ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — 2022 was supposed to be Arkadelphia's year. The Badgers were undefeated and were just one win away from making the state championship game. But in the semifinals, Arkadelphia was taken down by Harding on a game-winning field goal by the Wildcats.
“That game right there even though it was my sophomore year, it's never been away from my mind. It's always been on my mind,” senior Nykkisson Wimberly said.
As brutal as that loss was for Wimberly, it’s seemed to trickle down -- adding extra motivation for this year where the group finds themselves back in the state championship game that they’ll play on Saturday.
“I feel like that [2022 loss] helped drive me and helped the team drive to get here,” Wimberly said.
Arkadelphia head coach Trey Schucker added that the way things ended two years ago has certainly motivated his team.
“It's been their mission every single year since then to get back to this [state title game], just because we weren't able to do it that year” Schuker said. “They've been hungry and you know, it didn't work out for us last year, but they were able to get over the hump and get here now.”
That ‘now’ is Saturday afternoon -- a date with undefeated Elkins in the 4A state championship game. While the Elks are seen as the favorite heading into the matchup, Schuker likes his team’s chances.
“We score just as many points as they do. I think our defense holds to the same amount of points as they do. So it's a really good matchup and I think the two best teams are playing in the state championship game,” Schuker said.
But overall, it’s the adversity that the Badgers have been through that could give them the edge.
“This team has been able to overcome a lot,” Schuker said. “I feel like we're ready.”
Arkadelphia and Elkins will square off Saturday at noon at War Memorial Stadium.