Daingerfield holds off Arp in Game of the Week

Published 5:59 am Saturday, August 27, 2011

ARP — In last season’s opener, Daingerfield allowed a touchdown to Arp on the opening series and controlled the rest of the game. 

At times in this season’s opener, Daingerfield appeared on the way to another 30-point victory against its fellow state power. 

But this time around, Daingerfield wasn’t able to pull away. The state’s top-ranked team had to fight for a 32-26 victory in front of an overflow crowd Friday night at Bill Herrington Tiger Stadium. 

The win came in Daingerfield coach Aric Sardinea’s first game at the helm, plus without most of the players who played vital roles in last season’s third consecutive Class 2A state title. It’s often said, however, that a win is a win.

“It’s exciting, but we didn’t play as well as the kids wanted to play,” Sardinea said. “We all know we have a little work to do. The kids’ expectations were a little higher than what we had tonight. But what I was proud of was that we played hard for four quarters.”

In his first career start, Daingerfield (1-0) quarterback Alex Allen finished 18 of 28 for 215 yards and two touchdowns passing, plus rushed for a score. The senior was a member of the defensive unit last season, but left the team just before the playoffs got under way. 

Arp (0-1), meanwhile, went to the ground for most of the night and put its misdirection trap to good use. Kasey McClendon led the way with 13 carries for 90 yards and two touchdowns, plus Mikechell Potts added seven carries for 87 yards and a TD and John Hawkins contributed eight attempts for 64 yards and a score. 

After giving up Daingerfield’s final touchdown with just under eight minutes to go in the fourth, Arp made things dramatic in the final moments. Having already scored in the quarter on a 23-yard run, McClendon capped a five-play, 52-yard drive with a 2-yard TD to pull within 32-26 with 12.3 seconds remaining. 

The score was set up by a 41-yard pass from Kyle Copeland to Rusty Pearce, but Arp’s fortunes changed on the ensuing onside kick and Daingerfield (1-0) was able to take one knee to end the game.

Sardinea was impressed by Arp, which went 6-7 last season. 

“They have some kids that can play smash-mouth football and I think their future is going to be promising,” he said. “The misdirection trap they have is extremely deceptive. Once you start having your kids move one way, it’s just deceptive. It’s a good scheme that they have.” 

Following a scoreless opening quarter, the teams traded points in the second as Daingerfield raced into the break up 20-7. The visiting Tigers got a 9-yard touchdown run and a 94-yard kickoff return for a score from Edwin Mims, plus a 28-yard pass from Allen to Jonathan Barber for another score. 

It could’ve been worse for Arp. 

Daingerfield appeared to increase the lead to 27-7 with time running out in the half, but a 17-yard TD pass from Allen to Darrin Terry was called back because of an illegal shift. And with no time on the clock, Mims took a handoff at the 2 and was stopped short of the goal line.

 Meanwhile, Potts scored Arp’s only touchdown of the half when he took a quick handoff and darted 80 yards to the end zone with 7:53 remaining in the second quarter. Rusty Pearce’s PAT was good to give Arp a 7-6 advantage, but Mims returned the ensuing kickoff to the end zone to put Daingerfield back on top. 

Allen finished the half 14 of 21 for 151 yards and the touchdown, hitting favorite target Jeremy Godbolt five times for 59 yards. 

Arp’s Copeland had little opportunity to test Daingerfield’s pass defense, completing 2 of 5 passes for 7 yards in the half. Potts carried the ball five times for 84 yards, the majority coming on the scoring run. 

No. 1 Daingerfield 32, Arp 26

At Bill Herrington Tiger Stadium, Arp

Daingerfield   0   20   6    6 — 32

Arp               0    7    6  13 — 26

Second Quarter

DAI — Edwin Mims 9 run (kick failed), 9:07

ARP — Mikechell Potts 80 run (Rusty Pearce kick), 7:53

DAI – Mims 94 kickoff return (Alex Allen run), 7:44

DAI – Jonathan Barber 28 pass from Allen (kick failed), 3:13

Third Quarter

ARP – John Hawkins 1 run (kick blocked), 6:07

DAI – Darrin Terry 52 pass from Allen (pass failed), 4:29

Fourth Quarter

ARP — Kasey McClendon 23 run (pass failed), 10:27

DAI – Allen 1 run (pass failed), 7:53

ARP —- McClendon 2 run (Pearce kick), 12.3

                               DAI          ARP

First Downs        14          12

Rushes-Yards    24-61     34-232

Comp.-Att.-Int.  18-28-0  3-9-1

Passing Yards    215        48

Punts-Avg.         2-38.5    3-34.7

Fumbles-Lost     3-3        3-1

Penalties-Yards  12-69     2-6

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Daingerfield, Edwin Mims 3-16; Cordarius Anderson, 4-16; Alex Allen, 10-15; Jacoby Lee, 6-14; Desmond Heath, 1-(-1). Arp, Kasey McClendon, 13-90; Mikechell Potts, 7-87; John Hawkins, 8-64; Andre Summers, 1-2; Kyle Copeland, 5-(-11).

PASSING — Daingerfield, Allen 18-28-0—215. Arp, Copeland 3-8-0—48; McClendon, 0-1-1—0.

RECEIVING — Daingerfield, Jeremy Godbolt, 5-59; Darrin Terry, 5-74; Edwin Mims, 3-18; Devin Smith, 2-15; Jonathan Barber, 1-28; Shawn Hooks, 1-19; Heath, 1-2. Arp, Michael Roberson, 2-7; Rusty Pearce, 1-41.