WEST RUSK ESCAPES ARP WITH WIN | Back-and-forth game comes down to the wire, but Raiders hold on
ARP – What was billed as sort of a heavyweight fight between two of the best teams in District 10-3A, Division II lived up to every bit of that here at Bill Herrington Stadium on Friday night.
West Rusk, the visitors, was probably likely an underdog, with Arp state-ranked in the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 3A-DII top 10. But nobody told the Raiders that, and they left Arp with a 42-28 win.
Coach Rafe Mata’s Raiders are now 5-1 overall, have won four straight games, and are 1-0 in district play. West Rusk will host New Diana next Friday night.
Arp, which had been undefeated before the game, is now also 5-1 on the season, and 0-1 in district play. Coach Wes Schminkey’s Tigers have a huge game next week: at rival Troup (5-1), who won its road game at Winona, 63-7, on Friday night.
The Raiders scored on their first possession, a huge pass from Trig Pratt to Gunner Harp. Diego Martinez hit the extra point successfully, and West Rusk had an early 7-0 lead.
After the teams exchanged punts, Arp would move the ball on its second drive, that began at its own 20, with runs by Noah Beck and Tanner Hunt. Quarterback Ty Langley hit Chrisden Ellis to move it to the Arp 33.
The Raiders’ defense stiffened, though, and they got the ball back. From the West Rusk 10, after Pratt hit Harp on back-to-back passes, Harp found Kam Brown for a 48-yard bomb for a touchdown. The kick by Martinez was good, giving the Raiders a 14-0 advantage with 11:48 left in the first half.
Arp, facing the largest deficit it had been under all season, began its next drive at its own 21.
It was the Langley and Hunt Show, as the Tigers’ commitment to the running game paid off. The drive ended off Langley taking it in from 1 out the Pat would be no good making for the score. The point after was no good, but Arp was within eight,14-6, with 5:08 left in the first half.
West Rusk answered fast, though: a big run by Williams set the Raiders up at the Arp 17, where Pratt found Kemontrae McGregor for the score. Martinez kept the pressure on the Tigers by hitting another extra point, and the Raiders’ advantage had grown to 21-6 with 4:40 left in the half.
The Tigers would come back with more of the same from Langley and Hunt, moving it to the Raider 31 by the two-minute timeout, but the Raiders’ defense stiffened at the goal line, and the game went to the half with the Raiders up by that same 21-6 score.
Arp took over at its own 22 to begin the second half, and Hunt made quick work of things: a 69-yard run for the score. The Tigers added the two-point conversion and were back in business, down by just a touchdown, 21-14, with less than a minute off the second-half clock.
A kick return put the Raiders at the Arp 35. A pair of Williams runs got the Raiders to the 30, and Pratt connected with Harp for the 30-yard score on the next play. Martinez’s kick was good yet again, putting West Rusk in front, 21-14 with still 9:16 left in the third quarter.
Arp would start there next drive at its own 32. True to formula – hey, stick with what’s working – the Tigers kept it on the ground.
Hunt and Langley alternated runs until Langley got in on a 3-yard score.
Langley’s kick, though, was no good, allowing the Raiders to stay in front by eight, 28-20, WR with 3:03 left in the third.
The Raiders began their next drive at Arp’s 40, and Williams went for 18 to the 22.
Pratt and Brown hooked up for a touchdown pass, and just like that: West Rusk 35, Arp 22, with 2:02 left in the third quarter.
The Tigers had possession of the ball into the fourth quarter, with Langley using his legs to pick up a first down at the WR 44. The drive stalled out there, but on a huge fourth down play, the Tigers would convert with Langley, who got it, all the way to West Rusk’s 34.
Another Langley run gave the Tigers another first down at the WR 19, and then a 12-yard run by Beck and Arp was set up at West Rusk’s 7.
Beck would take it to the WR 1 and on fourth down, the Tigers got in, Langley doing the honors.
The two-point try failed, though, leaving the Raiders in front by nine, 35-26, with 4:55 left in the game.
West Rusk added an insurance score: starting the drive at midfield, Williams reeled off a run to the Arp 38, and then Wiliams would score from 18 yards out. Brown intercepted Langley to help the Raiders seal the win.
It was a Pink-Out for Arp’s fans, recognizing breast cancer awareness.