No longer is youth an excuse in Pine Bluff High School football.
“We’re seven games in. There are certain things that come with the game and growing in the game,” Zebras acting Coach Tyrone Jones said. “I don’t classify you as a sophomore anymore. We’re young, but they’ve just got to play hard for us. That’s the way Pine Bluff has been since I’ve been here.”
Trying to stay in the playoff chase, Pine Bluff will have to face two currently ranked 5A teams during a critical four-game stretch to close the regular season. One of those teams, No. 5 Searcy (6-0, 3-0 in 5A-Central), is tied for the 5A-Central Conference lead with No. 1 Joe T. Robinson (6-0, 3-0) and Maumelle (4-2, 3-0).
While Pine Bluff (1-5, 1-2) is one game behind Beebe (4-2, 2-1) for the fourth and final playoff seed, the young Zebras will need to overcome adversity to have a chance to pick up a homecoming win over Searcy on Friday at Simmons Bank Field at Golden Lion Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The homecoming queen will be announced at 10:15 a.m. Friday at the PBHS Jack Robey campus gymnasium and crowned during halftime of the game.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“The kids will have to play every snap,” Jones said. “There’s no off play this week. You have to match their intensity. You have to be flawless on every play because they are flawless.”
One indication of Searcy’s flawlessness is its defensive output. Although they beat Jacksonville 48-27 last Friday, the Lions have held four other teams — Batesville, Harrison, White Hall and Watson Chapel — to 12 points or less. Valley View scored 27 in a 10-point Searcy win on Sept. 5. The Zebras will have to match the Lions’ intensity to have a chance to be just 1 point better, according to Jones.
“If that’s for 60 snaps, that’s for 60 snaps,” he said.
While on offense, the Lions are balanced in passing and running, Jones said. Quarterback Jacob Miles has thrown for 1,473 yards — tied for 13th overall in Arkansas — and 19 touchdowns. None of their running backs are among the top 30 in the state, however.
“It’s safe to say they’re equally good at both (running and passing),” Jones said. “If they need to pass, they do it and get first downs. If they need to run, they can do that and execute the run game well.”
Jones, previously the assistant head coach, is leading the Zebras for the second straight week while Micheal Williams is removed from head coaching roles amid an investigation into issues related to academic integrity, according to a district statement. Jones, who’s been at Pine Bluff for 24 years now, said the temporary role has been “extremely challenging” without question.
“I can’t use that as an excuse, and I don’t let the coaches or players use that as an excuse,” Jones said. “Pine Bluff holds you to a certain standard. You have to know who you are and where you are. It goes without a doubt it’s challenging, but I expect you to put your best foot forward and the coaches expect the players to put their best foot forward to represent Pine Bluff. We’re known for athletics.”
With 17 seniors on a roster of 71, Pine Bluff has relied on youth in many skill positions including quarterback, where sophomore Dedrick Dunn stepped in for injured classmate Jamar Morrow last week at Beebe. Despite a 35-12 loss, Pine Bluff came away with strong defensive highlights, including senior linebacker Mario Jones’ 100-yard interception return and junior lineman Cordale Guy’s two sacks. The Zebras are trying to go 2-0 in their temporary home, but they haven’t won since beating Jacksonville 25-13 on Sept. 26. Even in adversity, Jones indicated, the Zebras have kept their spirits high heading into homecoming.
“I’m appreciative of the fans, even though our record is what it is,” he said. “I’m appreciative of the school and the community for how they continue to treat the student-athletes. I think we’ve had real good support from the staff and community.”
Southeast Arkansas Football Schedule
High School Week 7
Friday
(All games begin at 7 p.m.)
Searcy at Pine Bluff
White Hall at Watson Chapel
Friendship-Southeast at Rector
Sheridan at Little Rock Catholic
Hamburg at Crossett
Helena-West Helena Central at DeWitt
Stuttgart at Monticello
Star City at Warren
Rison at Drew Central
Palestine-Wheatley at Dumas
Fordyce at Lake Village Lakeside
Barton at McGehee
Dermott at Woodlawn
Hermitage at Strong
College Week 8
Saturday
Ouachita Baptist at UA-Monticello, 12:30 p.m.
Grambling State at UAPB, 2 p.m.