrew Burton awarded most valuable player.

And so fitting the performance that he had on his offense.

I mean, my goodness, 30 attempts, 321 yards, three touchdowns, a 90 yard house.

Call somebody go get this man.

Yeah, the 90 yard touchdown run opened the floodgates, didn't it?

I mean, that that really started the scoring.

Really impressive performance from Burton.

The offensive line for Mansfield.

And again you can't say enough about that football town.

They finally finally got themselves on top.

And they head to the sidelines to cheer with their faithful fans.

That made the trip from West Arkansas all the way down to War Memorial Stadium.

Tyler's down there with Coach Overton.

Tyler, take it away, coach.

Obviously, I don't know.

How do you even describe this feeling?

Well, Very stressful.

You know, you're up 40 to 18 and give those dudes credit, man, they never gave up.

I mean, we hung on.

It's just a loss for words.

I mean, I'm so proud of our guys.

They fought so hard.

So proud of this town in this community.

They've had to do this for so long, and.

And to bring them a championship is beyond my wildest imagination and dreams.

And not just a championship.

The getting to come back here in front of the whole town.

Does this mean to Mansfield?

Oh, I couldn't even explain it, man.

It's it's something that, a long time ago, I wanted, unload trailers at Walmart.

Say, I want to be the Goshen man.

Stone was state championship, and people thought I was crazy for coming back here, but it's.

These kids bought into what I was preaching, and I just love all those guys so much because they they they believed in what I was saying.

And we came out here and we did it.

It's incredible.

Incredible.

Congrats, coach.

Thanks so much.

So much.

Thanks so much Tyler.

What a story for coach.

Over.

We mentioned in the broadcast working at Walmart Distribution Center in Fort Smith.

That was his dream to take home the hardware in Mansfield.

And he's done that first time ever in school history.

What a what a story.

What a game.

This has been 40 to 30.

Mansfield the winner.

And Tyler's down there with our player Andrew.

I mean you just start trying to put this in the words bringing home the first state title to Mansfield.

Yeah.

It means a lot for this town and this team.

I feel like the whole town's here watching.

And this team, it means a lot to us.

And we've been ever since.

Last year we lost in the semis.

We've been working really hard to get here and we finally did it.

And it feels good for you and the rest of the you know, the senior class you get to to finish your high school careers like this.

Just what does it mean?

It means a lot because the, interview ended when we did.

Look what we did.

Yeah.

These seniors, most of us will never play football again.

And that's.

This is a good way to go out.

And we're we're just going to celebrate.

And most of us are going to have to go to basketball one day.

But we're going to celebrate now.

All right.

I'll let you go celebrate with the team.

Congrats to you on the Tigers.

Thanks, Tyler.

Lots of celebration going on.

Even during that interview.

Andrew Burton deserves all, all kinds of praise for his performance tonight because you can get celebrate with the Mansfield Tigers by getting your official championship gear now this visit Arkansas High School sports.com to find apparel and memorabilia commemorating a perfect season.

That's high school sports.

Arkansas high school sports.com.

You're going to want to be certain to do that.

Get the memorabilia.

Probably one of the best state championships we've seen in a long time.

Your final time?

Yeah.

Really good.

It's explosive plays on both sides of the football.

It's just Fordyce didn't wake up in that first half soon enough.

And the difference hey that two point drive Mansfield the first football championship in school history.

That will do it for us today.

A 4030 winner.

Mansfield over Fordyce.

But stick around tonight it's the four state championship.

Dardanelle at Elkins for the second time this year.

This time for all the marbles.

Thanks for tuning into today's coverage of the three, a football state championship by Centennial Bank.

And all of us here at Arkansas PBS.

We appreciate you tuning in.

Should be a lot of fun tonight.

Thanks so much.

The for a state championship coming up three at champ mansfield.

4030 winners over Fordyce.

Have a good evening.