The Piggott Mohawks continued to show improvement last Friday night, as they completed their non-conference schedule with a 24-0 win over the Clarendon Lions in just three quarters of play. The game, played at Clarendon's Harding Field, was called by officials with 11:53 to go in the fourth quarter after a Lion player sustained an injury and was later airlifted to Children's Hospital in Little Rock. The player, junior running back Trey Morgan, first had no feeling in his legs following a collision with Piggott's Corbin Chase. According to team officials he was released from the hospital early the next morning, and despite a serious headache and some memory loss, shouldn't suffer any long-term effects.

The Mohawks were fired-up Friday night as they visited the Lions, and the early played showed that intensity as the Tribe kicked-off to start the contest. On the opening kickoff Piggott's Rob Rice made a big hit on the return man for Clarendon, and the home team set up shop on their own 36. On the first play from scrimmage the Lions jumped offside, and two plays later they were forced to punt the ball away. That drive would set the tone for the Mohawk defense, as they allowed the Lions only 34 yards in total offense on the night.

The Tribe's offensive unit then began to pound the ball down the field, getting good runs from their trio of senior running backs--Justin Howell, Michael Morgan and Jim Threatt. The Mohawks then marched the ball downfield, aided at times by a couple of Clarendon penalty flags, and scored their first touchdown with 5:07 to play in the first quarter. That score came on a one yard run by Howell, and Morgan provided the two-point conversion to make it 8-0 Piggott.

For the remainder of the first quarter, and much of the second, neither team could move the ball without suffering from either the turnover or the penalty flag. But the Tribe would extend their lead before the halftime break as quarterback Daniel Baldwin connected with Morgan for a seven yard touchdown pass reception. The PAT by Chase was blocked and the Mohawk lead stood 14-0 at the halftime break.

Early in the third quarter the Tribe began to mix-up their offensive sets, but found it difficult to mount a sustained drive. The next Piggott score would come with 3:18 to go in the third as Baldwin tackled the Lion's Charlten Henderson in the endzone for a safety. That extended the Piggott lead to 16-0.

Following the Clarendon free kick the Mohawks began to mount their final scoring drive of the night. That score came on the first play of the fourth quarter as Morgan carried the ball in from eight yards out for his second TD. The Mohawks then lined up to kick the PAT, but the Lions jumped off sides. After the referee marked-off the half-the-distance to the goal Piggott coach Dave Hendrix decided to go for the two-point conversion. Chase got the call and carried the ball into the endzone around the left end, bowling the Lion's defender over in the process.

According to former Piggott school board president Shawn Parker, who witnessed the collision from beyond the endzone, Morgan ducked his head and it impacted with Chase's knee as he drove for the extra point.

Morgan remained motionless on the ground, and medical personnel were summoned. Following a brief discussion the officials gathered both teams at the center of the field and called the contest. The combined players, coaches, officials and support personnel then gathered for a word of prayer.

After about an hour an AirEvac helicopter arrived and transported Morgan to Children's Hospital in Little Rock. According to team officials he left the hospital under his own power around 3 a.m. the following morning. Morgan reportedly suffered a severe headache from the ordeal, and can't remember much about the game, but should recover fully.

Following the game the Mohawk coach had mixed feelings about the win, "24-0 through three quarters you'd think that would be pretty good..and it is, we're pleased for the win but we didn't play as well as we could and part of that was my fault."

"I got us out of our rhythm by going out in the gun (shotgun) some… it really hurt our rhythm, " the Mohawk head coach explained. "I think it was just a coaching error, and if we'd just kept pounding it would have been over quicker…but we've been working on some of these things we need to work in."

The Mohawk offensive attack was led by Threatt again this week as he carried the ball 17 times for 88 yards. Mogan had 36 yards on eight carries and seven yards on one reception..along with two of the Piggott touchdowns. Howell had the other Piggott TD, and 36 yards on 10 carries. Baldwin finished with 26 yards on 10 carries, and was two of five passing for a total of 32 yards and one touchdown. Rice had one carry for six yards and Chase carried the ball once for two yards rushing..and had the other Mohawk two-point conversion. David Malone led the Lions in rushing with 15 yards.

The Tribe also had several outstanding plays on defense and special teams, including a fumble recovery by Cord Pike and the safety by Baldwin and company.

Friday night the Mohawks will return to the friendly confines of Parker Field to begin the conference portion of this year's schedule. This week the Cave City Cavemen will visit Piggott for the first time as football opponents, kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Next week is homecoming week at PHS, and the Mohawks will host the Earle Bulldogs in the annual contest on Friday, Oct.3.