Most every other sport, a person can continue to play in some fashion but not football.
And how it ends, leaves a mark.
Maumelle got a lesson in that last Friday when the Hornets lost 31-28 in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs. A game that Maumelle led 21-7 midway through the second quarter and was tied 28-28 late into the fourth.
Statistically, Greenbrier, 11-0 on the season, held the edge in first downs, 26 to Maumelle's 14, but in terms of total yards, Greenbrier's 384 were just a bit ahead of Maumelle's 367.
The difference was turnovers where Maumelle had four to Greenbrier's two.
After going up 28-14 on a 60 yard touchdown reception by Roderick Watts from quarterback Weston Pierce with 10:30 remaining in the third quarter, the Hornets, 4-7, didn't score again while Greenbrier got a touchdown on offense, and then a pick-6 with 1:20 left in the third quarter.
The game's final frantic minutes were a microcosm of Maumelle's season.
After a Hornets fumble, Greenbrier put together a 19-play, 7:04 drive that led to a 34 yard field goal with 1:23 remaining in the game.
Maumelle had a chance and Pierce went to work, hitting Hunter Specht for 39 yards, and then Pierce to Specht again for 18 yards.
The two plays put the ball at the 11 and :40 seconds to go. Easily in range for a tying John Bruchhagen field goal attempt but still plenty of time to go for the winning score.
But if Maumelle didn't have bad luck, they'd have no luck at all as Pierce's next pass was intercepted in the endzone and Greenbrier went victory formation to end the game.
Just like that, it was over.
Pierce, a junior, was also the team's leading rusher with 56 yards on essentially one carry, which was also good for a touchdown. He also passed for 241 yards and two touchdowns but had three interceptions in the loss. Watts was good for both of those touchdowns and had 139 yards receiving on six catches.
Maumelle's Maurice Mosby also returned an interception 69 yards for a touchdown to account for all the scoring for the Hornets.
Play of the Game: In a game filled with big plays, Maurice Mosby’s 69 yard interception was the longest but not by much as the other three touchdowns scored went for 60, 56 and 55.
Player of the Game: Senior wide receiver Roderick Watts ends his high school career with a fine performance as he had six catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns.
Player of the Season: Offensive lineman Andrew Chamblee was invited this week to play in the high school All-American game. Chamblee has committed to play at Arkansas next season and is expected to sign with the Razorbacks in December.
Football: Hardluck Hornets have season end
Football: Hardluck Hornets have season end
Football: Hardluck Hornets have season end
The thing about football is that it ends.
Most every other sport, a person can continue to play in some fashion but not football.
And how it ends, leaves a mark.
Maumelle got a lesson in that last Friday when the Hornets lost 31-28 in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs. A game that Maumelle led 21-7 midway through the second quarter and was tied 28-28 late into the fourth.
Statistically, Greenbrier, 11-0 on the season, held the edge in first downs, 26 to Maumelle's 14, but in terms of total yards, Greenbrier's 384 were just a bit ahead of Maumelle's 367.
The difference was turnovers where Maumelle had four to Greenbrier's two.
After going up 28-14 on a 60 yard touchdown reception by Roderick Watts from quarterback Weston Pierce with 10:30 remaining in the third quarter, the Hornets, 4-7, didn't score again while Greenbrier got a touchdown on offense, and then a pick-6 with 1:20 left in the third quarter.
The game's final frantic minutes were a microcosm of Maumelle's season.
After a Hornets fumble, Greenbrier put together a 19-play, 7:04 drive that led to a 34 yard field goal with 1:23 remaining in the game.
Maumelle had a chance and Pierce went to work, hitting Hunter Specht for 39 yards, and then Pierce to Specht again for 18 yards.
The two plays put the ball at the 11 and :40 seconds to go. Easily in range for a tying John Bruchhagen field goal attempt but still plenty of time to go for the winning score.
But if Maumelle didn't have bad luck, they'd have no luck at all as Pierce's next pass was intercepted in the endzone and Greenbrier went victory formation to end the game.
Just like that, it was over.
Pierce, a junior, was also the team's leading rusher with 56 yards on essentially one carry, which was also good for a touchdown. He also passed for 241 yards and two touchdowns but had three interceptions in the loss. Watts was good for both of those touchdowns and had 139 yards receiving on six catches.
Maumelle's Maurice Mosby also returned an interception 69 yards for a touchdown to account for all the scoring for the Hornets.
Paid subscriptions make this reporting possible
Subscribe if you like, pay if you can
Game Sketch | Greenbrier 31, Maumelle 28
Play of the Game: In a game filled with big plays, Maurice Mosby’s 69 yard interception was the longest but not by much as the other three touchdowns scored went for 60, 56 and 55.
Player of the Game: Senior wide receiver Roderick Watts ends his high school career with a fine performance as he had six catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns.
Player of the Season: Offensive lineman Andrew Chamblee was invited this week to play in the high school All-American game. Chamblee has committed to play at Arkansas next season and is expected to sign with the Razorbacks in December.
Up next: Basketball. Maumelle is expected to be a state title contender, again.
Maumelle football schedule
Friday: Maumelle 21, Ozark 7 (Scrimmage)
Aug. 26: Maumelle 31, Sylvan Hills 21
Sept. 3: Robinson 47, Maumelle 44 (OT)
Sept. 10: Vilonia 34, Maumelle 32
Sept. 16: Shreveport Byrd 24, Maumelle 21
Sept. 24: Little Rock Christian 16, Maumelle 10
Oct. 1: Maumelle 35, Beebe 17
Oct. 8: Maumelle 49, Jacksonville 15
Oct. 15: Pulaski Academy 42, Maumelle 14
Oct. 22: White Hall 45, Maumelle 12
Friday, Oct. 29: Maumelle 56, Watson Chapel 6
Friday, Nov. 12: Greenbrier 31, Maumelle 28
Click #HighSchoolHornets for the current roster
#CollegeHornets
Dashaire Ford-Burton, Southern Arkansas
Nathan Juhl, Arkansas Monticello
Charles McRae, Arkansas State
Houston Motes, Arkansas Tech
Jonathan Reyes, Iowa Wesleyan
Zyon Slade, College of the Canyons, a junior college in California
#ProHornets
Kendall Donnerson, was cut by Carolina Panthers on Aug. 24 and has yet to sign with a new team.
Have any additions to this list? Email us at Arkansas@substack.com