The Arkadelphia freshman Badgers won their last game of the season, 33-8, at Waldron Tuesday night.

“I am real proud of the boys. They have worked hard all year long. They have gotten better. They have better work habits. I hope we have laid a firm foundation to build on, hopefully they will be better senior high football players,” Coach Trent Smith said. “We did not quite meet the expectations we set for the year. We lost some close games that we could have won.” The Badgers only lost by a touchdown or less to Ashdown and Malvern. The  team was within 10 points of beating Nashville and Lakeside. “We were just a couple of plays away.”

Waldron had an onside kick to start the game. Arkadelphia got the ball at the 49-yard-line. Quarterback Garrett Rucker was supposed to go to his primary receiver Will Wallace, but he was double covered. Rucker threw to the other side where Javaughn Williams was open and got the 51 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was good. “We were off to a pretty good start,” Smith said.

The Badgers kicked it off to the Bulldogs. They got the ball at the 50-yard-line. They ran seven plays for 38 yards. The Bulldogs fumbled at the 12-yard-line, and Justin Williams recovered the ball for the Badgers.

The Badgers ran only six plays before having to punt the ball.

On Waldron’s first play, they tried to throw to a tight end, but Jakhiry Dixon intercepted the ball. The Badgers took over on the 47-yard-line.

Dixon passed to Rucker for an 11-yard gain. Then, Rucker returned the favor and passed to Dixon for 30 yards. Dixon ran down to the 2-yard-line on the next play. Javaughn Williams ran in for the touchdown, and the Badgers took a 14-0 lead.

Waldron ran nine plays down for 45 yards. They failed to convert on fourth down, and the Badger offense took the field at their own 20-yard-line. Dixon ran for 80 yards into the end zone, but the play was called back for a block in the back.

On second and 18, Rucker ran for 28 yards. Wallace had an eight-yard gain up to the 48-yard-line.

Dixon rushed for six-yards. Gooding then made a catch for an eight-yard gain. With only a few seconds left on the clock before the end of the first half, Rucker passed to Wallace for a 33-yard touchdown pass as the horn was sounding. With the extra point, the Badgers had a 21-0 lead at the end of the half.

Waldron got the ball to start the second half. They were unable to convert on fourth down after a fake punt.

The Badgers took over on the 40-yard-line. Dixon had a nine-yard gain and then a 31-yard touchdown run. The extra point was missed to make it 27-0.

Waldron had a nine play drive that resulted in the Bulldogs’ first and only points of the night. They went 65 yards in nine plays. They went for the two-point conversion to make it 27-8.

The Badgers got the ball on the 50-yard-line. Dixon had a one-yard gain. Then, Gooding had a 44-yard run that was called back. “That was his best run of the year,” Smith said.

Dixon ran for 23 yards on the next play, and then Gooding gained nine for the Badgers.
Dixon had a 20-yard touchdown run. The extra point was no good to make it 33-8 as a final score.
Waldron came close to scoring again, but fumbled the ball in the end zone.

Jakhiry Dixon had 10 runs for 100 yards and two touchdowns. He had one catch for 30 yards. He completed one of one passing for 11 yards.

Javaughn Williams had one catch for 51 yards and a touchdown. He had two runs for four yards and a touchdown.

Garrett Rucker completed four of eight passing for 98 yards. He had one catch for 11 yards. He had one rush for 28 yards. He ended the night with 137 total yards offensively.

Zach Gooding had two rushes for 10 yards and one catch for eight yards. Will Wallace had two catches for 42 yards and a touchdown. Morris Parker had two carries for six yards.

Arkadelphia ran 31 plays for 304 yards, and Waldron had 39 plays for 216 yards.

“They are a really good group of guys. If they continue to work hard, there’s no telling how good they could be,” he said. “I am pleased with the job they have done all year. They are good group of young men, now they have to start getting ready for next year.”

Smith was also glad to have the support of fans and parents that they have received this year.

“We have had great support. I am really appreciative of everything they have done.”

The Badgers end their season with a 5-5 record.

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