Early scores and late stops give Heber Springs edge vs Mills

Heber Springs 17, Mills 14

Heber Springs made key plays late and edged Mills 17-14 Friday at Comet Stadium, riding a composed defensive finish and the leg of sophomore kicker Golden Tate. The Panthers built a 14-0 first-quarter cushion and answered Mills’ second-half surge with the go-ahead fourth-quarter field goal.

Junior quarterback Lachlan Tubbs delivered both early touchdowns, finding senior OLB Seth Dudeck on a tunnel screen and later a wheel route as Heber Springs executed crisply out of shifts and motions. Two-way backs Aydin Isom and senior Eli Buffalo churned out yards, while CB/WR Emmett Dwyer was active in space.

Mills flipped momentum after halftime. Senior DE Isaiah Chambers scooped a high snap for a defensive touchdown, and sophomore WR/DB Torrance “TJ” Talbot finished a six-yard jet sweep to tie it 14-14. Sophomore QB Elijah Moody steered the response drives behind bruising runs from junior RB Za’Marion McDonald, with WR/CB Jaiden Hicks and WR Chase Slater providing quick outlets.

The Comets’ defense settled in—Talbot added an end-zone interception and LB Cordae Ratliff and DB Kentrell Masonproduced timely stops—but hidden yardage proved decisive. A short field after a special-teams miscue set up Tate’s winner, and Heber Springs protected the lead with sound tackling and disciplined alignment.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter Heber Springs – Seth Dudeck tunnel screen from Lachlan Tubbs (Golden Tate kick), 7-0.
1st Quarter Heber Springs – Seth Dudeck wheel-route TD from Tubbs (Tate kick), 14-0.
3rd Quarter Mills – Isaiah Chambers fumble return (kick good), 14-7.
3rd Quarter Mills – Torrance Talbot 6-yard run (kick good), 14-14.
4th Quarter Heber Springs – Golden Tate field goal, 17-14.

Players who stood out

• Lachlan Tubbs (HS QB/FS) – 2 TD passes.

• Seth Dudeck (HS OLB/DT) – 2 TD receptions.

• Golden Tate (HS K/P) – 2 PAT, game-winning FG.

• Isaiah Chambers (Mills DE/RB) – fumble-return TD.

• Torrance “TJ” Talbot (Mills WR/DB) – TD run, end-zone INT.