As the last of the videotape highlights for 13 finalists were aired to almost a statewide audience from KATV's first-floor studio off Main Street in Little Rock, it seemed nearly anticlimatic to most people in attendance when his hame was announced that, indeed, Little Rock Christian's Dyer had finally won his Landers Award.
In a phenomenal four-year high school career that saw him better the state's all-time rushing mark by more than 900 yards, Dyer was the most talked about Arkansas prep player this season. The year saw some other stars have amazing Friday night feats and stellar season -- for instance, finalist Larry Walls of White Hall rushing for 444 yards in his season opener, or quarterback and linebacker Joe Carmical leading Monticello to its first state championship since the early 1970s while also leading the school in overall grade-point average.
"The end of my high school career and to have this last trophy, this last honor, means a lot to me and my family," Michael Dyer said. "I'm just happy right now."
Dyer joins a who's who list of Arkansas prep stars in the past decade who have won the Landers Award, several who have already gone on to stellar college careers and are playing in the NFL: Oak Grove product Darren McFadden (2004), Conway's Peyton Hillis (2003); current Southern Cal receiver Damian Williams from Springdale (2005); current Arkansas backup quarter Tyler Wilson from Greenwood (2007).
KATV's sports department, led by Steve Sullivan, chose the weekly finalists during the season. Voting for the Landers winner was done by five state sportswriters along with results from an Internet poll on the KATV.com Web site.
Buzz Bolding, athletic director for Conway Public Schools, is pleased, particularly from a potential revenue standpoint, that a vote by the largest 32 schools in the state placed Bryant, Cabot and North Little Rock back into the 7A/6A Central Conference.
Prior to Friday’s game at Helena-West Helena, Forrest City Coach Rich Trail said one of the keys to a Mustang win would be stopping the big play Cougar offense.
Once Siloam Springs’ quarterback Brian Adair tossed a 39-yard touchdown pass to narrow Greenbrier’s lead to 28-24 late in the third quarter, the Panthers could go only one of two ways.
In the final nonconference game before 5A-West play begins, the Vilonia Eagles put together an evenly balanced attack and a convincing 35-24 win over Beebe on Friday night.
Spencer Harris and Marco Vota batted down Kiehl Frazier's desperation pass to finally end an instant classic as Greenwood outlasted nationally-ranked Shiloh Christian, 54-51.
Northside was able to throw the slant route at will in the second half against Little Rock Catholic but one play kept the Grizzlies from posting a perfect nonconference record.