Wray, Howell help Harding Academy hold off Valley View

Harding Academy 26, Valley View 21

SEARCY — Krews Wray threw three touchdown passes, including two to Bax Howell, as Harding Academy built an early lead and held off Valley View 26-21 Friday night.

The Wildcats stopped Valley View’s final possession after the Blazers recovered an onside kick, then used Wray’s third-down completion to Howell to secure the victory. Harding Academy improved to 2-3 overall and 2-0 in the 5A-East. Valley View fell to 3-2 and 1-1.

Howell opened the scoring with a 42-yard reception, getting behind the defense and reaching the end zone with 9:07 remaining in the first quarter. Luke Custer’s extra point made it 7-0.

After Valley View missed a field goal, Harding moved into scoring position again. Angelau Kamdem made a difficult sideline catch, and Ethan Mulvany added a reception over the middle. The Blazers tightened near the goal line, with Coby Wester breaking up a third-down pass. Custer’s field goal gave Harding a 10-0 lead with 2:59 left in the quarter.

Valley View turned the ball over on downs inside the 15 on its next possession. The Blazers later shifted to Quinn Gartman at quarterback after Levi Manning left the offensive lineup. Trent Dunham supplied the breakthrough, escaping on a 38-yard touchdown run on third-and-long. He added the extra point to make it 10-7 with just under eight minutes left in the half.

Wester intercepted Wray’s pass on Harding’s next possession to turn away another scoring threat. But the Wildcats scored on the final play of the half when Wray found Bryson Campbell for an 18-yard touchdown on fourth-and-eight. Custer’s kick restored a 10-point lead.

Valley View forced a turnover on downs to begin the second half, then Gartman’s deep completion to Eli Berry helped set up Dunham’s second touchdown run. Dunham powered through defenders and made the extra point, pulling the Blazers within 17-14 with 6:55 remaining in the third quarter.

A punt-play mishap then resulted in a safety against Valley View, extending Harding’s lead to 19-14. After the free kick, Joseph Myles converted a third down with a reception near the 12. Penalties delayed the drive, but Wray found Howell for a 13-yard touchdown with 11:47 left in the fourth quarter. Custer’s kick made it 26-14.

The Blazers kept themselves in contention. Evan Thomas stopped Wray on fourth-and-one, and Gartman completed two passes to Keaton Rogers before finding Bryce Curry near the goal line. Rowan Sanders scored from one yard, and Dunham’s extra point trimmed the deficit to 26-21 with 4:04 remaining.

Dunham’s onside kick traveled the required distance, and Valley View recovered near midfield. Harding limited the next three plays, however, and Gartman’s fourth-down completion to Dawson Burnett was marked short.

The Wildcats still needed a first down to finish. Wray found Howell open on third-and-six, moving the chains and allowing Harding to run out the remaining time.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

Harding Academy — Bax Howell 42-yard pass from Krews Wray (Luke Custer kick), Harding Academy 7, Valley View 0. 9:07.

Harding Academy — Custer field goal, Harding Academy 10, Valley View 0. 2:59.

2nd Quarter

Valley View — Trent Dunham 38-yard run (Dunham kick), Harding Academy 10, Valley View 7. 7:59.

Harding Academy — Bryson Campbell 18-yard pass from Wray (Custer kick), Harding Academy 17, Valley View 7. 0:00.

3rd Quarter

Valley View — Dunham touchdown run (Dunham kick), Harding Academy 17, Valley View 14. 6:55.

4th Quarter

Harding Academy — Howell 13-yard pass from Wray (Custer kick), Harding Academy 26, Valley View 14. 11:47.

Valley View — Rowan Sanders one-yard run (Dunham kick), Harding Academy 26, Valley View 21. 4:04.

Players Who Stood Out

Krews Wray, Harding Academy — Threw three touchdown passes, two to Bax Howell and one to Bryson Campbell. Completed the decisive third-and-six pass to Howell on the final possession.

Bax Howell, Harding Academy — Caught touchdowns of 42 and 13 yards and made the late third-down reception that allowed Harding to run out the clock.

Bryson Campbell, Harding Academy — Caught an 18-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-eight as time expired in the first half.

Luke Custer, Harding Academy — Made a first-quarter field goal and all three extra points for six points.

Angelau Kamdem, Harding Academy — Made a sideline catch inside the 20 to help set up the first-quarter field goal and added two consecutive catches during a second-quarter scoring threat.

Joseph Myles, Harding Academy — Converted third down with a reception near Valley View’s 12 during the drive that produced Howell’s fourth-quarter touchdown.

Trent Dunham, Valley View — Ran for two touchdowns and kicked all three extra points for 15 points. Delivered the successful fourth-quarter onside kick.

Quinn Gartman, Valley View — Completed a deep pass to Eli Berry during the second touchdown drive, then found Keaton Rogers twice and Bryce Curry near the goal line on the final scoring drive.

Coby Wester, Valley View — Intercepted a pass to end a second-quarter scoring threat and broke up a third-down pass near the goal line in the first quarter.

Rowan Sanders, Valley View — Scored on a one-yard run with 4:04 left in the fourth quarter.

Evan Thomas, Valley View — Stopped Wray on fourth-and-one to give the Blazers the ball before their final touchdown drive.