MOUNTIES' DEFENSE STOPS PATRIOTS LATE

Mike Loyd has been looking for a signature win that his Rogers High football team could hang its hat on. The Mounties delivered just that Friday night, holding off Little Rock Parkview 28-27 in their final nonconference game of the season at Whitey Smith Stadium. Rogers was playing its second game of the season after its game last week at Little Rock Central was canceled just a few plays into the game because of lightning. Loyd said Friday's game was basically like a season-opener. And the close game was exactly what Loyd was hoping for. "That's what we've been talking about, trying to change the culture," Loyd said. "That was a great football game and we made plays on both sides of the ball -- defensively, offensively. We had four or five kids going both ways. We were resilient." Rogers (1-1) used a late fourth-quarter scoring drive of 64 yards to take a one-point lead, then handed the game over to the defense to preserve it. The Mounties' defense came through with a huge fourth-down stop near midfield with under two minutes left to secure the win. The Mounties dropped Parkview running back Geary Allmon at the line of scrimmage on fourth-and-five and were able to run out the clock. Defensive end Charlie Louree had a hand -- literally -- in the final outcome as he blocked Parkview's extra-point attempt on the Patriots' first touchdown. Rogers led 21-13 at halftime, but the Parkview defense dominated most of the second half, helping the Patriots (1-2) take a 27-21 lead with 7 minutes, 42 seconds left as Landon Rogers' 1-yard quarterback keeper capped a 66-yard drive. Parkview's run game gouged the Mounties for every yard on the nine-play drive as Johnathan Campos had runs of 17, 13 and 14 yards to set up the Patriots' score. Campos rushed for 128 yards on 15 carries. Up to that point, the Mounties had nine yards of offense and one first down in the second half. Hunter Loyd led Rogers on a 13-play drive by completing 7 of 9 passes for 71 yards. Loyd hit Will Sims on the right side to the Parkview one, then bulled in two plays later. Johnny Vasquez added the extra-point for the one-point lead. Parkview stuck to what had worked the entire second half and stayed on the ground with Allmon carrying four times to move the ball to the Patriots' 45. After Allmon ripped off a seven-yard gain on first down. the Mounties' defense locked down. Allmon, who rushed for 127 yards on 14 carries, was tackled for no-gain and Rogers threw incomplete on third down before the Mounties stopped Allmon on fourth down. Hunter Loyd finished the night completing 14 of 21 passes for 203 yards.

Little Rock School District Athletics

MOUNTIES' DEFENSE STOPS PATRIOTS LATE

Photo Credit: Parkview Magnet High School Athletics