A-J Wildcats blank Eldorado Eagles 36-0 in playoff opener

The Eldorado High School football team has lived by its rushing attack all season.

But, the Eagles’ offense failed to get on track in a 36-0 loss to host Anna-Jonesboro in first-round action of the Class 3A playoffs at ‘The Pit’ last Saturday afternoon.

“It seems they were pretty content to come in here and run the football and keep their offense on the field,” A-J football coach Brett Detering said. “They were intent on trying to pound it (up the middle) instead of running the perimeter. They were getting less than 3 yards a carry.”

The Eagles entered the game with one of the area’s top offenses and rushers. Dylan Roberts finished the regular season with 1,127 yards rushing. On Saturday,he rushed for only 82 yards on 24 carries.

The Eldorado running backs were met by a fired up Wildcats defense. Middle linebacker Damian Reed lead the defense with 12 tackles and 2 sacks.

 “He (Reed) played well for us,” Detering said.  “Still, sometimes he could do better. But all our kids played better on the defensive side of the ball. They did a better job of attacking the ball carriers.”

Eldorado entered the game with 3,243 net rushing yards for the season. The team was only able to rush for 159 yards and had 0 passing yards. Two passes were attempted but both were incomplete.

“Any time you’re in a situation where you’re in the first round of the playoffs and you get a shutout, it’s certainly something to build on,” Detering said.

Ironically, the shutout was the first of the season for the Wildcats.

 A-J wasted little time getting its offense rolling.On the first possession,  Wildcats’ quarterback Brady Wright capped a 10-play drive with a 7-yard touchdown run. Jaden Ayers’ extra point kick gave the Wildcats a 7-0 lead with 6:57 remaining in the first quarter. It was a lead they would not relinquish.

After the Eagles were halted on their first drive by an incomplete pass on fourth down, the Wildcats were on the move again.

After a lengthy drive, A-J’s Jaden Ayers appeared to score but because of a penalty for an illegal block, the TD was negated.

Wildcats quarterback Wright was sacked after the infraction, but followed with a 21-yard TD pass to Brent Taylor. Wright ran in the conversion points and put A-J ahead 15-0 with 5.7 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.

Reed sacked Eagles’  quarterback Joe Blair on a fourth down play to thwart  their next drive.

Seven plays later, A-J’s Wright connected with Dalton Baker on a 17-yard TD strike. Ayers’ extra point kick boosted the Wildcats to a 22-0 advantage with 3:47 remaining in the first half.

The Eagles dropped back to punt on their next drive on a fourth down and short yardage situation. Quarterback Blair, who was lined up in the backfield, took the snap from center and headed to the outside and picked up the first down.

The Eagles were eventually forced to punt later in the drive after Blair was sacked by A-J’s Jimmy Daniels.

The Eagles opened the second half with a lengthy drive but had it halted when Blair fumbled. A-J’s Dylan Sturgeon recovered.

Five plays later, Wright connected with Taylor on a 36-yard TD pass. Ayers’ kick boosted the A-J lead to 29-0 with 5:52 remaining in the third quarter.

Reed and Ayers combined on a sack of Blair to thrwart the Eagles’ next drive.

Seven plays later, Wright connected with Baker on a 7-yard TD pass. Ayers’ kick closed out the scoring with 2:22 remaining in the third quarter.

“The first three possessions of the first half we scored and the second two possessions of the second half we scored,” Detering said. “Our kids found a way to get it home.”

The Eagles best chance of scoring was in the final quarter. The Eagles drove deep into A-J territory following a “roughing the punter” penalty that was called against the Wildcats.

Reed, however, ended the drive on fourth down when he sacked Blair for a big loss.

A-J’s Wright again had a stellar game leading the way with 82 yards rushing on 12 carries and connecting on 11 of 19 passes for 189 yards.

“I thought we might be able to throw better and complete some more passes,” Detering said. “But Brady played well and was able to scramble.”

Ayers had 66 yards on 3 receptions, Baker had 56 yards on 4 receptions and Taylor added 45 yards on 3 receptions.

Fullback Austin Noble was A-J’s second leading rusher with 21 yards on 6 carries.