At Friday’s night scrimmage, Maumelle defeated Ozark, 21-7, in two quarters of action but the real drama was on Interstate 40 as a construction project delayed travelers for at least an hour, but some enterprising drivers took advantage of a paved turn around, and went east to the Hwy. 64 exit at Clarksville, and then took the highway into Ozark to make the scrimmage.
Read the season preview, with rosters and other information by clicking here
It worked out, but it proves, again, that the Arkansas Department of Transportation is undefeated at poor planning, as commuters in central Arkansas know as it comes to having not one but two bridges into Little Rock under construction.
It was still full contact and after the game Maumelle coach Kirk Horton said, “there was some inconsistencies that we will have to clean up.”
But going to Ozark was worth it, in Horton’s mind.
“Coach does a great job here at Ozark,” Horton said. “Coach [Jeremie] Burns and his kids play hard and they’ve got some big boys with talent and a scrimmage with them. I know it is a 5A/4A matchup, but I knew we’d get our money’s worth.”
Part of the matchup was Ozark’s Brock Burns, a former Kansas commit, who has reopened his recruiting against Maumelle’s Nico Davilier, who has committed to Arkansas.
Burns, the nephew of the Ozark coach, goes 6-foot-4 and 303 pounds, while others on the Ozark line -- Bryar Yates (6-1, 320) and R.J. Karns (6-1, 300) -- gave Maumelle’s defense fits and coach Burns said after the game that the line was able to open some running lanes in Ozark’s rush-first offense.
Game Sketch | Maumelle 21, Ozark 7
Player of the game: Maumelle wide receiver Roderick Watts had two touchdown catches and also had some nice rushes out of jet sweeps that got the 6-3, 185 out on the flats.
Play of the game: Quarterback Weston Pierce hit Watts for a 39-yard catch and run that setup the Hornets at the one-yard line that was quickly converted into the third and final touchdown of the night.
Overall: Maumelle’s offensive line led by Andrew Chamblee and Caleb Stroud, both 6-7 and both at least 300 pounds, established a perimeter that allowed Pierce to essentially not get touched on pass attempts as the quarterback had a very clean pocket to work out of.
What’s next: The regular season starts next week with Maumelle traveling to Sylvan Hills for a Thursday night game. The game will be streamed on the Natural State Sports YouTube channel and the coach Kirk Horton show will be Wednesday night.
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Football: Maumelle defeats Ozark in scrimmage
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OZARK -- Getting there was the hardest part.
At Friday’s night scrimmage, Maumelle defeated Ozark, 21-7, in two quarters of action but the real drama was on Interstate 40 as a construction project delayed travelers for at least an hour, but some enterprising drivers took advantage of a paved turn around, and went east to the Hwy. 64 exit at Clarksville, and then took the highway into Ozark to make the scrimmage.
Read the season preview, with rosters and other information by clicking here
It worked out, but it proves, again, that the Arkansas Department of Transportation is undefeated at poor planning, as commuters in central Arkansas know as it comes to having not one but two bridges into Little Rock under construction.
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But football was played and that’s what matters.
As a scrimmage, neither team did live punts or kicks with pressure.
It was still full contact and after the game Maumelle coach Kirk Horton said, “there was some inconsistencies that we will have to clean up.”
But going to Ozark was worth it, in Horton’s mind.
“Coach does a great job here at Ozark,” Horton said. “Coach [Jeremie] Burns and his kids play hard and they’ve got some big boys with talent and a scrimmage with them. I know it is a 5A/4A matchup, but I knew we’d get our money’s worth.”
Part of the matchup was Ozark’s Brock Burns, a former Kansas commit, who has reopened his recruiting against Maumelle’s Nico Davilier, who has committed to Arkansas.
Burns, the nephew of the Ozark coach, goes 6-foot-4 and 303 pounds, while others on the Ozark line -- Bryar Yates (6-1, 320) and R.J. Karns (6-1, 300) -- gave Maumelle’s defense fits and coach Burns said after the game that the line was able to open some running lanes in Ozark’s rush-first offense.
Game Sketch | Maumelle 21, Ozark 7
Player of the game: Maumelle wide receiver Roderick Watts had two touchdown catches and also had some nice rushes out of jet sweeps that got the 6-3, 185 out on the flats.
Play of the game: Quarterback Weston Pierce hit Watts for a 39-yard catch and run that setup the Hornets at the one-yard line that was quickly converted into the third and final touchdown of the night.
Overall: Maumelle’s offensive line led by Andrew Chamblee and Caleb Stroud, both 6-7 and both at least 300 pounds, established a perimeter that allowed Pierce to essentially not get touched on pass attempts as the quarterback had a very clean pocket to work out of.
What’s next: The regular season starts next week with Maumelle traveling to Sylvan Hills for a Thursday night game. The game will be streamed on the Natural State Sports YouTube channel and the coach Kirk Horton show will be Wednesday night.