Southside Mavericks Roll Past Southwest Gryphons 35–20

Fort Smith Southside 35, Little Rock Southwest 20

Fort Smith Southside kept its early-season roll going Friday at Griffin Stadium, racing to a 14–0 first-quarter lead and finishing off Little Rock Southwest, 35–20. Junior quarterback Blake Forsgren steered the attack with command, tossing three touchdown passes to punctuate an up-tempo plan built on quick hitters and screens.

Two-way playmaker Peyton Zimmerman was the spark, slipping tackles for two receiving scores, while junior Wilson Key added a first-quarter touchdown and chunk gains on perimeter concepts. Southside’s line—Landon Grimm, Hayden Eckelhoff, Nick Arnold and Colby Castling—kept the pocket clean and sprung the screen game.

Southwest, coached by Chadwick Lewis, answered after halftime. Quarterback Derrick Vasser repeatedly extended plays and moved the sticks with designed keepers, and bruising back Robert Cooper finished two red-zone marches to trim the deficit to two scores in the fourth.

Southside’s defense authored the first-half difference. MLB Ethan Dunn was firm between the tackles, OLB Maddox Perez delivered a highlight hit, and free safety Isaac Parker erased deep shots as the Mavericks forced multiple three-and-outs. Special teams again tilted the field: kicker Rodrigo Hernandez drove kickoffs near the end zone and was perfect on extra points.

Coach Kim Dameron’s club balanced patience and burst—taking underneath throws early, then striking when coverage crept up—to close a clean road win without letting the Gryphons seize momentum.

A first-quarter three-and-out set the tone, and a goal-line stand after a blocked punt preserved 14–0 before a six-play, 87-yard drive made it 21–0.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter
Southside – Wilson Key pass from Blake Forsgren (Rodrigo Hernandez kick), 7–0.
Southside – Peyton Zimmerman pass from Forsgren (Hernandez kick), 14–0.

2nd Quarter
Southside – Zimmerman pass from Forsgren (Hernandez kick), 21–0.

3rd Quarter
Southside – Colton Viengthong 4-run (Hernandez kick), 28–0.
Little Rock Southwest – Robert Cooper run (kick good), 28–7.
Southside – Zimmerman pass from Forsgren (Hernandez kick), 35–7.

4th Quarter
Little Rock Southwest – Cooper run (kick good), 35–14.
Little Rock Southwest – Cooper run (kick failed), 35–20.

Players who stood out

• Peyton Zimmerman, WR/SS (Southside) — 2 receiving TDs.

• Blake Forsgren, QB (Southside) — 3 TD passes, timely scramble work.

• Wilson Key, QB/FS (Southside) — TD catch and explosive YAC plays.

• Robert Cooper, RB (Southwest) — 3 rushing TDs powered the rally.

• Derrick Vasser, QB (Southwest) — Elusive runner, sustained drives.