No. 6 Auburn Tigers top Razorbacks 45-21AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Jeremy Johnson passed for 243 yards and two touchdowns in the first half and Nick Marshall returned from suspension with a 19-yard scoring run to lift No. 6 Auburn to a 45-21 opening victory over Arkansas on Saturday. The Tigers scored the final 24 points after the Razorbacks managed to force a halftime deadlock. The game was delayed 1 hour, 28 minutes due to lightning in the area during the fourth quarter. Marshall, who le...

Judges Cup set for TuesdayDANVILLE — High school football season comes early this year as the Dardanelle Sand Lizards take on the Danville Little Johns at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Little John Stadium. Despite the long-standing rivalry, the decision to play on Tuesday was mutually beneficial. It affords both teams the opportunity to scout their upcoming competition on Friday. “I’m looking forward to it,” Sand Lizards head coach Josh Price said. “I think, for both of us, we’re ...

Atkins, Dover prepare for Rivals CupATKINS — Student-athletes from the Atkins Red Devils and Dover Pirates football programs met Friday at River Town Bank for a news conference leading into the annual Rivals Cup, which will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday at Sorrels Stadium at Lemley Field. Representing Atkins was all-state quarterback Alex Spradlin, lineman Jake Alexander, head coach Tommy Cody and athletic director Charlie Sorrels. Dover was represented by lineman Ty Morphis, fullba...

Cyclones fall to Fort Smith RebsFORT SMITH — The Class 7A defending state champion Fort Smith South Side Lady Rebels were too much for the smaller Russellville Lady Cyclones volleyball team on Thursday — but it was close. Russellville (2-1) lost 25-22, 28-26 and 25-21. Lady Cyclones head coach Cindy Jones said she was pleased to see her team compete so closely with the defending state champions from a higher classification. “We played a great match,” she said. “Every game wa...

Receiver KJ Hill announces commitment to Hogs NORTH LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Heavily recruited receiver K.J. Hill of North Little Rock says he intends to play for Arkansas. Hill announced his choice on Friday at the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. He had offers more than a dozen other schools. Oral commitments aren't binding. Signing day is Feb. 4. The 6-1 Hill ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds. Hill said he may still take official visits to four other schools from which he had offers: Alabama...

New men's soccer coach stresses building processCLARKSVILLE — Under the direction of new head coach Matt Torok, the University of the Ozarks men’s soccer team will rely on six returning starters and a bevy of freshmen to keep the program among the American Southwest Conference’s strongest. Torok, who was hired in April after spending five seasons as the assistant, inherits a program that has qualified for post-season play 11 times since it joined the ASC in 1996, including last season when ...

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Ozark Sports InformationThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Morgan leads revamped group of Arkansas receiversFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Drew Morgan couldn't resist the chance to celebrate after making a 44-yard catch during Arkansas' first preseason scrimmage, even if that meant risking a penalty. The Razorbacks sophomore, however, had just cause for the enthusiasm. It had been a while since Morgan, or any of the Arkansas wide receivers for that matter, had enough reason to celebrate — particularly during a drop-filled season a year ago. "I would neve...

Frazier expects state run from CyclonesRussellville’s cross country teams will open this season the same way the have every year — at Old Post Park with the River Valley Invitational. This year’s teams, with the loss of a strong graduated senior class, will be very different than we’ve seen in the past. But that’s not to say they’ll be less successful. In fact, in many ways Russellville head coach John Frazier said believes this year’s teams are even stronger. “We had two seniors, ...

NFL increases penalties for domestic violenceNEW YORK (AP) — NFL players will be subject to a six-week suspension for a first domestic violence offense and banishment from the league for a second under a new policy outlined by Commissioner Roger Goodell. In a letter and memo sent to all 32 teams owners Thursday, and obtained by The Associated Press, Goodell says he "didn't get it right" in giving Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice a two-game suspension for allegedly hitting the woman...

Lady Cyclones win season openerThe Russellville Lady Cyclones opened their season Tuesday with back-to-back wins over the Morrilton Lady Devil Dogs and the Paris Eagles inside Cyclone Gymnasium. Russellville (2-0) defeated Morrilton 25-17, 15-14. Hunter Eshnaur had seven kills, Madison McKinley had six kills and Addy Hipps had five. Overall, Lady Cyclones head coach Cindy Jones thought it was a good first outing. “We clicked on all cylinders in that match,” she said. “We ha...

Dardanelle golf claims third place at Lion's DenDARDANELLE — The Dardanelle Sand Lizards and Lady Sand Lizards golf teams hosted their third match of the season at the Lion’s Den Golf Club. On the girls’ side of the match, Alexis Montgomery of Maumelle fired in an 8-over par to claim the medalist honors, while Dardanelle junior Juliana Harper shot a 44 to finish in second. Taylor Salters finished in the top five with a round of 47. The Maumelle boy’s team of Austin Freeman (35), Ryan Spurlo...

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Courier sports staffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Green, gold right attire for ATU's College Colors DayArkansas Tech University students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends are encouraged to wear green and gold on Friday, Aug. 29, to show their support for the university on College Colors Day 2014. College Colors Day is a national initiative that was created in 2005 as a means of providing organizations and individuals with an opportunity to wear their team colors and share in the college spirit with friends and colleagues. According to the web...

Bielema ready for difficult opening test at Auburn FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Bret Bielema has talked throughout the preseason about his increased comfort level at Arkansas, and how he expects that to translate to a better team on the field. The second-year coach won't have to wait long now to test just how far the Razorbacks have come since last season's disaster. After a winless run in the Southeastern Conference, the first for Arkansas since joining the league in 1992, Bielema hopes to snap ...

Lady Apaches place second at Galla CreekPOTTSVILLE — The Lady Apaches combined for a team score of 155 to place second in a recent golf match held at Galla Creek against Ozark and Clarksville. Ozark won with a 136 and Clarksville finished a stroke behind Pottsville with 156. Pottsville was led by Krissy Davis with 45, Britney Heflin with 53 and Cheyenne Carillo with 57. Ozark won on the men’s side of the match as well with a team score of 127. The Apaches tied with Clarksville for t...

Hogs release depth chart for Saturday’s openerFAYETTEVILLE — Other than the disturbing surprise of a possible overnight arson performed on fourth-year starting quarterback Brandon Allen’s vehicle, there were some surprises of the more conventional sort Monday associated with Arkansas Razorbacks releasing their season-opening depth chart. Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema unveiled a 2-deep, and in some cases 3-deep, with the Razorbacks opening the season at 3 p.m. Saturday on SEC Network TV in A...

Panthers keep pace with RHSThe Russellville Cyclones tried out three quarterbacks on Tuesday during their Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) Benefit Scrimmage against the Clarksville Panthers at Cyclone Stadium. Chase Bicanovsky, Ryan Meador and Michael Mullen all took snaps beneath center — all to varying degrees of success. An energized Clarksville, meanwhile, never relented and kept the game close, 23-21, by the final buzzer — despite five fumbles and an intercept...

Sports Watch: Episode oneIf you follow The Courier on Facebook, you may have noticed something flash across your Facebook timeline called “Sports Watch.” I’m excited to announce that this is the first-ever sports podcast produced by The Courier, hosted by myself and the Russellville Cyclones play-by-play radio announcer Mickey DuVall. Starting out, we will be focused primarily on covering football in the Arkansas River Valley. The first episode is a little “bare bones...