Junior Mohawks drop conference title to Colts

The Piggott junior Mohawks hosted the Rivercrest Colts last Thursday night at Parker Field, with no less than the 3A-3 conference title on the line. And although the young Mohawks played the game of their lives, halftime adjustments by the talented Colts garnered them at 14-8 win.

The Tribe, looking for their first conference championship since the 1980's, came into the game knowing they would have their hands full but were able to dominate in the early going. And, although the Mohawks had some trouble with the size of the Colts running backs, they were able to hold the visitors scoreless throughout the first half.

On the other side of the football, good blocking by the Mohawk line helped open up the rushing game and Cody Mantz rose to the occasion. Mantz scored the Tribe's first, and only, touchdown in the second quarter of play as he took it in from nine yards out. Logan Murray tacked on the two point conversion on the quarterback keeper and the home squad enjoyed an 8-0 lead at the halftime break.

But in the second half the Colts were able to find some cracks in the Mohawk armor, and scored two unanswered touchdowns of their own. Rivercrest also got a two point conversion on their second TD, which accounted for the 8-14 final score.

On the game the Mohawks actually had more rushing yardage, as they outgained the Colts 166 to 145 on the ground with Mantz accounting for 130 yards for the Tribe.

"It was a hard fought conference championship between two good teams," Coach Michael Harrell noted later, "and I was very proud of the way we played. We had one penalty and one fumble, which we recovered, it was a well played game..you couldn't ask more of a junior high football team."

With the loss the Tribe falls to 5-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play. They'll travel to Manila Thursday night for a 7 p.m. kickoff as they take on the junior Lions. The junior squad will close out the season the following Thursday night as they visit the Corning Bobkittens.

Seventh Grade beats Colts

To the best recollection of the Mohawk coaching staff, the Piggott seventh graders 8-0 win over Rivercrest last Thursday night was the first time the local football teams have beaten the Colts. In fact, none of the three teams in Clay County had a win over the Colts prior to last Thursday night. That honor now goes to the still undefeated Piggott seventh graders.

The team, which hasn't tasted defeat in over two seasons, hosted the Colts at Parker Field Thursday afternoon and recorded the shut-out. Scoring the Tribe's lone touchdown was Jonathan Morgan, with Garrett Cook adding the two-point conversion.

The seventh grade team will be back in action with a 5:30 kickoff this Thursday afternoon at Manila, and will close out the season on the road at Corning the following week.