A win is a win.
The Camden Fairview Cardinals were victorious against the Arkansas High Razorbacks in a tense game by a final score of 21-8.
The visiting Cardinals looked to blow the Razorbacks away in the first quarter scoring on their first two offensive possessions in quick fashion. The first touchdown came on a 14 yard pass from Martavius Thomas to Trent Haygood at the 7:38 and the next came on a 53 yard Thomas pass to Jarvis Reed at the 3:48 mark. The play total for both of those drives was only five.
After Arkansas High attempted to beat the Cardinals deep in the first quarter they adjusted strategies in the second and looked to eat up the clock behind the power running of sophomore running back Courtland Loudermill. The two teams exchanged fumbles before the Razorbacks held on to the ball for 8 minutes.The Hogs attempted a 50 yard field goal that was no good about a minute before the half.
In the third, CF's offense continued to sputter as dropped passes and timely penalties plagued the visiting team. The Cardinal defense was stout however with the exception of a big 60 yard pass on a third down. With about 7:30 left in the fourth, Loudermill would score on a 14 yard run. The ensuing two-point conversion consisted of an option toss to the running back who then floated the ball into the end zone to an open receiver to cut into the Cardinal lead.
However, CF would retaliate before the momentum could set in on the Arkansas High side when Thomas found Haygood down the sideline for a 53 yard touchdown with 6:26 left in the game. Nasir Khan - who would make a touchdown-saving shoe-string tackle later in the contest - would nail his third PAT on the night to make it 21-8 in Camden Fairview's favor. Arkansas High would threaten to score on their next possession but DJ King (2 sacks and four quarterback hurries) would lay a big hit on Arkansas High quarterback Nate Wall and Jabari Spencer would pick it off at the CF 12 and return in to midfield. Things would get chippy between both teams but the Cardinals would be the ones lagged and ultimately end up with a fourth and 29 before punting with 1:36 left in the game. Arkansas High would complete a pass but Jabauree Lockhart would force a fumble and Ronald Buchanan would be there to scoop it up for the Cardinals. CF then took the field in victory formation to kneel out the rest of the clock.
The Cardinal defense accounted for a season high three turnovers on the night including a forced fumble by Michal Griffith that was recovered by Spencer in the first quarter.
The Cardinals entered the game with a couple of key injuries on both sides of the ball and a couple of players that were a little banged up. While the offense may have seemed out of sync, it couldn't help but to be considering the minute breaks in action due to official conferences and injuries. The pauses hampered both offenses. There was a total of 28 flags thrown during the game (CF 10, Arkansas High 18) and some would argue that more should have been called. Arkansas High tallied 9 false starts which resulted in a loss of 45 yards but aided the Razorbacks in time of possession as the game clock doesn't stop on false starts. There were eight unsportsmanlike conducts called between the two teams as well.
Texarkana has historically been a tough place for the Cardinals to play. This is the Cardinals first win in Texarkana since 2005. The two teams wouldn't play each other again until 2016. The last time CF played Arkansas High in Texarkana, they erased a 21 point deficit only to lose after a late punt return that went for a touchdown. Last year, CF blanked Arkansas at home, 33-0.