Wilken throws three touchdown passes as Rogers earns first win

Rogers 44, Springdale 7

October 16, 2026 | Hooten’s Arkansas Football |

Conner Wilken threw three touchdown passes, and Rogers scored 44 unanswered points to beat Springdale 44-7 Friday night at Whitey Smith Stadium for its first victory of the season.

The Mounties erased an early 7-0 deficit, led 16-7 at halftime and added four second-half touchdowns. Both teams finished the night 1-6 overall and 1-3 in the 7A-West.

Jagger Blockburger, Xander Burke and Jaden Pina each ran for a Rogers touchdown. Cooper McIntosh and Leshaun Gochett caught scoring passes, and Juan Chaparro added a 32-yard field goal and five extra points.

Springdale struck first after Nathan Kumtak ended Rogers’ opening possession with a fourth-down sack. The Bulldogs drove 61 yards in 11 plays, and Wilder Lherisse scored on a 2-yard run with 24 seconds left in the first quarter. Sergio Zuniga’s extra point gave Springdale a 7-0 lead.

Rogers answered with a nine-play, 80-yard drive. Blockburger took the snap in a heavy formation and ran left for a 2-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Chaparro’s kick tied the game.

Wilken put the Mounties ahead for good with a 26-yard touchdown pass to McIntosh on a fade route with 5:13 left in the half. Gavin Jones blocked the extra point, keeping the score 13-7. Chaparro then made his 32-yard field goal with 28 seconds remaining before halftime.

The Mounties opened the third quarter with a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. Wilken’s 21-yard run moved Rogers into goal-to-go territory, and he finished the possession with a 2-yard touchdown pass with 7:57 left in the quarter. Chaparro’s kick extended the lead to 23-7.

A dropped punt snap on Springdale’s next possession gave Rogers the ball at the Bulldogs’ 21. Burke carried on all three plays of the ensuing drive, gaining 5 yards and then 9 before scoring from the 7. The extra point made it 30-7 with 4:38 remaining in the third quarter.

Wilken added his third touchdown pass early in the fourth. Facing third-and-10 from the Springdale 31, he stood in against pressure and found Gochett, who caught the ball near the 11 and finished the play in the end zone. Chaparro’s kick made it 37-7 with 7:48 left.

Baylor Morgan intercepted a pass on Springdale’s next possession, setting up the final Rogers touchdown. A third-down completion to McIntosh moved the Mounties into scoring position, and Pina finished the drive with a 1-yard run with 3:11 remaining. The broadcast identified it as his first varsity touchdown.

Jones supplied a blocked extra point and several stops for Springdale, but the Bulldogs did not score again after Lherisse’s first-quarter touchdown.

Scoring summary

First quarter • 0:24 Springdale — Wilder Lherisse 2-yard run (Sergio Zuniga kick). Springdale 7, Rogers 0.

Second quarter Rogers — Jagger Blockburger 2-yard run (Juan Chaparro kick). Rogers 7, Springdale 7.

Second quarter • 5:13 Rogers — Cooper McIntosh 26-yard pass from Conner Wilken (kick blocked). Rogers 13, Springdale 7.

Second quarter • 0:28 Rogers — Juan Chaparro 32-yard field goal. Rogers 16, Springdale 7.

Third quarter • 4:38 Rogers — Xander Burke 7-yard run (Juan Chaparro kick). Rogers 30, Springdale 7.

Fourth quarter • 7:48 Rogers — Leshaun Gochett 31-yard pass from Conner Wilken (Juan Chaparro kick). Rogers 37, Springdale 7.

Fourth quarter • 3:11 Rogers — Jaden Pina 1-yard run (Juan Chaparro kick). Rogers 44, Springdale 7.

Players who stood out

Conner Wilken, Rogers — Three touchdown passes, including the go-ahead 26-yarder to McIntosh and a 31-yarder to Gochett under pressure on third down.

Cooper McIntosh, Rogers — Caught the go-ahead touchdown and converted a third down to set up the final touchdown.

Xander Burke, Rogers — Gained all 21 yards on three carries after a dropped Springdale punt snap, finishing with a 7-yard touchdown.

Baylor Morgan, Rogers — Fourth-quarter interception set up Pina’s touchdown.

Juan Chaparro, Rogers — 32-yard field goal and five extra points.

Jaden Pina, Rogers — 1-yard touchdown run, identified by the broadcast as his first varsity touchdown.

Gavin Jones, Springdale — Blocked an extra point and made multiple stops noted by the broadcast.

Wilder Lherisse, Springdale — 2-yard touchdown run gave the Bulldogs the opening lead.