Jacob Brower

The

Daily Citizen SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2012 Harding Academy Football The Wildcats secured their first playoff win by defeating Smackover 21-14 on Friday.

The Wildcats, who were undefeated during the regular season, will host Lamar at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Harding Academy starts new tradition

SPORTS

SECTION B Sports Editor Harrison Keegan 501-268-8621 hkeegan@thedailycitizen.com

Lions could have used rest

BY HARRISON KEEGAN hkeegan@thedailycitizen.com

The Searcy football team was all smiles when Siloam Springs quarterback Austin Van Poucke threw the ball into the turf on the final play of the second quarter on Friday night.

The Lions (6-5) had all but secured a spot in the second round of the playoffs after a 28-0 drubbing of Siloam Springs in the first half that could have easily been 42-0.

would be able to rest some of their overworked starters in the Record: 6-5 fourth quarter.

Last result: 49-48 win That all went out the window against Siloam Springs on a few minutes into the second Friday half thanks to a pair of unpreNext up: The Lions play dictable bounces. at El Dorado Friday at 7 A touchdown away from p.m., in the second round being mercy-ruled, Siloam of the playoffs.

Springs (1-10) surprised the Lions with an onside kick to open More importantly, it ap- the second half. peared as though the already The Panthers recovered thin and now banged up Lions the ball with great field posi-

Lions football

tion and four plays later, Van Poucke dove in from a yard out to make the score 28-7 Searcy.

Still down by three scores, Siloam Springs again opted to onside kick, again recovered and again scored a touchdown, this time five plays later.

“I thought we were going to run away with it and end up putting our JV in and we would be able to rest up for next Please see LIONS | 2B

BISONS HEADED TO PLAYOFFS

BY M.A. WEBB Special to The Daily Citizen

The black uniforms that Harding Academy donned during Friday night’s game marked the beginning of a new school tradition.

“Harding Academy is loaded with traditions,” said Roddy Mote, Wildcat head coach, “It is an honor and a privilege to be at the front of a new tradition.”

The black uniforms were the result of a tradition implemented by Mote this week. The team will wear the black uniforms during the first playoff game each season the team qualifies.

After a tough first half, however, Wildcat fans may have feared the black uniforms were jinxed. For the first time all year, Harding Academy was shut out and trailed in the first half, 14-0, to the Smackover Buckaroos.

However, the Wildcats managed to score 21 unanswered second half points to keep their state championship hopes alive.

During the first half, the Wildcats gained only 92 yards of offense. Two big plays put the Buckaroos in good scoring positions. A 41-yard run by Kevante Lowery took the Buckaroos to the 5-yard line, leading to the game’s first score. A 67yard catch and run by Shaquille Please see HARDING | 3B

White County basketball White County Central boys: 2-4, 62-47 win against Midland on Friday White County Central girls: 2-4, 52-47 win against Midland on Friday Bradford boys: 3-3, 72-41 win against Rural Special on Friday Bradford girls: 3-3, 61-39 loss against Rural Special on Friday

Local teams finding identities early on

BY HARRISON KEEGAN hkeegan@thedailycitizen.com

White County Central boys Head Coach Danny Starkey knows his team picked a good time for its best game of the season.

The Bears (2-4) are feeling confident as they prepare to host Rose Bud on Monday thanks to a 62-47 win against rival Midland on Friday. Starkey is hoping six games of experience will give his team the edge against a Rose Bud team playing its first game of the season.

“I was real pleased with the effort that we brought to the game,” Starkey said. “Every time they made a run, we matched it. It was a good win for us for sure.”

Starkey said his team played with more aggressiveness than it has all season on Friday, which was good to see.

“We got to the rack a lot and finished,” Starkey said. “We’ve been needing to do that.”

The White County Central girls (2-4) also bring some momentum into Monday’s date with Rose Bud. The Lady Bears defeated Midland 52-47 on Friday behind 26 points from Careagain Finley.

