By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
Alma 7th graders roll, 34-0
The Alma Airedales’ seventh-grade football team rolled to a 34-0 win over Van Buren Thursday at Airedale Stadium.
Alma quarterback Titus Benson ran for three touchdowns and threw a TD pass to David Altherton during the victory. Benson finished with 79 yards rushing and was 4-of-5 through the air for 166 yards. He also had five tackles on defense.
Nate Risley also returned an interception 79 yards for a touchdown. He added two tackles, including a TFL, and had 19 yards rushing on two carries. Altherton finished with 105 yards receiving on two receptions.
Defensive back Peyton Broaday had five tackles, including a TFL, and an interception.
The Alma Airedales’ junior high football team shut out Van Buren Thursday, 7-0, on the strength of Chase Parker’s three-yard touchdown run. Parker finished with 57 yards rushing on 19 carries. He completed 6-of-10 passes for 61 yards.
Parker’s fourth down 26-yard pass to Dylan Jackson (five receptions for 64 yards) during the team’s touchdown drive. Jackson, Hudson Loughridge, and Jaden Peters each had an interception.
In addition to his offensive numbers, Parker led the Airedales on defense with eight tackles and a TFI. Boaz Benson and Colton Nutt had six and five tackles, respectively.
Benson added two TFLs and a quarterback sack.
Alma’s Daniel Rodriguez remains perfect on PAT kicks.
Volleyball
Jaslyn Boone had nine assists, 10 digs, two blocks, and two kills during Alma’s 28-30, 25-18, 15-11 win over Northside in junior high volleyball action this week.
Peyton Morris had five kills and a pair of digs for the winners (7-1). Jaeda Cahoon added two aces, three kills, a block assist, and two digs.
Emberly Kimes and Isabella Peters finished with six kills apiece for the Airedales. Peters had 13 digs, and Kimes assisted on a block, had two digs, and one assist.
Matilyn Dunn finished with nine assists and two digs. Anna Swarnes contributed three kills, 11 digs, two assists, and added an ace. Bailee Oliver had three aces, eight digs, two assists, and one kill.
The Alma Lady Airedales’ senior high team dropped a tough 25-14, 25-21, 25-14 decision to Van Buren Thursday at Airedale Arena.
Senior Zoe Thrift led Alma with nine kills. Maggie Brogan had eight kills, and Chloe Gregory and Miranda Gibson finished with five and four kills, respectively.
Senior Julia Nutt had 25 assists.
Tennis
Cash Farris continued his strong run for the Alma tennis team. Farris defeated Siloam Springs. Nico Anglin, 6-2, 6-2, during a 5A-West meet in Siloam Springs.
The Airedales’ Colby Kimmons outlasted the Panthers’ Braden Ratcliff, 6-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-6 (10-6).
In girls’ doubles play, Marti Lineberry and Kenadie Farris defeated Matalie Pharr and Erin Fidler, 7-5, 6-1.
Alma’s Kensington Wadkins and Lacey Haughton dropped their doubles match.
The Airedales’ Jackson McMurray and Joshua Smith split a pair of doubles matches. They lost their first match, 6-1, 6-0, before earning a 6-2 victory.