Howard optimistic as Chicks enter postseason play

GAME PREVIEW

The Blytheville Chickasaws finished runner up in the 3-4A but don’t tell head coach Jett Howard his squad isn’t a top seed in the 4A Playoffs that begin Friday.

Yes, the Chicks (6-4) have dropped their last two regular season games but Howard suggests Blytheville’s best football may be ahead of them.

Tim Brown

Blytheville hosts the Ashdown Panthers (4-5) in its first home playoff game since 2020 when it defeated Clinton.

Earning that higher seed has its benefits as Blytheville’s travel is nil, while four seed Ashdown has 330 miles of road standing between home and Northeast Arkansas.

The Panthers are making their fourth consecutive playoff appearance, having lost in the second round each of the last three seasons.

Tyrin Walker

The team qualified from the 7-4A which happens to boast reigning 4A champion Malvern, plus Arkadelphia, a state semifinalist the past two seasons, and tradition rich Nashville.

Considering that, Ashdown has struggled, scoring just 185 points in its nine games. Its best output came against winless Waldron which the Panthers defeated 52-14.

The team is quarterbacked by dual threat Grayson Porter who is equally effective at running and passing the ball. In fact, he accounted for four touchdowns – two each rushing and passing – in the team’s season finale against Mena.

His target of choice is Braeden Walton who had a season-high 159 yards on five catches against Nashville, plus a seven catch, 117-yard game against Mena as well.

Hayden Zeigler has to be accounted for out of the backfield as well as receivers Carson Horn and Caleb Blankenship.

Defensively, the Panthers secondary appears to be their strength with Cheldon Thompson and Antonio McDuffie occupying the corners. Both had interceptions against Mena with McDuffie returning his for a touchdown.

Darnell Williams is a dynamic playmaker from his safety position and plays a key role as returner on the Panthers special teams.

Blytheville will counter with some solid playmakers as well with mainstays Jontavious Johnson, quarterback, and the backfield trio of Ingram Battles, Tim Brown and Courtney Rogers.

The quartet is effective not only between the tackles but if any of them can find a crease, it’s no doubt going to turn into a big play. All are difficult to tackle.

Johnson has shown that he can accurately target his receivers for big gainers like the 60-yard catch-and-run in Friday’s game against Rivercrest. Tyrin Walker is on the receiving end of those bombs more often than not but Ashdown best don’t sleep on Michael Terry and any of the above running backs.

The Chicks average right at 31 points per game, while allowing 24.

The Blytheville defense had performed solidly having not allowed more than 24 points since week three. However, the past two weeks against conference opponents Pocahontas and Rivercrest they allowed right at 31 ppg.

The team’s rush defense has slumped surrendering more than 200 yards rushing the past two weeks but is capable of returning to its run stop prowess displayed during midseason.

It’s still a ball hawking defense that has a knack for turnovers, picking off two passes, plus forcing two fumbles in the loss to Rivercrest. Derick King patrols the secondary, while Jayln Hogan is a formidable pass rusher himself. The senior edge rusher leads the team in sacks.

The Chicks look to end their two-game losing streak with a win against Ashdown and then advance to host the winner of DeWitt and Pocahontas.

Game time is 7 p.m. in Blytheville.