LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Harding Academy quarterback Owen Miller completed 21 of 31 passes for 364 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a 43-35 victory over Rivercrest in the Class 4A state title game at War Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
The Wildcats started the game with their foot on the gas, scoring touchdowns on their first three drives to build a 21-0 lead with 5:10 to play in the first quarter.
Miller found wide receiver Jack Citty early and often as the two connected on touchdowns of seven and 50 yards.
Citty finished with 10 receptions for 169 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Trenton Hall led the way on the ground with 72 rushing yards and one score on 19 carries.
Following a four-yard rushing touchdown by Rivercrest running back Kolby Turner, Harding Academy answered with a 61-yard touchdown pass from Miller to wide receiver Kyle Hoover, pushing the Wildcats' lead to 26-7 late in the second quarter.
Hoover racked up 102 yards and two touchdowns on five catches as Harding Academy finished with 486 yards of total offense to Rivercrest's 482.
Leading by 19 points, Miller, the 4A state title game MVP, flashed his speed on a 27-yard touchdown to put the Wildcats up 40-14 with 9:23 to play in the third quarter.
But Rivercrest started to make things interesting.
Running back Marcus Slayton caught a six-yard score and then ran for a four-yard touchdown on the next drive to cut the Wildcats' lead to 43-35 with 10:18 remaining in the game.
However, Harding Academy's defense came up with a big stop on fourth down and then stopped Rivercrest on the game's final possession to seal the victory.
Harding Academy defensive back Camden Pryor secured 10 total stops, eight solo tackles and a pass breakup, while linebacker Wyatt Simmons, an Arkansas commit, had eight total stops, six solo tackles and an interception.
The Wildcats end the 2023 season with their 10th state title and a perfect 15-0 record.