“This team can go as far as it desires,” McKenna said. “If we all believe in each other and our coaches, then I think we have what it takes to contend for a title. For us, we’ve had our eyes on a state title game since we lost in the semifinals last year. I want our team to succeed on and off the field and to always be there for each other as teammates. Having each other’s backs is always important to Conway football on and off the field.”
After playing on Black Friday in 2017, the path to another 7A semifinals appearance has the feeling of déjà vu. Just like last year, Conway opens the playoffs hosting Rogers.
“The game plan this week is to take out some of our anger from the Bryant loss last week and enforce our will early,” McKenna said. “We want to get better every single week, and the emphasis this week is not on Rogers, but on us as a team.”
And just like last year, a win over Rogers would send the Wampus Cats to Bentonville West, with North Little Rock likely looming again on Black Friday. Conway fans may feel like they’ve seen this movie before. But how the Wampus Cats got here is a bit different than last year. It’s been a season of amazing comeback wins, and it all started with El Dorado in Week 0.
“It was a game of ups and downs, but it came down to us being down by seven in the first overtime, and we were on fourth and 11,” McKenna said. “[Conway quarterback] JoVoni [Johnson] threw a goalie fade route to me, and I scored to tie up the game. JoVoni went on the score the game winner in double overtime.”
In their second game, Conway took fans on another emotional ride.
“The highlight of our season so far would have to be coming back from 21-3 in the second half against Bentonville to win 24-21 at home,” McKenna said. “Bentonville is a very talented team, and beating them always feels good, especially in that way.”
Two other times this season (at Cabot in Week 6 and against Northside in Week 7), the Cats overcame a 14-point deficit in the second half to win.
“Never count out the Wampus Cats,” McKenna said.
McKenna, a senior receiver for Conway, was selected to this year’s 501 Football Team — 28 players representing all 11 counties of the 501. The team, sponsored by Conway Ortho and Sports Medicine Center, Conway Regional Health System and First Security Bank, boasts the best the 501 has to offer both on and off ... Click here to read full article
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