ARP FLEXES MUSCLES | Tigers beat Sabine, 61-0, in preparation for showdown with Troup
ARP – The Arp Tigers proved to everyone in Bill Herrington Stadium Friday night that they will be a team that has to be dealt with by the rest of District 11-3A this year.
And between Arp, Troup and West Rusk – who all won Friday night – it’s gonna be a winner-take-all, one that will be fun to watch, and it starts next week.
Maybe in a message to archrival Troup, who’s ranked No. 10 in the latest 3A, Division II state poll, the Arp Tigers beat Sabine 61-0 on Friday night, at Arp’s homecoming.
And it really WAS a homecoming for many, including Arp alumnus DeMarvion Overshown, who was not just in attendance for the game – he participated in the coin toss, and also brought a gift: a $5,000 check to the city to help fund a splash pad for its children.
Up next: district play for both, as Sabine (0-4 on the season to date) will host Tatum (1-3), a 7 p.m. start on Friday, and Arp (4-0) visits Troup (4-0) in what is sure to be a hot ticket.
As for the game, Arp capitalized on a handful of Sabine mistakes, and made the most of its own opportunities, as well. The Tigers rolled up 331 rushing yards, ran for eight touchdowns and also added in a passing score from Ty Langely to Zane Borque.
Sabine got the ball to begin the contest, and a quick pass interference penalty on the Tigers moved the Cardinals up 15 yards. That was all they would get, as a fumbled handoff derailed that drive, the ball recovered by Arp’s Hudson Orpineda.
Zane Bourque carried the ball twice and the second went 7 yards for the quick score. The extra point hit the goalpost’s upright, but the Tigers took and early 6-0 lead, which they would never lose.
With their second drive, Sabine quarterback Griffin DeHoyos found Landry Laird for 15 yards, and then Lincoln Royce for 18. Sabine just couldn’t get the ground game going, however, and really didn’t the entire evening. Arp’s defensive line forced another fumble on fourth down, turning the ball over again.
Arp’s Casen Burgins gained 20 yards on a run, as Arp kept the ball on the ground – until four plays later, when quarterback Ty Langley found Bourque for a 12-yard score. Graysen Spoon added the extra point and gave Arp a 13-0 lead.
The Tiger defense, who had an unbelievable night, forced a punt by the Cardinals on the next drive. Langley immediately went to work, hitting Burgins for 23 yards. Sabine’s defense forced a fumble, but it was recovered by the Tigers. It was just that kind of night for the Cardinals.
Burgins then went 13 yards for a first down, and Bourque topped the drive off with a 20-yard run for the score. This time, the extra point was blocked, and the Tigers’ lead grew to 19-0.
Still in the first quarter, DeHoyos was sacked on second down by Zion Washington, and fumbled again. with the Case Arrington recovering for the Tigers in great field position. With seconds left in the quarter Bourque hauled in a pass from Langley and bulled his way down to the 1-yard-line as the quarter ended.
After two penalties by the Cardinals, the Tigers went to the air – and shouldn’t have. The pass was picked off by Aden Swanson, who tried to break free for a return, only to be caught at the Tiger 12. But, as they say in Carthage, it was “hold everything” as there was yellow laundry on the field. The Cardinals were called for offsides, giving the ball back to the Tigers.Smith pushed in for the score from the 1, and gave Arp a 26-0 lead.
The next three possessions saw the defenses come alive. Langley intercepted DeHoyos, but he gave it right back, as he was picked off by Ashton Tave of the Cardinals. This time, no flag nullified it.
Three plays later, though, DeHoyos threw another pick, this time to Wyatt Johnson.
Arp abandoned the game of hot potato, and went back to the ground. Burgins gained 17 yards, and then Smith, 25, then the last 1 for the score and a 33-point lead.
The problems continued for Sabine on its next drive, as Arp’s defense would not let the Cardinals run, and forced a punt. The kick was blocked, and recovered by Arp at the Cardinals’ 5-yard-line.
Tanner Hunt joined in the scoring with the short run, followed by Spoon’s extra point, and it was 40-0 at the half.
Arp added three second-half touchdowns, the most impressive a 60-yard run by Smith.
Burgins broke free for an 18-yard run, and eventually a Hunt touchdown, for a 54-0 score.
The Cardinals were led by DeHoyos, who had 82 passing yards and Angel Gaona, who had 29 hard fought yards on the ground. Cole Loveless led the team with 39 yards receiving and Laird added 34.
For Arp, the final tallies: Josh Smith had 117 yards and three touchdowns. Tanner Hunt ran for 87 and two more touchdowns—they each had nine carries. Casen Burgins had 69 yards on five carries; Borque had 42 yards and two scores on four carries; and Langley ran for 39 yards and also had a touchdown.
He completed 3-of-4 passes for 60 yards and the touchdown, and Borque came in at quarterback, as well, going 1-of-2 for 23 yards. Burgins had that 23-yard catch, and Layton Shelburne also had a catch, for 17 yards.
Defensively, Arp caused three fumbles (Hunt, Burgins and Zyon Washington), recovered two (Hudson Orpineda and Case Arrington), and had two interceptions, as well (Langley and Wyatt Johnson).
Washington had the Tigers’ only sack, but Sabine quarterbacks were under duress all night: 13 hurries – three by Washington and four by Tripp Durrett – kept the pressure up. Durrett, Washington, Smith, Hunt and Burgins were all credited with quarterback knock-downs.
The Tigers had 16 tackles for loss in the game: Washington had three of them, Burgins and Chrisden Ellis two each, and Smith, Hunt, Brendon Dark, Amarcus Garret, Shelburne, Graysen Spoon, Jaxon Schminkey, Arrington, and Tristan Phipps one each. Spoon also had two pass break-ups, Orpineda one, and Ellis led the way with 10 tackles.
