OLD GUARDS SOUTHSIDE, SPRINGDALE CLASH IN PLAYOFF OPENER

Springdale coach Zak Clark doesn’t need to be reminded when the Red Bulldogs last won a playoff game. He’s more concerned with convincing his players the Southside Mavericks are a dangerous football team. That 5-5 record? “The conference they’re in is really tough, we know that,” he said. “It reminds me of the old 5A-West we played in 15 years ago. Not only is it (7A-Central) tough, but everybody in the league is good. I think the record doesn’t indicate who they are. Southside could pretty easily be 7-3.” The Mavericks and Red Dogs, two of old guards from the 5A-West that produced four state champions in a six-year dominate run (1999-2005) meet today at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Field in Springdale. Southside beat Gus Malzahn’s Bulldogs in the 2002 state finals, and three years later Springdale’s 2005 team ran the table with a 14-0 record while roasting West Memphis, 54-20, in the title game. Springdale (6-4) hasn’t won or hosted a playoff game since 2005. “It’s big for us, it’s big our program, and big for our seniors,” Clark said. “It’s our first home playoff game in a long time. We’re proud of that, but they’ll be a time to look back at accomplishments when the year is over. “Right now we’ve got to worry about Southside.” Clark, a former Fayetteville quarterback, is familiar with the Mavericks’ program. Southside coach Jeff Williams is familiar with Springdale and its history, and with Clark’s coaching abilities. “He’s a good one,” Williams said. “He’s going to have his guys sky high, especially playing at home.” Springdale lost quarterback Grant Allen with a broken ankle in mid-October. Will Mueller has stepped in the last two games. Garrett Vaughan has been nicked up a bit, too, of late but is expected to play. Vaughan has rushed for 1,079 yards and 15 touchdowns. He went for 210 yards and three scores in the team’s win over Van Buren last week — his first action in three weeks. “The running back (Vaughan) is a good player,” Williams said. “He’s been hurt some, but he’s fine.” Vaughan isn’t the lone 1,000-yard rusher in today’s game. Mavericks’ senior Ricardo Savoy has rushed for 1,042 yards and nine scores. Savoy is also one of quarterback Taye Gatewood’s big threats. “Their offense is very dangerous,” Clark said. “The Gatewood kid is very good, and they’ve got a good running back. They’ve got four or five good receivers; they’re a really good team.” Today marks the 52nd meeting between the former conference foes. “Jeff does a great job in every facet of the game,” Clark said. “We’ve played them for so long that you would think we know everything. But it’s been awhile.” The team’s have met just twice since 2011. Clark has coached against Williams just once (2015). Clark took over that season following former coach Shane Patrick’s 0-10 finish in 2014.

OLD GUARDS SOUTHSIDE, SPRINGDALE CLASH IN PLAYOFF OPENER

KEVIN TAYLOR

Times Record | 11/9/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Brian D. Sanderford