The Bradford boys and girls basketball teams have had up and down seasons so far in 2012. The Eagles and Lady Eagles hope to get things going when they play Please see LOCAL | 2B

Jacob Brower/jbrower@thedailycitizen.com

Harding defensive end Ty Powell leaps over Southwestern Oklahoma State running back Aaron Wilson in an acrobatic attempt to sack Bulldogs quarterback Dustin Stenta during the Bisons’ 38-7 home victory Saturday. With the win, Harding qualified for the playoffs for the first time in school history.

Harding qualifies for first-ever D2 playoff game

BY HARRISON KEEGAN hkeegan@thedailycitizen.com

Harding senior quarterback Kelvin Martin set a goal after the Bisons’ season opening win at North Alabama in September: Get back home.

After Harding picked apart a Top-25 North Alabama team 31-10, the Florence, Ala., native decided he wanted to play his final college game back at Braly Municipal Stadium in the DivisionII National Championship.

“My church said they were going to feed us steak next time we come down,” Martin said. “We’ve made it this far, Jacob Brower/jbrower@thedailycitizen.com but make no mistake, we’re Harding wide receiver Donatella Luckett secures a touchdown catch against his helmet as not satisfied at all.”

Martin and the Bisons took Southwestern Oklahoma State defensive back Brandon Washington looks on during the Bisons’ 38-7 home victory Saturday. one big step toward realizing their lofty goal by whipping Southwestern Oklahoma State Security Stadium was weigh- said Ronnie Huckeba, Hard- right.”

Senior defensive end and 38-7 on Saturday. With the ing on the Bisons Saturday af- ing head coach. “It would have win, Harding improved to 9-1 ternoon, they certainly didn’t been so easy to get distracted special teams nightmare Ty with all of the playoff talk, but Powell came up with the and secured a spot in the NCAA show it.

The Bisons won in quintes- they came out and played great game’s first big play, blocking Division-II playoffs for the first time in school history. sential Harding fashion, by today. I’ve said it several times, a short Colton Rainey field goal If the pressure of making running the ball hard, dominat- this is the most talented group on Southwestern Oklahoma football history or the weekly ing on defense and generating in the 27 years that I’ve been as- State’s first drive. sociated with coaching at HarSuper Region rankings or the big plays on special teams.

Please see PLAYOFF | 3B cheers of 2,600 fans at First “I’m so proud of our guys,” ding, and they’ve proven me

Lady Bisons basketball team gets off on right foot in GAC

BY HARRISON KEEGAN hkeegan@thedailycitizen.com

The Harding University women’s basketball team wasted no time showing fans why it was picked to finish first in the Great American Conference this season.

The Lady Bisons ran the floor early and often and were never tested in a 73-50 win against Christian Brothers at the Rhodes Field House on Saturday.

After a challenging exhibition season that saw the Lady

Bisons notch a win against Division-I Oral Roberts, Harding (1-0) looked in mid-season form when it finally played its first home game.

“I think when you play teams that are hard, you learn so much that will help you later on and right now,” said Kristen Celsor, junior forward.

Celsor, a former Searcy High School standout, scored 14 points and collected five rebounds and two steals — one of which earned her a scratch on the forehead and a butterfly

bandage.

Harding Head Coach Tim Kirby said the first game can set the tone for the rest of the season and he was pleased with his team’s effort on Saturday.

“We’ve gone through a long preseason, but we are still finding our mentality,” Kirby said.

“I thought we played hard tonight and we are developing a level of intensity.”

Sophomore Shana Holmes led Harding with 17 points on 4-of-7 shooting and Montana Lewis, last season’s Great

American Conference Freshman of the Year, added 11 points and six rebounds.

Celsor said the Lady Bisons have a long way to go, but they did a lot of things right on Saturday, including out-rebounding Christian Brothers 49 to 27.

“We rebounded really well and we played to our strengths,” Celsor said. “We ran the floor really well and we got the ball to our 3-point shooters when they were open but we also did Please see BASKETBALL | 2B

The

Daily Citizen SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

Bulldogs Significance: Bald Knob’s first-ever game against Riverview Outcome: Bulldogs won 21-20

SPORTS

Bisons dominate again

BY HARRISON KEEGAN hkeegan@thedailycitizen.com

Bulldogs relish conference triumph

BY M. A. WEBB

SECTION B Sports Editor Harrison Keegan 501-268-8621 hkeegan@thedailycitizen.com

The Bisons are 3-0 for the first time since 2004 after a third straight dominant road win to open the season.

