Bush, Airedales look ahead
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
The raw emotion of the end of the season filled the room as Alma coach Rusty Bush embraced one player after another following Thursday’s playoff loss to Little Rock Parkview.
Alma stood toe to toe with No. 1 Parkview for a half before falling, 35-0, in the first round of the state playoffs.
Bush said this year’s senior class helped lay the foundation for next year’s team.
“That’s Alma football; you don't have to beg them to play … you don’t have to plead with them — they’re going to go play hard,” Bush said. “They gave those guys everything they wanted. The weather was a little bad, but I’m so proud of these seniors. It all goes back to the practices … and what they do when the coaches around around.
“There are going to be wins down the road that will have a lot to do with this senior class.”
“This team means more than a lot of people in my life,” senior receiver Drake Stogsdill said. “They’ve (teammates) been with me through all the hard times. All of the hard work we’ve put in, I’m so proud of them. A lot of them are role models for me and I’m a role model for them. I couldn’t ask for better teammates.”
The defending 5A state champion Patriots needed three plays to cover 53 yards for the first points of the game.
The Airedales drove inside the Parkview 5 on its first series before being stopped on fourth-and-goal from the 1. Later, the Airedales drove to the Patriots’ 4 before turning the ball over on downs. Stogsdill helped set up the first opportunity with a 48-yard reception, his longest of the season.
Sophomore Samuel Schlegel caught six passes for 66 yards and finished the season with 801 yards receiving — the fourth most in team history. Only Conner Stacy (1,306) and Brayden Johnson (1,180 and 1,153 yards, respectively), had more.
With its victory, Parkview extended its winning streak to 22. The Patriots will face the winner of today’s battle between Little Rock Mills and Wynne in the next round of the state playoffs.
Basketball
Alma will open its 2023-24 varsity basketball seasons this coming week.
The Lady Airedales travel to Hot Springs to play the Lakeside Lady Rams on Tuesday. Coach Chanlee Bottoms and Co. play at Sylvan Hills next Friday and return home for their home opener on Nov. 20 against Clarksville.
Coach Dominic Lincoln’s Airedales open the 2023-24 season on Tuesday at Shiloh Christian. They, too, travel to Sylvan Hills next Friday. The team’s first home game is Nov. 20 against Clarksville.
Volleyball
Alma junior Maybrey Birchfield was named first-team All-5A-West volleyball, coach Kim Weaver announced.
Birchfield finished with 433 digs and 25 aces for the Lady Airedales. Senior Julia Nutt was named to the honorable mention team.
Nutt finished the season with 550 assists, 215 digs, and 35 aces.
Did You Know?
Alma’s 35-0 loss to Parkview Friday was a homecoming of sorts for a number of Alma coaches. Josh Driscoll (running backs coach) played at War Memorial as a member of Southside’s 2000 state runner-up team.. Junior high coach Ryan Meyers played on Northside’s 1995 state title team that lost to Pine Bluff that season. He also coached a number of playoff games at WMS while at Charleston.
Alma junior high coach Derek Haney (Charleston) played at WMS.
This Week In Airedale History
Former Alma quarterback Brady Bradley, whose brothers Brett, Bryson, and Byron played for the Airedales, threw a go-ahead 30-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Craig as the Airedales routed Beebe, 34-14, in the first round of the state playoffs. Bradley threw for 157 yards in the victory.
Ryan Saunders put the game out of reach with a late 10-yard touchdown run.