INJURIES BRING NEW PROBLEMS FOR WHITE HALL

By Troy Schulte/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

Mike Vaughn had never seen anything quite like it.

In an important 5A Southeast Conference game against Crossett last Friday his stable of usually dependable White Hall runners were picking up chunks of yards like usual. Three players gained more than 100 yards and his backup quarterback Matt Taylor gained 94 as the Bulldogs had 496 yards rushing as a team.

But just as the Bulldogs would get near the Crossett goal line to try and seize the lead and momentum, the ball would slip from one of his runner’s hands.

“I hope we don’t ever have that happen to us again,” said Vaughn, of his team’s seven fumbles, four which were lost and three that were lost in Crossett territory.

The most puzzling thing for the White Hall coach was that there weren’t any jarring hits or strips from Crossett defenders. The ball just seemed to pop loose. And it happened to everybody. J.J. Martin lost a fumble. A.J. Richardson did, too. Larry Walls lost two in the second half.

It was a kind of early-October homecoming night that had Vaughn looking to the sky for a full moon.

“I don’t believe I’ve ever, ever seen it in one night,” Vaughn said, “where we had that many turnovers by different people that weren’t contact fumbles.”

Vaughn and the Bulldogs (2-2-1, 1-1) can’t dwell on the fumbles much longer. They play a 7 p.m. game at North Pulaski (1-4, 0-2) tonight in hopes of keeping up with the leaders of the conference.

Vaughn thinks tonight’s game could mean a lot toward White Hall’s playoff hopes.

“I think (the players) understand that,” Vaughn said. “It’s hard to go undefeated in this league.”

White Hall’s quest to keep up with Monticello, which it plays Oct. 17, and Beebe may be a little harder this week. Though Vaughn thinks the fumbling problems won’t occur again — at least to the same degree as last week — all three players who rushed for 100 yards last week are questionable.

Martin, who started at quarterback rushed for 153 yards in the first quarter before finishing with 178 last week, separated his shoulder and played strictly running back in the second half. Vaughn said he “may not play at all.”

Walls, who in recent weeks has gained more and more carries, stubbed his toe at an accident at home earlier this week and cut it open. Vaughn said he’s “iffy.”

Richardson, who gained 61 of his 105 yards last week on three third quarter carries, also separated his shoulder. He, too, is “iffy.”

If none of them can play Vaughn said juniors Michael Smith and Esau Tatum will carry much of the load. North Pulaski coach Tony Bohanon doesn’t think it matters much who is lining up in the backfield for White Hall.

“Mike’s going to find some kids who are going to play and they’re going to play well,” Bohanon said. “I’ve known Mike since dirt and he’s always done a good job.”

When Martin went down with his injury late in the second quarter Taylor, a junior, took most of the snaps at quarterback. It wasn’t completely foreign to him. Taylor has played quarterback this season on passing situations and when Martin needs a breather. But he had never played as much, or as well, as he had last week.

“Matt is a strong and talented kid,” Vaughn said. “He’s just inexperienced. At times he gets ahead of himself. You can tell that. He hadn’t been in that situation much. It takes time.”