This time, Harding University played at Southern Nazarene and beat the Crimson Storm 42-13 Saturday night in Bethany, Okla.

The Bisons scored first as sophomore wide receiver Donatella Luckett took a reverse

touchdown to make it 7-0.

The Crimson Storm came Record: 3-0 right back with a 32-yard Last result: 42-13 win touchdown on a fake punt on against Southern Nazarene their next possession to make Saturday it 7-7.

Next up: The Bisons play Southern Nazarene (0-4), at home against East Cenplaying one of their two home tral University Saturday at games this season, looked 6 p.m. poised to take the lead after a Harding fumble set the Crimson Storm up in Bisons terrihand off and went 21 yards tory. untouched for a first quarter But redshirt freshman cor-

Bisons football

nerback Trendall Stevenson came up with a huge interception at the Bisons 6-yard line.

From there, the Harding offense got going and churned out an impressive 15-play, 94yard drive capped by D’Nico Jackson-Best’s first Harding touchdown run from 11 yards out.

He rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns.

Please see HU | 3B

5 PLAYS LEAD TO LIONS’ MIRACLE

Special to The Daily Citizen

If the first installment was any indication, Bald Knob vs. Riverview is going to be an exciting rivalry game to watch.

For now, Bald Knob is enjoying bragging rights in the teams’ first-ever contest. The Bulldogs pulled out a nail-biting 21-20 victory Friday in the the 2-3A opener for both schools that was decided late in the fourth quarter.

“I believe that we started that rivalry with this game.” said Paul Johnston, Bald Knob head coach.

Riverview coach Stuart Hill worked with Johnston from 1998 until 2002 as part of the Bulldogs coaching staff. The similarities in the aggressive coaching styles were evident when failed fourth down attempts by both coaches led to touchdowns for the other teams.

“You roll the dice and sometimes you win,” Johnston said.

“I believed in the defense and that is why we called those plays.”

The Bulldogs scored first Please see BULLDOGS | 3B

Harding Academy volleyball What: The Lady Wildcats played at the Arkansas State University Play Day Saturday Results: The Lady Wildcats went 3-3 in pool play and advanced to the quarterfinals

Lady Wildcats gain experience at tournament

BY HARRISON KEEGAN hkeegan@thedailycitizen.com

The Harding Academy volleyball team did not lose a game during the first half of the conference season, but Head Coach Michal Giboney knew her team still had a lot of room for improvement.

On Saturday, the Lady Wildcats played at the Arkansas State Play Day. Giboney said it was a long day as Harding Academy played eight sets, but she thought the experience her team gained was invaluable.

“Every team we played today was bigger than us, so that can only help us,” Giboney said. “My girls are tired. They battled, they competed and they got some wins.”

Harding Academy went 3-3 in pool play. The Lady Wildcats split two sets with Brookland 25-16, 22-25, then the Harding Academy girls defeated Wynne 25-17, 25-10 before dropping two sets against Paragould 1725, 23-25.

The Lady Wildcats then advanced to the quarterfinal where they were beaten by Mountain Home 25-17, 25-23.

The Lady Wildcats only had one loss on the season before Saturday’s tournament but Giboney said the losses don’t matter, it’s the experience that does.

“They just stepped up and Please see WILDCATS | 2B

Jacob Brower/jbrower@thedailycitizen.com

Searcy junior defensive back Karonce Higgins jumps for joy after sacking Little Rock Central quarterback Cooper Westbrook Friday night. The Lions won the game on a 40-yard touchdown pass as time expired.

Surprising heroes emerge for Searcy in fourth quarter

BY HARRISON KEEGAN hkeegan@thedailycitizen.com

When a defensive lineman gets an interception, that’s an unlikely play.

When the kicker recovers his own onside kick, that’s an unlikely play.

When a quarterback with four completions on the night throws a 40-yard touchdown pass as time expires, that’s a very unlikely play.

When all three of those

“It felt like we won the state championship or something,” Record: 2-2 said Searcy senior wide reLast result: 19-14 win ceiver Darius Bowman after against Little Rock Central he hauled in Antwan Arnold’s Friday night.

