Ground game, defense fuel Alma to 5-West blowout win
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
The Alma Airedales rolled up 261 yards on the ground during Friday’s 45-14 win over Clarksville, with Carlos Gonzalez and Israel Towns-Robinson combining for 154 yards on 27 attempts.
But it was a pair of defensive touchdowns that helped trigger the Arkansas Activities Association Sportsmanship rule.
Cash Farris got the day going with a 42-yard scoop and score on the Panthers’ third offensive series. Landon Morris, who helped set up Farris, later returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown - the first TD of life.
“I was just playing what I was taught,” Morris explained. “The ball came straight to me and I started running. I got super excited; it means a lot because all these other years I would have never thought (about scoring). It just paid off; all the work … and scoring a touchdown just means a lot.”
Morris said it was the first TD of any kind at any level. “I didn’t even score in Little League,” he said.
Up 14-0, Alma extended the lead to 21-0 when Farris scooped up a fumble and raced untouched for a TD late in the first quarter. Morris had a hand in that one, too.
“Landon Morris stripped the runner and I grabbed the ball and started running,” Farris said. “Thanks to Landon Morris for that.”
Lynn’s first start
Alma sophomore Joey Lynn learned midway through last week’s workouts that he would be starting for the Airedales in Friday’s 5A-West opener.
He was ready. Well, sort of.
“I was pretty nervous; my coaches just randomly came up to me a couple of days before the game and said I was starting on offense,” Lynn said. “I was ready, but not ready at the same time. I mean, I was happy, because I was finally starting on a varsity team as a sophomore. It was pretty good.”
Lynn has seen time this season on offense and defense. He was forced into an offensive start at left guard after the Airedales ruled out an ailing Eli Waldrop.
“Joey earned his opportunity, playing hard and well on JV (junior varsity) nights,” Alma offensive line coach Eric Marsh said. “He always plays with relentless effort and is a competitor. He was unafraid of the moment because he has been a program guy - he played every year with the school teams and has been coached well each year.”
The Airedales scored on the first play from scrimmage.
“We got three touchdowns in the first quarter,” Lynn said. “That’s pretty good.”
“He has rotated on defense before this game and gave everything he had and a lot of plays on defense,” Marsh added. “He was ready for this moment and he played like a veteran. I expect nothing else from him (but the best) and we are proud of what he has done so far, but it is a small glimpse of what he will do.”
Special teams
Alma senior Kaydin Minshull is a long way from matching Adam Daily’s school record for field goals (13).
But Minshull has been automatic for the Airedales this season - connecting on all 20 of his PAT (point-after-tries) and knocking in another field goal. Minshull was a perfect 6-for-6 on PAT tries and banged home a 29-yard field goal, the second of the season and third of his career.
“Special teams are a really big deal for us. We take a lot of pride; we think it's a really big deal,” Minshull said. “Everybody’s executing … not just me. It is the snapper (Kayden Lamb), the holder (Michael Taylor) and the O-line. I was glad I was able to keep my streak up.”
Minshull was 22-of-31 a year ago.
Volleyball
Junior defensive specialist Mabrey Birchfield has had a big month on the back row of defense. Saturday, setter Julia Nutt came up big in a pair of non-conference wins over Parkview and Pea Ridge at Charles B. Dyer Arena.
Nutt had 30 assists in the team’s 25-17, 25-12, 25-18 win over the Lady Patriots. She added 54 assists in the team’s 23-25, 25-16, 25-11, 25-12 win over the Lady Blackhawks.
Alma (3-12) resumes 5A-West play Tuesday against Mountain Home.
Sophomores Maggie Brogan and Chloe Gregory added 14 and 13 kills, respectively, in the team’s victory over Pea Ridge. Senior Zoe Thrift had 11 kills in the opener and seven more against Pea Ridge.
Senior Miranda Gipson added nine kills against Pea Ridge and four aces in the win over Parkview.
Also for Alma, sophomore Breella Hughes added seven kills, five aces, and two blocks against Pea Ridge.
Cross Country
Alma’s Nevaeh Kangas was seventh (23:01.40) at Saturday’s Today’s Bank Mansfield Invitational cross-country event.
Teammate Aleeze Williams was 25th overall with a time of 31:48.00.
Caleb Boen led the boys with a time of 20:56.60 in the 5000-meter event. Lucas Wald (23:09.90) and Marcelino Rodriguez (23:21.20) were next.
The Airedales’ Ernesto Estrella was next with a time of 27:04.30.
Alma will run this weekend at the Chili Pepper Festival in Fayetteville.