GRIZZLIES MAKE THIRD STRAIGHT 7A QUARTERFINALS APPEARANCE

The Grizzlies were able to shut down a solid Van Buren offensive attack in a 35-0 win at Mayo-Thompson Stadium in the opening round of the 7A playoffs last week. “They’ve been good on offense all year,” Northside coach Mike Falleur said. “And they moved the ball a little bit, but I thought defensively we played really well, put a lot of pressure on them and made some big picks. We played good for the second week in a row. “We played (Van Buren) early in the year, they’ve improved, we’ve improved, they’re in the playoffs. (I told the players) let’s not start slow and kind of make it where (it’s not decided) in the fourth quarter; let’s get on them quick and see if we can’t get the game under control fast and our guys did a good job of that.” Northside’s defense set the tone of the game’s first play from scrimmage, as cornerback Elijah Tabut intercepted a pass near midfield. Two plays later, quarterback Deuce Wise broke off a long run to the end zone to put the Grizzlies (7-4) ahead to stay. “We had kind of told them to be ready for some kind of a play right out of the chute,” Falleur said. “Maybe a reverse, a reverse pass, thinking they were going to try to get something early to get them going. Elijah just stayed over the top of his guy and did a great job and (the quarterback) throws it a little deep and (Tabut) makes a good interception.” Northside held the Pointers to 137 yards of total offense, with 11 of those yards rushing. That was due in large part to five sacks, three coming from Raytel Rone. Alex Nguyen and J.J. Mills recorded the other Grizzly sacks. Rone and Nguyen, both senior linemen, have combined for six sacks in Northside’s past two games, the win against Southside in the regular-season finale and last week’s playoff win. “If we’re going to be successful, (the defensive line) has got to play good,” Falleur said. “The last two weeks, they’ve really played well.” Wise rushed for nearly 200 yards, including his game-opening TD. He also threw a 22-yard pass in the third quarter to Jackson King, who caught four passes for 36 yards and added two first-half rushing TDs. The Grizzlies, making their third straight 7A quarterfinal, now shift their attention to Bentonville this Friday. Two years ago in the quarterfinals, Bentonville ended Northside’s season. Bentonville (7-3), which drew an opening-round bye last week, got the No. 1 playoff seed from the 7A-West by virtue of its win against rival Bentonville West two weeks ago.

GRIZZLIES MAKE THIRD STRAIGHT 7A QUARTERFINALS APPEARANCE

KEVIN TAYLOR

Times Record | 11/14/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy Photo