Hail Mary pass and fell into Next up: The Lions play the end zone as time expired at Mountain Home Friday to give Searcy an improbable at 7 p.m.

19-14 win against Little Rock Central Friday night at Lion Stadium. things happen in the last sevBowman caught two touchen minutes of a game, that’s down passes in the final 1:30, something else entirely. but those were just two of five

Lions football

incredible plays that saved Searcy (2-2) from its third heartbreaking loss in a row.

■ Play No. 1: This is the one most fans don’t remember.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Lions were down 14-7 and backed up to their own 13-yard line. The offense had been spinning its wheels since Arnold’s 17-yard touchdown run in the opening period.

Please see SEARCY | 4B

Ramblers look ahead to Harding Academy

BY HARRISON KEEGAN hkeegan@thedailycitizen.com

Rose Bud Head Coach Steve Rose knew his team would have its hands full with Barton Friday night.

The Bears came into the season ranked No. 2 in the 2-3A preseason polls and they have speed at all of the skill positions. It was to be a good test for Rose’s 2-0 Ramblers.

Rose left Barton High School

“We thought we played hard, Record: 2-1 (0-1) we just didn’t exLast result: 41-14 loss at ecute,” Rose said.

Barton “I’ll be surprised Next up: The Ramblers if we see a team play at home against Hardas good as Baring Academy Friday at 7 p.m. ton the rest of the Rose year. I was very impressed by them.”

Friday night impressed with The Rose Bud offense didn’t both teams after a 41-14 Ram- get on the board until junior blers loss. quarterback Christian Reyn-

Ramblers football

olds found senior wideout Dillon Reesnes on a pair of fourth quarter touchdown passes. And by then it was too late as the Bears broken enough big plays to run away with the win.

“We kept it bottled up pretty well in the first half,” Rose said of Barton’s speed. “But when we scored to make it 27-7 early in the fourth we had a little down Please see RAMBERS | 3B

Lady Bisons soccer play on the road again today

BY NATHAN LOONEY Special to The Daily Citizen

The Harding University women’s soccer team comes into today’s game at Southern Nazarene feeling good.

The Lady Bisons won their second straight overtime thriller Friday night against East Central and they are looking to stay undefeated in Great American Conference play with a win today.

It took the Harding women’s

Lady Bisons soccer Record: 2-3, 1-0 Last result: 2-1 win against East Central Friday Next up: The Lady Bisons play today at Southern Nazarene at 2 p.m. soccer team extra time to get the result as they defeated East Central 2-1 in the second half of overtime Friday in GAC action.

The Lady Bisons improved to 2-3 overall and 1-0 in the GAC. Harding got on the board first in the 32nd minute when senior Lauren Scharf took it herself, dribbling halfway down the field before finding the back of the net for the second straight game.

Scharf scored her first goal of the season Tuesday in a 4-3 overtime win at Lyon.

After trailing 1-0 at halftime, East Central (0-6-1, 0-1 GAC) got the equalizer in the 72nd

minute when Carla Rodriguez found Taylor Graves on a free kick for her first goal of the season.

The Lady Bisons defense then held off the final push by the Lady Tigers. ECU took four shots in the final five minutes of regulation but only one was on frame.

East Central had the only opportunity to score in the first half Please see BISONS | 3B

The

Daily Citizen

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Sports

SECTION B Sports Editor Harrison Keegan 501-268-8621 hkeegan@thedailycitizen.com

Arkansas Class 3A Football State Championship game

Wildcats win state!

Harding Academy beats Glen Rose on last-minute touchdown, 49-45

By Harrison Keegan hkeegan@thedailycitizen.com

L

ITTLE ROCK — There were seven players on the Harding Academy roster with at least one touchdown catch this season.

Caleb Spears was not one of them.

During the first 47:50 of Saturday's 3A state championship game, six different Harding Academy players hauled in at least one reception.

Caleb Spears was not one of them.

But with the Wildcats down 45-42 against Glen Rose on Saturday with 10 seconds on the clock, it was Spears who made the biggest catch of the season.

