Photo by Keith Stewart
ALAH quarterback Teddy Poe tries to evade Arcola’s Cole Hutton Friday night. This was a common sight as the Purple Riders’ defense constantly chased Poe out of the pocket en route to their 72-0 win over the Knights.

State-ranked Arcola lives up to status

•September 30, 2015•

by Keith Stewart
For the News•Progress

Last Friday’s LOVC northwest contest between Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond and Arcola was a mismatch from the beginning.

The Purple Riders came into the game having outscored its opponents 212-12 and attained a third place ranking in the Associated Press’ class 1A listing for the week.

The Knights, by contrast, had allowed just over 40 points a game through week four and is certainly in the throes of a rebuilding year.

But with all that said, head coach Dale Schuring still wanted to see a victory–the small ones that is.

“We knew we weren’t going to win the game so you come in and try to do something positive and try to build off of it and try not to give them extra opportunities with interceptions and fumbles,” he said. “They’re good; they’re going to score– we knew that. But the goal was to only let them score when they were actually on offense.”

Which wasn’t quite the case.

The Purple Riders’ defense swallowed up the Knights throughout the first half–not allowing them into Rider territory. And with 8:33 left in the first quarter, the Knights’, backed up to their two-yard line, Tyler Smith was met by a wall of purple who would take the senior running back down in the end zone for the safety.

Arcola would put together a two-play series on their ensuing possession to go up 18-0–not 30 seconds later.

On the following kickoff return, a Knights’ fumble was recovered by Arcola, who then ran it into the end zone for yet another Purple Rider score.

The Knights also had several untimely penalties and three fumbles, all of which were recovered by Arcola.

“We didn’t come to play football, plain and simple,” said Schuring, “and we haven’t for a couple weeks now. That’s where we’re at.”

Arcola would score on every drive but one in the first half and go into the locker room up 64-0.

But those small victories for which Schuring was looking, he saw.
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