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wbys, Indians Square OffthanEight days prior to the greatly talked about Fayetfeville-Springdale mat- two junior highi cment in the Ncinner of the city championship The two schools players will eventually be playing togetrvchup, there will be another top-notch rivalry going on in the college town.Fayetteville's two junior highs, Ramay and Woodland, meet Tor more th just nigher placment in the Northwest Arkansas Conference. There is anoverflow of pride involving the winnerer for the FHSBulldogs and pulling for one another. But for the time being, there is little wishing of good luck among the Cowboys of Woodland and the Indians of Ramay.The game is, one. important to the Cowboys because a win would give them a share of the conference championship. And two, important to the In dians because this is Ramay’s best chance of beating Woodland in several years and ending a five-game losing streak to the Pokes.Ramay’s last victory came in 1979 when the Indians pulled out a 9-6 win. Since then, not only has Ramay not won, but the Indians have not scored Woodland has won 12-0,15-0,49-0,56-0, and 6-0 last season.Woodland is 4-3 for the year, winning three of its last four, while Ramay is 5-1-2, winning only one of its last four.Nonetheless, the Indians are having a ball under head coach Ray Tucker, who has given them their first winning season in several years Tucker has taken a program that hit rock bottom three years ago and turned it into a conference contender.Woodland head coach Dick Harris has plenty of respect for the Indiana.“I’ve only seen them play once and tney played together real well.’’ said Harris “They have a real talented backfiela, that’s one of the strong things about them. They ve got a much better backfield than we do. V e re pretty much limited offensively as far as running goes.“I’ve been running the same offense since 74 and I finally decided to make a change. If I hadn’t been so stubborn earlier in the year things might have been different ”Asked how important the tradition factor was in the game, Tueker answered, ‘it means a lot to Woodland. They’ve got a lot of tradition over there Tradition helps win ball games, especially the close ones That's what I’rn trying to establish over here.”But'it’s not tradition that worries Tucker the most about the Cowboys“It’s the big play,” Tucker noted. “(Terry) Turpin can throw it deep He canhawthey 're extremely good on defense.’’make things happen They have the ability to stay in the game with you andRamay has a good signal caller of its own in Ron Gray. 1 picked him out as a seventh grader ana told him he would be my eighth graae quarterback and I told him as an e'ghth grader he would be my ninth grade quarterback,'’ said Tucker. He s a good team leader and real smart 11 anything, he tries maybe to do too much. But he’s made some critical plays for us. His intelligence is what makes him such a fine player. ”Harris also spoke highly of his quarterback, Turpm.“He’s got a lot of things going for him, said Harris. “He’s got height and he's definitely got a a real strong arm. You don’t see loo many junior high teams that pass and that's toour advantage The Indians also boast a pair of running backs who are as good as they come in the Northwest Arkansas Conference, Toby Ballard and Robbie Foster“They've got a lot of balance, ’ said Harris, “Everybody knows you've got to stop Foster, but Ballard and (David) Jones look tough, too ”About his backs. Tucker said, “Foster has done a good job for us at linebacker, tailback and kicking. He s always where he s supposed lo be on defense. He runs tough and just keeps plugging on offense.“Ballard gets those real tough yards and he’s probably our best player on defense. He Knows where the ball is going and he gets there Kickoff time is 7: 3lt;i p.m. at Harmon Field Thursday nightKyle Mootymg back Donnie Sanders had one ot those games tnat very few have each year in the entire 50 states.Sanders rushed for 303 yards, giving linn 891 in six games for a 148.5 average. He leads the District 1A West Conference in scoring with 84 points(13 touchdowns and three two-point conversions . Sanders is only 5-9,175’ The Samis' fullback is a little heftier. Bie T pounds of him, has racked up:ktiig Terry Hankins, all 5-10, 240 505 yards up the middle and has scored 69points. He’s also the Saints’ kic'Saint Paul head coach (iien McCutehen, who’s been at the helm for five years, has turned what used to be a one-win-or-less season for the Saints into a \ery respectable record the pasl two years Saint Paul is one of, if not the smallest school in the lA-West and last year won five games for the first timeir. the school s history, finishing 5-4.Archrival Elkins is next at home, a team Saint Paul beat last year lor the first time !n the school’s history. Then comes Gentry on the road A win in either one of those games would give the Saints their best record ever. If they won both games the Saints would most likely place second in the con ference, providing Farmington shows up in time to destroy Decatur the last weekThe running attack lor the Saints has racked up 2,228 yards while quarter back r]d Baker u 11, 140 has passed for 458 more. The tandem I formation has three running backs lined up in single file directly lehind the quarter back.No matter how strong the backs, no one can run well consistently w ithout a good line. And the Saints have a line that sizes up With some Class AAAA schools. Those linemen are Kenny Riley ifi-3, 220), Ronnie Sisco i5-9. 230), Brent Walker lt;2on, Mike McGee (205) and ends Mike Morgan (6 4. 185), Woody England (6-2,187) and Todd Stephens (6-0,185).W’hat has made the big turnaround in the Saints’ program?“These tjuys have a little more talent and ability than ’hey had in the past,' said McCutehen “II we can keep ihe kids coming out we should be okay. We've got 23 players out this \ear and that has a lot to do with it That’s the most I’ve ever had out since I’ve been here.”Last week's predictions had Boh Caudle and myself tying at 12-2. For the year Caudle is91-29 lt;758) while I’m 87-33 * 725).My picks this vveek include Fayetteville 13. Fort Smith Southside 7. Springdale 30, Russellville 0; Fort Smith Northside 14. Rogers 12, Harris m 25. Huntsville 7; Bentonville 16 Siloam Springs y; Mountain Home 16, Osceola 13; West Fork 1, Prairie Grove 8; Lincoln 13, Green Forest 10: BerryviHe 21, Gravette 8; Saint Paul 23, Elkins 20; Farmington 43, Greenland 0; Gentry 12. Pea Ridge 7; Decatur 21, Cedarville 19.Caudle's picks are: Fayetteville 20, Southside 18; Springdale 26. Russellville 6; Northside 21, Rogers 16; Harrison 28, Huntsville 8 Bentonville 15, Siloam Springs 6; Osceola 12, Mountain Home 10, West Fork 21, Prairie Grovt 7; Lincoln 20, Green Forest 6; Berryville 24. Gravette 8; Elkins 10, Sair.t Paul 9. Farmington 28, Greenland 6; Gentry 21. Pea Ridge 14; Decatur 24, Cedarville 6.lt; audle picks Fayetteville in a tight one over Southside, stating, Southside played about as well as they're capable of playing against Springdale last
Newspaper Details
Fayetteville Northwest Arkansas Times
Fayetteville, Arkansas, US
Wed, Oct 24, 1984
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Ron G.
AR, USA 12 Jan 2020
Other Publications Near Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville Democrat
Fayetteville Daily
Fayetteville Northwest Arkansas Times
Northwest Arkansas Times
Fayetteville Daily Democrat