The senior hauled in a Will Francis pass at the 10yard line, turned upfield, broke a tackle and dove into the end zone with 6 seconds on the clock to cap a stunning fourth-quarter drive and give the Wildcats their fifth state championship and the first since 2002 with a 49-45 win.

"If you would have told me with a minute to go that Caleb Spears was going to catch the game-winning touchdown, I wouldn't have believed you," said Francis, the game's most valuable player. "We were trying to go back side, but Caleb was wide open. I took a chance, and it paid off."

Spears made his mark this season as a hard-hitting safety and dutifully played behind standout junior receiver Kohl Blickenstaff on offense. He wasn't even on the field when the Harding Academy offense took over at its own 27-yard line with a 4-point deficit and 63 seconds to save its undefeated season.

But when Blickenstaff, Harding Academy's leading receiver on Saturday, came up limping after his 14-yard reception set the Wildcats up with first down at the Glen Rose 32-yard line, Spears was rushed onto the field.

Two plays later, he was lying on the edge of the end zone with his first catch since October.

"I knew we were going to get it done," Spears said "I just didn't know it was going to be me."

Francis carried Harding Academy all afternoon. The senior completed 35-of-48 passes for 499 yards and 4 touchdowns and ran for another score, but he was never better than on that final drive.

He calmly completed 5of-6 passes, ran for a first down and led the Wildcats 73 yards in less than a minute against one of the top defenses in the state.

"This is the drive that you

Harding Academy junior Kohl Blickenstaff celebrates as the final second ticks off the clock during the Wildcats' come-from-behind 49-45 state championship victory over Glen Rose at War Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon. Jacob Brower/jbrower@thedailycitizen.com dream about," Francis said.

"State championship game, you've got one minute to go and two timeouts. It's the perfect situation."

Harding Academy (14-0) and Glen Rose (13-2) went back and forth all afternoon, with each offense trying to outshine the other one.

The Beavers thought they

Harding Academy senior wide receiver Caleb Spears celebrates after scoring the Wildcats’ game-winning touchdown with 6 seconds left during his team's 49-45 championship win over Glen Rose Saturday afternoon. It was Spears' first touchdown catch of the season and his only catch of the game. Jacob Brower/jbrower@thedailycitizen.com

had the game won after senior quarterback Collin Hunter found wide receiver James Petersen in the end zone to give them a 4-point lead with 1:11 on the clock.

But that was too much time for Francis and company.

Please see Champions | 3B

Harding Academy junior Trey Davis drops to his knees and cries tears of joy as time expires during the Wildcats' comeback win over Glen Rose in the state championship game Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats finish the year 14-0. Jacob Brower/jbrower@thedailycitizen.com

75¢

THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2012

The

Daily Citizen TheDailyCitizen.com

Serving Searcy and White County, Ark., since 1854

LIONS HOPE TO GO OUT ON A HIGH NOTE CITIES CELEBRATE NATION’S INDEPENDENCE Searcy’s baseball team is hoping for revenge against Conway in tourney play today. — PAGE 1B

Hundreds attended Fourth of July celebrations in Beebe, Russell and Pangburn Wednesday. — PAGE 2A

Bypass project in state’s plans Plans could be altered after legislative session

BY MOLLY M. FLEMING mfleming@thedailycitizen.com

The future of the Highway 36/67 Connector Route project is safe for now, but that could change after the upcoming legislative session.

Arkansas Highway and Trans-

portation Department spokesperson Randy Ort said the state highway commission decided at its most recent meeting that there would not be any changes made to the 2013-16 Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan.

The plan lists all projects that the highway department plans to accomplish during the three years listed, including the Searcy project.

However, the commission Please see BYPASS | 3A

Searcy bypass The Highway 36/67 Connector Route project has been included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan for 2013-16. The highway commission has decided to not make any changes to that plan until the legislative session in January

WHITE COUNTY RINGS IN THE FOURTH

Children’s book Who: Carol King Kennard of Romance What: Will have a book signing for her new book “I Can Be Quiet” Where: Hastings Entertainment in Searcy

BY MARISA LYTLE Children have been known to feed their broccoli to the dog under the table and later sneak into the cabinet for a cookie.

