By JASON KING
Leader sports writer
The Beebe Badgers cleared a huge hurdle last week in their bid for an AAAA-East conference title with an improbable come-from-behind 38-35 win against the Marion Patriots. The Badgers will need another performance like that this week, as Beebe travels to Wynne to face the Yellowjackets in a battle between two teams which are both undefeated in conference action.
The winner of the game will most likely play Batesville to determine the conference championship, and Wynne coach Don Campbell knows the importance of Friday’s game to his team’s title hopes.
“You would be crazy not to be concerned about Bee-be,” Campbell said. “This is going to be a big game for both of us. It doesn’t get any bigger than this, really. Whoever wins this game is going to have a big advantage for the rest of the conference; it is going to be a big plus for somebody.”
Like every opponent Beebe has faced this year, Campbell is concerned with Beebe’s spread offense, led by senior QB Wes Lamb. The Badgers have rallied from behind in three separate games this season to steal wins away from opponents in the closing minutes of the game. It would have been four games that the Badgers rallied, but they fell 1 yard short of a last-minute touchdown against Vilonia for their only loss this season.
“We’re going to have to make adjustments somewhere,” Campbell said. “They are a good team, and anytime you face a team with an offense like that, you have to figure out some way to stop them. We have to figure out what we need to do to keep them from running wild on us.”
Last week’s game against Marion was one of the most amazing comebacks from any team all season. The Badgers faced a 28-0 deficit to the Patriots at halftime, but a huge defensive stand in the second half held Marion to a single score, as Wes Lamb, Jake Money and company attacked the Patriots defense through the air. The game came down to a 14-yard pass play from Lamb to Jared Mathis with under five seconds remaining in the game, giving Beebe the narrow win 38-35.
Last week’s win for the Yellowjackets was a big one, as Wynne demolished an improved Greene County Tech team 47-6 with a strong effort from junior running back Terrance Boykin. Boykin had over 150-yards rushing in the win along with three rushing touchdowns.
The Badgers will likely have to defend an even better offensive backfield than the Eagles saw last week.
Boykins backfield mate and fellow junior, Terrence Garrett, has missed the last two weeks, but will likely be back for the Badgers. Both backs rushed for over 600 yards as sophomores last year.
