Conway passing all tests

Conway entered the 2018 season with a new coach and one of the toughest nonconference schedules in the state. Keith Fimple was hired by Conway in April to replace Clint Ashcraft, who stepped down as the Wampus Cats' coach after nine seasons to become the school's athletic director. The Wampus Cats' three nonconference games were against Class 6A state contenders El Dorado and Jonesboro, and Class 7A state runner-up Bentonville. They defeated El Dorado 48-41 in two overtimes Aug. 24 and Bentonville 24-21 on Aug. 31 in Conway, then traveled to Jonesboro on Friday and topped the Hurricane 37-16. Conway's first two games were come-from-behind affairs. The Wampus Cats (3-0) never trailed Jonesboro on Friday. "It was a different focus," Fimple said of his team's mindset leading up to the Jonesboro game. Despite the early gauntlet, Fimple is proud of what his team has accomplished. "You want your kids to be 3-0. You want them to be excited," he said. In Conway's victory at Jonesboro, senior running back Cary McClain rushed for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns on 17 carries. Junior Shane Smith returned a 98-yard kickoff for a touchdown that gave the Wampus Cats a 17-10 lead late in the second quarter, an advantage they would not relinquish. Conway is off this week and opens its 7A-Central Conference schedule Sept. 21 at Fort Smith Southside. Fimple said there's room for improvement for the Wampus Cats. "We can fix ourselves," Fimple said. "We still have a lot of teachable things we can do as coaches. There's a lot of situational things we can learn off of. "It's important to get those things done during the open week."

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Conway High School Athletics

CONWAY PASSING ALL TESTS

JEREMY MUCK

Arkansas Online | 9/13/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Thomas Metthe