CLASS 3A CHAMPIONSHIP CAPSULE

BarclayAlmanac · December 10, 2015, 12:34:52 pm

CLASS 3A CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, December 12, noon, War Memorial Stadium
HARDING ACADEMY VS RIVERCREST

HARDING ACADEMY WILDCATS (13-1)
Head coach: Roddy Mote
(95-19 overall, 68-9 at Harding Academy)
Playoff appearances: 33
Playoff record: 64-27
State championships: (5) 2012, 2002, 1983, 1977, 1976
State championship games: (9th)
2012 defeated Glen Rose, 49-45
2010 lost to Rivercrest, 14-10
2002 defeated Danville, 29-26
1985 lost to Horatio, 14-7
1983 defeated Gould, 6-0
1977 defeated Decatur, 55-7
1976 defeated Mountain Pine, 14-7
1971 lost to Danville, 20-7
FEARLESS FACTS: Harding Academy is the third-oldest private school in the state playing football behind only highly-respected Little Rock Catholic and Subiaco Academy. ... This is the 24th season of at least 10 wins in the 65-year history of Harding Academy football. .. Harding Academy and Rivercrest are 1-1 against each other in the playoffs. ... The Wildcats' lone loss this season was to Class 5A Vilonia in week 2. ... Alex Francis has thrown for 3,647 yards and 46 touchdowns this season, and has 8,980 yards and 102 career touchdown passes in his career.

RIVERCREST COLTS (11-3)
Head coach: Kelly Chandler
(75-42-1 at Rivercrest)
Playoff Appearances: 32
Playoff Record: 45-29
State championships: (2) 2010, 1985
State championship games: (8th)
2010 defeated Harding Academy, 14-10
2003 lost to Pulaski Academy, 64-32
2002 lost to Warren, 38-28
1986 lost to Wynne, 20-7
1985 defeated PB Dollarway, 15-6
1983 lost to Cabot, 20-6
1982 lost to Stuttgart, 7-0
FEARLESS FACTS: Chandler is a graduate of Rivercrest. ... The Colts are 2-5 in state championship games. ... Rivercrest defeated Harding Academy for the 2010 state title. ... Rivercrest shared the 3A-3 title with Hoxie, but was the top seed from the conference due to its win over Hoxie. ... The Colts lost to Earle and Gosnell in nonconference play then lost to Manila in conference play. ... Rivercrest has 4,708 yards of offense this season. ... Of that, running back Cecil Langston has rushed 329 times for 3,040 yards and 33 touchdowns, marking just the third time a running back has gone over 3,000 yards in a season. ... Langston also eclipsed the 6,000-yard career rushing mark and has 697 carries for 6,084 yards and 62 touchdowns. ... Langston also has caught 9 passes for 264 yards and five touchdown passes, and returned 16 kickoffs for 307 yards this season.