SOUTHSIDE NEEDS 'W' TO EXTEND PLAYOFF STREAK

A tough schedule, an inexperienced quarterback and a crucial defensive injury have left the Southside Mavericks on the outside looking in. It's been nearly a dozen years since Southside missed the playoffs. Fortunately, with three games left to play, Southside is not yet finished. "We had a good week of practice," Williams said. "Like everyone else, we've got a few bumps and bruises." The Mavericks face Little Rock Catholic today at War Memorial Stadium. A win, would set up a crucial two-game stretch with Central and Northside. A loss would essentially leave the Mavs out of postseason for the first time since 2007. "We need to come out and play with our guts out, and play every snap like it's our last game" Williams said. Who to blame in Southside's tough season? The real culprit has been inexperience. Quarterback Graves Schmidly's first pass of the season was returned for a touchdown by Har-Ber. He's had his moments since, of course. The Mavericks were on the verge of upsetting Cabot three weeks ago when a fourth-down stop by the Panthers sealed a 27-23 victory. Southside has been outscored 101-36 in its last two games. Like all struggling teams, Southside has had tough luck, too. In the 43-19 loss to Bryant, Southside's Prince Rhoden returned an interception 55 yards for what would have been a game-tying touchdown. Instead, a pass interference negated the play, and instead of a 10-10 tie, Bryant later scored to go ahead 17-3. Trailing 17-11 early in the third, Southside failed to convert on fourth-and-two deep in Bryant territory. "I felt like we needed to get a spark going, but we didn't make it," Williams said. "It's the little things. We get a stop on defense, and then we go three-and-out. That's been that way all year. We've been unable to get any momentum going. But the bottom line is we have to execute better in crucial situations." Senior Parker Dixon, who has been limited to just 142 yards rushing this season on 40 attempts, is deemed good to go this week, Williams said. His senior leadership, along with sophomore Taye Gatewood's explosiveness, would be a boost to the Mavericks' offense. Southside has also been without linebacker Darin Davenport since midway through the Cabot game. Davenport was lost for the season. Catholic has lost five straight games and is just 5-13 over the past two seasons. The Rockets haven't had a winning season since going 6-5 in 2011. "I worked with their head coach John Fogleman in El Dorado," Williams said. "He does a great job offensively and defensively." The Rockets lost to Southside last season, 38-35, in the playoffs. The Mavericks have beaten Catholic three straight times dating back to a 21-10 loss in 2009.

SOUTHSIDE NEEDS 'W' TO EXTEND PLAYOFF STREAK

KEVIN TAYLOR

Times Record | 10/21/2016

PHOTO CREDIT: Ft. Smith Southside High School Athletics