El Dorado Records An Opening-Round Playoff Win At Fort Smith Southside: Arkansas High School Football

Playoff time is finally here in Arkansas high school football.

For one program, a lengthy wait finally ended Friday night, as Fort Smith Southside has its first home postseason game in more than a decade. The Mavericks took on El Dorado in the opening round of the Class 6A playoffs.

However, it was all Wildcats, as they scored two touchdowns six minutes into the game and never looked back as they went on to a 41-17 win at Jim Rowland Stadium.

It was Southside’s first home playoff game since 2015. Prior to Friday, the last time Southside had a home playoff game, the school was known as the Rebels before changing their mascot the following year to the Mavericks.

But El Dorado (7-4) scored a touchdown on its first possession, and then the Wildcats got an interception, which set up a second TD and a 14-0 first-quarter lead. The Wildcats later built that advantage to 27-3 before halftime.

For the game, El Dorado finished with 512 total yards and was fairly balanced, with 262 yards rushing and 250 more yards passing. Quarterback Ryan Polk was 24-of-32 passing for 246 yards and two TDs, while running back Trayden Cook-King had 128 yards on six carries and a pair of scores.

Southside qualified for a home playoff after getting the No. 4 seed from the 6A-West. The Mavericks finished 4-7 on the season.

El Dorado will advance to next week’s 6A quarterfinals and take on undefeated Sheridan, the 6A-East champion.

Follow High School On SI correspondent Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from Fort Smith.

Scroll down for live score and game updates from kickoff to the postgame. Refresh this page for the latest.

EL DORADO 41, FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE 17 FINAL

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POSTGAME

- El Dorado jumped out to a 14-0 lead six minutes into the game and the Wildcats didn't look back, as they will advance to next week's 6A quarterfinals and take on Sheridan.

FOURTH QUARTER

- TOUCHDOWN SOUTHSIDE. Paul Frantz snags a 19-yard pass in the back of the end zone. (El Dorado, 41-17 | 3:12, 4th)

- TOUCHDOWN EL DORADO. Wildcats on their way to Sheridan for next week's 6A quarterfinal round, as Justin Hammett catches a pass from 21 yards out for his second score on the night. (El Dorado, 41-10 | 4:33, 4th)

THIRD QUARTER

- INTERCEPTION EL DORADO. Wildcats with a huge takeaway, as Walker Williamson picks off a pass at his own 2-yard line with nearly three minutes to go in the quarter.

- INTERCEPTION SOUTHSIDE. Ryan Young picks off a pass near midfield. Still a bit of life left in the Mavericks with nearly five minutes to go in the third.

- TOUCHDOWN SOUTHSIDE. Mavericks finally reach the end zone, as QB Michael Nolewajka threw a 34-yard strike to Devo Williams. (El Dorado, 34-10 | 6:54, 3rd)

- TOUCHDOWN EL DORADO. Wildcats strike quickly on their opening second-half series, needing just three plays, capped by a 44-yard burst from Trayden Cook-King. (El Dorado, 34-3 | 9:12, 3rd)

- Southside gets the ball to start the second half, but goes three-and-out and has to punt it away. Mavericks have just three first downs on the night.

SECOND QUARTER

- TOUCHDOWN EL DORADO. Jaylon Dunn goes in from 4 yards out on the Wildcats' next series. PAT is missed. (El Dorado, 27-3 | 1:39, 2nd)

- TOUCHDOWN EL DORADO. Trayden Cook-King sprints 60 yards to the house, as the Wildcats extend their lead. (El Dorado, 21-3 | 7:30, 2nd)

FIRST QUARTER

- FIELD GOAL SOUTHSIDE. Mavericks take advantage of the recovered fumble, and also a double pass caught by Terrell Warren near the El Dorado 10. Drive stalls, but Dallas DeLassus comes on to kick a 26-yard field goal. (El Dorado, 14-3 | :51, 1st)

- FUMBLE RECOVERY SOUTHSIDE. El Dorado forced a punt and the Wildcats were putting another strong drive together inside Maverick territory, but they fumble the ball and Southside's Alexander Garcia makes the recovery near his 35.

- TOUCHDOWN EL DORADO. Wildcats cash in on the interception, needing just two plays in covering 28 yards. A 14-yard scoring pass from Ryan Polk to Justin Hammett and the PAT puts El Dorado up by 14. (El Dorado, 14-0 | 5:41, 1st)

- INTERCEPTION EL DORADO. On Southside's first possession, a pass gets tipped near the line of scrimmage and Kaden Creer makes the catch near the Mavericks' 25.

- TOUCHDOWN EL DORADO. Wildcats march 83 yards in 12 plays, picking up five first downs, in getting the game's first score. The TD was a 4-yard pass from Jaylon Dunn to Brav'yon Coleman. (El Dorado, 7-0 | 7:38, 1st)

- A pooch kick to start things off, and the ball is loose, but El Dorado is able to recover it at its own 17-yard line.

- Southside wins the toss and defers to the second half. El Dorado to get the ball to start things off.

PREGAME

- Live from Jim Rowland Stadium on the campus of Southside High School in Fort Smith, the Mavericks are having their first home playoff since 2015 as they face El Dorado in the opening round of the 6A state playoffs.

ABOUT EL DORADO

The Wildcats have played several conference teams tough all season, including last week, when they led Sheridan at halftime, 17-16. However, the Yellowjackets took over in the second half for a 46-27 win.

El Dorado brings a solid defense, having recorded 18 interceptions, while the Wildcats have also scored four defensive TDs.

ABOUT FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE

The Mavericks had a tough start to their season, starting the season 0-5. That included non-conference losses to city rival Fort Smith Northside as well as losses to Oklahoma schools Sallisaw (which went 10-0 in the regular season) and Pryor.

But the second half was much better for Southside, as the Mavs reeled off four straight wins to qualify for the postseason. Their win streak was snapped last week with a loss to Mountain Home.

Leading Southside is junior quarterback Michael Nolewajka and sophomore running backs Terrell Warren and Sedrale Morris. Nolewajka has completed 133-of-194 passes for 1,616 yards and six TDs, while Morris has rushed for 1,022 yards on 120 carries and 13 TDs. Warren has nearly 700 yards and seven scores as well.

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