MHS ready but must wait to open playoffs

By Kevin Black
UCA sportswriting

The Mayflower Eagles were set to begin the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs tonight, but they will have to wait a few days.

The Class 3A playoffs have been suspended indefinitely after a judge in Russellville agreed late Thursday to overturn the Arkansas Activities Association's ruling that Lamar had played an ineligible player and therefore had to forfeit five 3A-4 conference games, keeping them out of the playoffs. AAA officials are investigating further.

Whenever the playoffs begin, Mayflower will play at Lavaca at 7:30 p.m.

The Eagles (5-5, 5-2) secured the third seed in the 3A-2 Conference with a win a Little Rock Episcopal last week and now face the third seed from 3A-1, the 6-4 Golden Arrows.

Mayflower coach Jed Davis said Lavaca might not be as athletic as other opponents, but the Arrows play hard and blitz often on defense.

“They come at us from all different directions, so we have to be ready for that,” Davis said. “There is going to be a ton of pressure on [the offensive line to play well].”

The Eagles’ offense averages 34 points per game and is led by seniors Demetris Lasker (running back) and Jordan Dycus (quarterback).

“[Lavaca] has real good middle linebackers that we’ve got to account for,” Davis said.

The Golden Arrows run the option play that helps them to score at any time, according to Davis.

“We’re going to try to score every time we get the ball, because with the option that they run, you never know when they are going to break for a big play and go for a touchdown,” Davis said. “So we’ve got to be ready for that.”

Dycus, who has completed 55 percent of his passes this season and thrown for 18 touchdowns, said he expected a disciplined opponent tonight.

“They may not be the best athletes, but they do what they are coached, they do what they are told,” Dycus said. “We expect a good disciplined football team, but we think we can beat them pretty good.”

Prescott (8-2) awaits the winner of this game after a first-round bye.