RISON - Going into last Thursday night's non-conference game against Class 4A Haskell Harmony Grove, Rison Coach Chris Vereen said what really concerned him most about the Cardinals was the fact they had just about every starter back on both sides of the ball. He saw what they were capable of last year at Harmony Grove when the 'Cats were up 28-7 at halftime but had to hold on in the second half for a 28-20 win.Those fears were proven true as Harmony Grove controlled both sides of the line of the scrimmage in a dominating 25-0 win over the Wildcats at George Walker Field of Champions.The game was held on a Thursday to be broadcast as KARZ Channel 42's Fearless Friday Game of the Week.Vereen said Thursday's game was really just a continuation of what they faced in the second half at Harmony Grove last year when the Cardinals held the Wildcats scoreless over the final two quarters. "We really didn't move the ball at all in the second half," he said."We lost the battle up front on both sides (offense and defense) of the battle," Vereen said, noting that Harmony Grove had all its starters back from that team.He attributed much of the offensive woes to missing blocking assignments. After having what he called one of his best offensive line grades ever for a season opener following the 3619 win at Harmony Grove Ouachita County in Week 1, Vereen said last week's performance may be one of the lowest grades he has seen in his coaching career.It was the first time Rison has been shutout out at home since the 'Cats fell to eventual state champion Charleston, 27-0, in the 2022 Class 3A state semifinals.The tone was set early as Rison running back Jeramiah Marshall was dropped for a two-yard loss on 3rd-and-1 at the Wildcat 31 on the opening series of the game. That forced what would be the first of five Rison punts on the night.Taking over at their own 33, it took the Cardinals just four plays before All-State running b...
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