Conway Christian ready for Ola

By Charles Livingston
UCA sportswriting

The Conway Christian Eagles won their last non-conference game of the season last Friday but now must focus on finishing strongly in the 2A-5 conference race.

CCHS (5-3, 4-2) plays host to Ola (6-2, 4-2 in 2A-5) Friday in a game that could very well decide a playoff spot for the winner.

Both teams have lost to Danville so far, but Ola was able to beat Mountain Pine at home in Week 3. Mountain Pine beat CCHS in Week 6, 41-14.

In Class 2A, the top five teams from each conference make the state playoffs, and at 4-2 in conference, both teams have a leg up on teams that they have already been beaten, but any slipup could cost them in the long run.

“We just have to come out and be ready to play," said Tyler Kalahiki, a senior receiver and linebacker. "(Ola is) a good team, beat Mountain Pine who's a good team, and so long as we play our best game we'll be in it."

Ola and Conway Christian were in the same boat entering this year. Both teams made the playoffs last season and both saw their seasons ended early with first-round losses.

“Last year was disappointing, but we have a chance to be better,” Conway Christian's Landon Legree said.

The Gators had a five-game winning streak to start the season before losing two of their last three.

Ola has a new head coach in 2009 as the Josh Harrison era gets underway. The Gators' offense is led by senior running back Clay Damon and senior offensive lineman Brock Wald.