Elementary students in Searcy Public Schools, however, have learned to appreci- Davis ate the taste and wholesomeness of healthful foods through a program established by the United States

BY MARISA LYTLE mlytle@thedailycitizen.com

What began as a creative way to teach her daughter a lesson resulted in the publishing of a children’s book for one local woman.

Carol King Kennard is a registered dietitian and self-employed health and w e l l n e s s Kennard coach. In addition, she is a certified children’s etiquette trainer. She lives in Romance with her husband, Piper, and their three children, Celine, 11, Yana, 6, and Luke, 4.

Three years ago, Kennard said, Yana had trouble going to sleep and, instead, disturbed her family with a lot of noise.

“I remember getting up with Yana several times,” Kennard

Please see GRANT | 2A

House fire blamed on fireworks

BY CHUCK BARTELS Associated Press

its bills month to month without borrowing, President Tom Courtway said.

"We spent more than we took in for a period of years," he said.

"Other times, we took money in the checking account and paid for capital expenditures, and we just shouldn't have done it."

This May, UCA's Board of Trustees approved raising the university's tuition rate and fees to pay for critical needs, rising costs and a salary ad-

LITTLE ROCK — Three people were arrested on felony charges after they allegedly set a Lonoke County home on fire by shooting fireworks Wednesday, despite authorities' statewide plea to not use incendiaries on Independence Day. The Lonoke County Sheriff's Department said the home in Cabot, along with several outbuildings, caught fire about 3:30 p.m., around the time that authorities were alerted to three people were riding all-terrain vehicles in the area and lighting fireworks.

The sheriff's department said a state trooper arrested Katlynn Mayfield, 23, Samantha Ashley Mayfield, 21, and Matthew Mayfield, 24, all of Cabot. They are charged with felony criminal mischief, but hadn't been booked into jail yet Wednesday evening.

A sheriff's dispatcher couldn't address questions about whether the three were cited and re-

Please see UCA | 2A

Please see FIRE | 2A

Jacob Brower/jbrower@thedailycitizen.com

Shelley Lincoln’s aim is true as she dunks her husband, White County Judge Michael Lincoln, at the Pangburn Fourth of July festival dunking booth Wednesday morning. Hundreds attended for the city’s annual celebration. Turn to Pages 2A and 3A for more photos from the Pangburn, Beebe and Russell festivals.

Please see BOOK | 3A

UCA faculty looking for pay raises

CONWAY — For years, the University of Central Arkansas has put off giving professors pay raises while the struggling university tried to climb out of fiscal distress, officials said.

Now, just as UCA is on the cusp of recovery, faculty members are starting to think about leaving unless they get pay raises soon.

"It hasn't happened yet, but it's going to begin to directly impact students as they show

“There is a limit to our idealism. People are leaving. People are looking (for other jobs).”

Kevin Browne UCA Faculty Senate president up and see their favorite professors are gone," UCA Faculty Senate President Kevin Browne said.

Faculty pay has taken the brunt of UCA's efforts to balance its budget and climb out

WEATHER Today: Mostly sunny. Highs around 103. West winds 5 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

Vol. 158, No. 160 ©2012 The Daily Citizen

Schools approved for USDA grant again mlytle@thedailycitizen.com

‘I Can Be Quiet’ teaches children to consider others

Associated Press

Who: Sidney Deener and McRae elementary schools What: Will again receive USDA grant money through the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Why: To provide healthful snacks each day to students

Funds provide fruit, vegetables to students at 2 Searcy elementaries

Local dietitian publishes first book

BY SCARLET SIMS

USDA grant

of fiscal mess brought on by years of prior mismanagement, Browne said.

In 2008, after years of overextending itself by buying property out-of-pocket, UCA found itself struggling to pay

INDEX NATION & STATE, 2A OPINIONS, 4A LIFESTYLES, 5A CALENDAR/OBITUARIES, 6A SPORTS, 1B CLASSIFIEDS, 5B

“

The best road to progress is freedom’s road.

JOHN F. KENNEDY 35th President of the United States

Contact us: 3000 E. Race, Searcy, AR 72143, (Phone) 501-268-8621, (Fax) 501-268-6277

”