Gryphons, 1-6, still confident

To say Little Rock Southwest has had a rough go of things since playing its first varsity game last season would be underplaying the struggles the team really has endured.

During a 2020 debut that was dominated by covid-19 postponements and cancellations statewide, the Gryphons went 0-7 and were outscored 283-40, including 155-18 in their four 7A-Central Conference games.

This season, Southwest has been outscored by 300 points (347-47), is 1-6 overall and 0-4 in league play. The team’s lone victory came via a forfeit from Little Rock Parkview in a game that the Patriots won 47-0 three weeks beforehand.

In spite of it all, the Gryphons’ confidence hasn’t wavered, and much of that may revolve around the belief Coach Darryl Patton has instilled. That notion was on full display in the team huddle shortly after Southwest was beaten 48-7 by top-ranked Bryant last week.

There weren’t unhappy or saddened faces among the bunch, which may have been surprising for a group that was just mercyruled for the sixth time in 2021. Instead, players were offering encouragement to one another and talking amongst themselves and to the coaches about the things that did and didn’t go right against the Hornets. There were also moments of extreme positivity, highlighted by Patton’s short talk that elicited excitement

from nearly every player in that circle.

“These kids give me all they have each time they come out on the field,” Patton said afterward. “We’re just a really young team, we’re a second-year program. Of the 58 kids we brought over here [vs. Bryant], gosh, 39 of them are either sophomores or freshmen, and they just played the No. 1 team in the state.

“You look at our schedule, good Lord. We played Parkview, and they were ranked. We played Benton, and they were ranked. Then Conway, Cabot. … it’s tough. But it’s just like I told [Bryant Coach] Buck [James], we compete every week hard. We don’t have anybody quitting. They’re hanging in there and believing.”

Despite being overmatched, the Gryphons didn’t back down in that 41-point loss on Bryant’s homecoming night. There were periods of celebration after either a hard hit or whenever quarterback Josh Brown broke through for a big gain. However, there were also moments where Southwest’s youth and inexperience was evident, particularly during a stretch where Bryant needed just 11 plays to score 28 points in the first quarter.

But Patton feels that better days are ahead and blowouts won’t be the norm for Southwest, which still has a chance to make it to the postseason. The Gryphons are tied with Little Rock Catholic and Little Rock Central for the sixth and final playoff spot. Southwest will play at Central next week.

“The guys do exactly what we ask them to, and they know that soon, the wins will come,” Patton said. “We’ve got Catholic [Friday], and it’s going to be a good game because we’re a little bit closer in talent. There’s basically three teams fighting for that playoff slot. So we’re going to go compete and see what happens.

“But I’m definitely proud of my kids.”