CLASS 7A PLAYOFFS : Faust on target when needed
Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2008
CABOT — As well as Cabot’s defense played Friday night, the Panthers found it hard to stop Zachary Faust on third- or fourthand-long.
Faust completed 16 of 29 passes for 308 yards, leading the Springdale Har-Ber Wildcats to a come-from-behind 21-17 victory over host Cabot in the Class 7 A quarterfinals at Panther Stadium.
Derek Brinker’s 1-yard run with 3: 19 left gave the Wildcats (10-2 ) their first lead and Russell Reynerson’s interception in the end zone with 53 seconds remaining — after Cabot (9-2 ) had driven to the Wildcats’ 5 — sealed the victory for the visitors.
Har-Ber advances to play at Fort Smith Southside in next week’s semifinals.
Cabot made a goal-line stand in the second quarter, stopping Brinker from inside the 1 on third and fourth downs. The Panthers also sacked Faust four times and even sent the the 5-10 senior out of the game for one play during the third quarter. But Faust returned two plays later and finished the drive by completing a 34-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Joshua McKinney that cut Cabot’s lead to 17-14.
“Faust was so clutch after taking those hits,” said McKinney, who caught nine passes for 145 yards, including a 14-yarder to the Cabot 1 that set up the Wildcats’ winning touchdown. “He got all bloody in the mouth, but he was great.... He’s a tough guy. I knew he wouldn’t be out long.”
“I thought he did a great job with all the hits he took,” Har-Ber Coach Chris Wood said. “He had to sit in the pocket and deliver the ball. He just made plays. Every yard we got was earned the hard way. It was a very physical game, but I was proud of Zach tonight. He showed a lot of leadership and the heart of a winner ’cause he took some big hits.”
Cabot appeared to be driving for a game-clinching touchdown with 7: 18 remaining, but on thirdand-5 from the Har-Ber 20, senior halfback Wesley Sowell fumbled attempting to turn upfield while going around the right end.
Har-Ber turned the turnover into a 14-play, 80-yard gamewinning scoring drive. Faust was only 4 of 8 on the drive, but he was 3 for 3 on third-down passes, with all of them coming on third-and-10 plays. McKinney was on the receiving end of all three.
“On third and fourth downs, our line really stepped it up and my receivers just made plays all night,” Faust said. “I threw many balls that were not on target, but they would dive for them or they would make catches in traffic. It was just a great effort all around.”
Faust was 9 of 12 passing on third- and fourth-down plays for 228 yards.
“Our defense played a pretty good game, but their quarterback put it on the money,” Cabot Coach Mike Malham said. “He had a lot for fourth-down completions. Stuff like that shouldn’t happen, but I don’t know. They just made the big plays when they had to.”
Cabot running back Michael James finished with 111 yards on 24 carrries. James scored both of the Panthers’ touchdowns, on runs of 3 and 1 yards.
Cabot’s final drive started at its 36 with 3: 16 left. The Panthers picked up 12 yards on a pass to Ben Wainwright and a roughing the passer penalty two plays later set Cabot on the Har-Ber 36 with 2: 18 remaining.
With starting quarterback Seth Bloomberg reeling from the hit on the penalty, reserve quarterback Nathan Byrnes came in and ran the ball twice for 7 yards.
James took a pitch and ran 13 yards to the Har-Ber 5 with 1: 35 left, but on the next play, Bloomberg attempted a pitch to James that was off target. James recovered the ball for an 11-yard loss. Bloomberg then attempted a pass to the left side of the end zone that Reynerson intercepted.
Cabot’s opening drive was a 13-play, 77-yarder that took 5: 11 off the clock. James scored from the 3 with 4: 46 to play in the first quarter.
Cabot made it 10-0 3: 03 left in the half on a 30-yard field goal by Logan Spry, that was set up by a 26-yard interception return by Justin Workman.
Har-Ber’s first touchdown came with 32. 7 seconds left in the first half when Faust hit Bradley Taylor for a 27-yard score.
Cabot, however, got the touchdown back thanks to a 68-yard run by Sowell that set the Panthers on the Har-Ber 6. Three plays later, James scored from the 1 on the final play of the first half.
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