These are the Good Old Days for the Arp Tigers

The Arp Tigers football team is experiencing an unprecedented level of success these days. And, the Tigers are getting used to their new role as the bullies of District 19-2A.

With the 2009 season still left to be played, this has already been the most successful decade in the history of a program that dates back to 1932. Head football coach and athletic director, Dale Irwin, entering his seventh season as Arp’s head man, is already the winningest football coach in school history.

Since the 2000 football season, the Tigers have collected 76 wins against only 30 losses (a 71.7% winning percentage). Of the 13 playoff appearances in school history, seven have come in the last nine years. During this same nine-year span, Arp has three trips to the state quarterfinals and one state semifinal appearance. In its 77 year history, Arp has won 10 or more games six times. Four of those 10+ win seasons have come since 2000.

So why all the recent success? Are they slipping something in the food down at Leo’s Burger Barn? Well the old coaching adage goes: “talent wins games.” Arp has had more than their fair share of talent in the last 9 years. Of the 21 all-state selections in the history of the school, 14 selections have come since 2000. Those players include: Blake Warren-WR (SMU); Chris Taliaferro-OL (SFA-baseball); Cody Welch-LB (SEOSU); and Sedrick Johnson-WR (ISU). This list also includes current two-way standout, Lavocheya Cooper.

The recent success has not been limited to the football team. In 2006, Arp won the 2A state championship in basketball. And, in 2008, the Tigers won state in track. Several of the athletes that contributed to Arp’s state track team will be playing key roles on the football field in 2009. In fact, the state track championship alludes to Arp’s biggest asset on the football field, SPEED.

The Arp football team is hoping to build on the recent success of the basketball and track programs and win its first ever state championship in football. The last two years the Tigers have made consecutive appearances in the state quarterfinals where they have lost agonizingly close games to a pair of state finalists, Elysian Fields and Kirbyville.

In 2007, Arp finished third in their district behind traditional power, Tatum and district runner-up, Elysian Fields. Arp began the year 3-3 before rolling off seven straight wins to advance to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs. In the quarterfinals, Arp faced district rival Elysian Fields who had given the Tigers an old fashioned playground beating earlier in the year, 34-7. Arp was determined to produce a different outcome in the second meeting.

In one of the most exciting games of the 2007 season, Arp jumped out to a 13-0 lead over the Yellowjackets on the strength of a Will Allen to Trumaine Jones 61 yard touchdown pass and a pair of Will Allen field goals. Elysian Fields finally got on the scoreboard when UTEP commit, Tim Curry hit Dekevius Johnson with a 29 yard scoring pass with under two minutes to go in the third quarter.

Elysian Fields scored again with just over three minutes to go in the game to tie the score at 13. Then on Elysian Fields’ final possession, with no time left on the clock, Tim Curry hit Micah Smith with a 35 yard touchdown pass to win the game 19-13 and end Arp’s season in a most painful fashion.

Arp enjoyed another great season in 2008. This time Arp rolled through the regular season, going 9-0 and even achieved a short-lived #1 ranking in the 2A AP poll. After wins against Teague and Jefferson in the first two rounds of the playoffs, Arp faced off against the Kirbyville Wildcats in the quarterfinal round. The contest between the two highly ranked unbeaten teams lived up to the considerable hype.

Kirbyville forged a 15-0 lead over the Tigers on a Linwood Crawford 14 yard touchdown reception and a Broderick Jackson 4 yard touchdown run. Arp answered with a 15 play touchdown drive to get on the board. Arp took advantage of a muffed punt by Kirbyville to reach the end zone for the second time in the half and cut the lead to 15-14. Kirbyville scored on a 69 yard touchdown reception by Josh Hughley to take a 22-14 lead at halftime.

Kirbyville seemed ready to extend its lead in the third quarter when the Wildcats drove the ball deep into Arp territory before fumbling the ball on the one yard line. Arp cut the lead to 22-20 after another Kirbyville fumbled punt set the Tigers up at the Wildcat 21 yard line. Arp took its first lead of the game with under three minutes to play when quarterback Will Allen capped off an 11 play drive with a one yard touchdown run, making the score 26-22. Then, with under two minutes to play, Randy Musgrove hauled in a pass from Aaron Hazlewood and raced 50 yards for a touchdown to regain the lead for the Kirbyville Wildcats. Arp had one last chance, but Allen’s pass was intercepted in the endzone and Kirbyville hung on to beat the Tigers 28-26.

Two heartbreaking losses in the quarterfinals may serve to motivate the 2009 version of the Arp Tigers as they begin preparation for another football season. Arp fans have plenty of reason to be excited about the upcoming season. While the Tigers lose Will Allen, a two year starter at quarterback, they return several key skilled position players and most of their offensive line. Leading rusher, Lavocheya Cooper, returns along with backfield mate Michael Wade. The two combined to rush for more than 2000 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2008. Also returning is leading receiver, Clint Copeland, who tallied 32 receptions for 602 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Although the Tigers lose all-state linebacker Garrett Williams, the defense should remain solid. Two-way starters, Wade, Cooper and Copeland will pull double duty and form a very talented defensive secondary. Standout sophomore, Jamie Warren, will return for his Junior campaign to anchor the defensive line and linebackers Kendall Scott and Seth Stroupe will be asked to fill the void left by Williams’ departure.

Arp figures to be a heavy favorite to win their district which includes: Elkhart, Franklin, Garrison, Troupe and West Rusk. Arp will likely compete in division 1 of the 2A playoffs because, Elkhart, the only school with a higher enrollment than Arp in district 19-2A, is unlikely to make the playoffs. This would mean a likely early round matchup against White Oak or Jefferson. If the Tigers can get past this early playoff test, they could find themselves within reach of the school’s first ever state title in football.

These are indeed the good old days for Arp football. Expectations are high and for good reason. Arp begins the 2009 football season on August 28th with a very tough test against tradition rich Paul Pewitt. The Tigers hope to keep the good times rolling and end the most successful decade in school history with the most successful season in school history.

By: Doug Reeder (a.k.a. franksnbeans)
www.franksfootball.blogspot.com