Alma football notebook
Lemieux, backups sparkle ahead of Farmington game
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
Alma quarterback Jay Lemieux enjoyed the best game of his life last week against Clarksville.
This week’s opponent is expected to give the second-year Airedale quarterback a run for his money.
Unbeaten Farmington (4-0, 1-0) makes his first trek to Airedale Stadium in two years in what could amount to an early playoff game.
With a win, the Airedales would be 2-0 in the 5A-West ahead of a three-game road swing through Pea Ridge, Dardanelle, and Morrilton.
“This is a huge game. We’re taking everything very seriously; there’s no joking around.” Lemieux said. “This is one that we really want to win, and we’re putting everything we’ve got toward it.”
Lemieux threw for 304 yards and six touchdowns on 19-of-22 passing in last week’s 58-0 win over the Clarksville Panthers. Luke Stogsdill, Cooper Wysocki, and Peyton Broadway scored their first-career touchdowns as Alma topped 50 points for the 13th time in school history.
“You always like to see everyone getting their good share of reps,” Lemieux said. “When you get those guys in there, and they’re getting touchdowns, it’s pretty cool to see, because you know they’re feeling the ‘Friday Night Lights.’ “
First-year Alma coach Jeremie Burns said he was happy to get as many kids on the field as possible last week.
“It’s nice when you have enough guys to do that,” he said. “Friday night, we were able to pull that off most of the second half. (Peyton) Broadway was able to score; he’s been working his tail off on offense and defense, and scout team, so we wanted him to get out there. Cooper Wysocki was able to get a touchdown pass as well. He’s another one, along with Tyler Banres working at the corner (cornerback), you wanted to see contribute.”
Lemieux hit Stogsdill with a 3-yard score in the first half, a ball that the Alma senior “felt like” wouldn’t ever get there. “Jay threw a good ball, but it was up there forever,” Stogsdill said. “It was hard catching it, with my hand all wrapped up. But at the end of the day, Jay threw a good ball, the offensive coordinator (Josh Barrett) made a good call, and we had a good game.”
Junior Maddux Caldwell added to his good start with four receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown. Through four games, he has 13 receptions for 264 yards and three scores.
“Whenever they’re (opponents) playing D.J. (Dylan Jackson) heavy, or they’re trying to shut down the run, I can find a crease and just be me out there on the field,” Caldwell said. “(Friday night) is a different type of emotion. You’ve got a big crowd. The love of the game always comes out.”
The kick is good!
Senior Cade Moore made his first 14-point after-kick before hitting the crossbar in last week’s game.
Moore even put his name in the record books by going 8-for-8 in the team’s 56-35 win over Russellville earlier this season.
For the season, Moore is 16-of-17. Not bad for someone no one saw coming.
“For me, this was very unexpected,” he said. “I wasn’t thinking about it until some guys like Luke Stogsdill and Hudson Loughridge said, ‘Hey, we need a kicker.’ I was open to the idea, and now I’m loving it. I’ve been a part of a lot of teams, but this team is different. I feel like I can contribute with all these guys.”
Record-Breaker
Alma senior receiver Dylan Jackson continues to creep up the all-time list in receptions and yards. He caught eight passes for 119 yards and a pair of touchdowns in last week’s win over Clarksville, pulling him to within two receptions of tying Johnny Thompson (1985-87) for sixth place on the all-time list behind Brayden Johnson (220), Sam Schlegel (130), Conner Stacy (119), Heath Friddle (110), Isaac McCoy (102), Thompson (78) and Gage Battles (77).
Jackson has 76 receptions for 1,395 yards, fifth all-time behind Johnson (2,926), Schlegel (2,058), Stacy (1,809), and Grayson Bailey (1,766).
Next Man Up
The last thing junior Parker Boyd wanted to do this season was cheer his teammates from the sideline. The Airedales’ right guard would much rather be in the mix.
Boyd said this week he’s hoping to get cleared to return for Friday’s game with Farmington.
“It’s very frustrating,” Boyd said. “Last year I had to deal with a knee injury.”
Sophomore Reed Robertson filled in nicely for Boyd.
“It’s nice to know we have guys that can fill in in all positions,” Boyd said. “We have so many great players.”
Sack Exchange
Tristan Nutt added to his team-leading number of sacks by earning one of seven sacks in last week’s win, giving him 3 ½ for the season.
Barron Daily and Blanden Lowrance have three each.
Ryan Wilkinson holds the single-season record with 12 (1994).
Dillon Flanagan had 11 in 2022, and Brandon Wilson (2009), Ryan Evans (2003), Curtis Cowan (1984), and Glynn Fulmer (1978) each had nine.
Tackle Leaders
Andrew Bush, Izaac Plourde, and Barron Daily are among the team leaders in tackles, with Bush averaging 12.8 per game, Plourde 11.3, and Daily 7.8.
Bush and Plourde have 51 and 45 tackles, respectively. Tristan Nutt has six of Alma’s 25 TFLs (tackles for loss). Daily and Blanden Lowrance have four each.
Curtis Loyd (165) set the single-season record for tackles in 2014.