Asides

By Mark Rico

Vilonia – It was the Greenbrier and Vilonia football teams who garnered top billing on the marquee at Phillip D. Weaver Stadium in the annual rivalry showdown between the two schools on the final night of the regular season.

But after a slow moving first half of action on the field, it was a young student clad in shorts and what appeared to be an artificial horse’s head as a part of an apparent juvenile prank that almost stole the show as one of the band’s performed during intermission.

The young high school aged boy streaked across the field during the Vilonia band’s performance and managed to make it completely out of the stadium before he was finally apprehended, but the incident certainly summed up an interesting night in which the high octane Vilonia offense struggled mightily in what was essentially a playoff tune-up for them.

Eventually, the Eagles used a strong second half to beat Greenbrier 28-10 in the annual battle between the two schools and secure the Judges Cup for the first time in seven years.

“Our kids deserved this because they have played so well this season and I knew they were ready to get that monkey of their backs.” Vilonia coach Todd Langrell said. “But I have to give Greenbrier credit, they are a well- coached team that also played well tonight and made us earn it. Our slow start in the first half had a lot to do with how they played.”

It certainly didn’t come easy for a Vilonia offense which had thoroughly dominated their last four opponents in consecutive wins.

With a home playoff game and a number two seed already secured prior to kickoff, Vilonia watched as their crosstown rival – separated by only ten miles of highway – play inspired football for much of the first half and limit the Eagles to only one first half touchdown.

The Eagles lone scoring drive of the first half took only four plays, aided by an early Greenbrier miscue on their opening offensive possession.

Eagles tailback Draven Smith scooted four yards for a touchdown and a quick 7-0 Vilonia lead with 8 minutes and 56 seconds left in the opening quarter to cash in Cooper Wilcox’s fumble after he was stripped from behind on third down by Riley Rexroat at the Greenbrier 12-yard line.

Greenbrier got on the scoreboard with 2 minutes and 15 seconds left in the half as junior kicker Cody Powell connected on a 33-yard field goal to help the Panthers close within 7-3.

The defensive battle between the two teams continued early in the second half until Vilonia senior safety Nick Lewis turned in perhaps the biggest play of the night.

Lewis streaked in front of Greenbrier receiver Ryan Bernard and intercepted Wilcox’s pass, returning it 73 yards down the left sidelines for a touchdown and a 14-3 cushion for Vilonia.

“I just wanted to make a play for my team.” Lewis said. “It feels good to finally beat them (as a senior) after so long. We came out tonight and did our jobs.”

The Panthers finally scored its first touchdown of the game after backup quarterback Tyler Moran was intercepted by Greenbrier safety Logan King.

From there, Wilcox found Luke Smith for a 20-yard TD pass to close the gap at 14-10 with eleven minutes still left in the contest.

But Vilonia would respond with a pair of touchdowns by Smith (a 2-yard TD run) and Moran (a 35-yard TD run) to finally pull away and celebrate their first win over the Panthers in nearly eight years.

Vilonia, the second seed in 5-A conference, will host Wynne in a first round playoff game next Friday night.