Late Bauxite touchdown pass stuns Malvern

BAUXITE 53,MALVERN 49

BAUXITE — Bauxite backup quarterback Hunter Davis threw to wide receiver Damon Irvin, who leaped over a defender to haul in a 26-yard touchdown with 1.6 seconds remaining that gave the Miners a 53-49 win over Malvern in a thrilling 7-4A Conference opener at The Pit.

“We took a chance when we were playing for a field goal, but it was a great pass by Hunter and Damon went up for it with one-on-one coverage and made the play,” Bauxite Coach Daryl Patton said. “It was a big win.”

Bauxite had trailed the entire game, falling behind as much as 35-18 early in the second half, but the last touchdown pass on third-and-20 put the Miners ahead for the first time. On the ensuing kickoff, Malvern lateraled the ball twice to get it in the hands of Demias Jimerson, who ran through the Miners but lost his footing at the Bauxite 37, ending the game.

“These guys don’t quit,” Patton said. “They were 0-10 last year. They were young pups and didn’t know, but they worked hard and believed everything we said as coaches. This is a gritty bunch. Malvern is a great ball team. They are going to win a lot of games and that Jimerson, I don’t want to see him again. Our kids just refused to quit. At halftime, nobody panicked and they said that they would get it done. The offense played exceptional tonight and they dug in at the end to get the win.”

Jordan Hart scored his fourth touchdown of the game to make it a 49-38 Malvern lead with 2:54 left. After Bauxite scored on quarterback Seth McDowell’s 1-yard sneak with 1:13 to go, Dawson Dabbs ran in the 2-point conversion to cut Malvern’s lead to 49-44.

An onside kickoff followed and was eventually ruled Bauxite’s ball after a five-minute deliberation by the officials after signaling Malvern’s ball. As Malvern Coach Mike Scarborough was at midfield trying to get an explanation, Emmanuel Hervey was eventually credited with recovering the onside kick for Bauxite.

“It was very controversial,” Patton said. “We had the ball and you can’t let it go on forever. Malvern was fighting and scratching for it, but we had the ball at the bottom of the pile.”

Malvern opened the game by blocking a Bauxite punt attempt, scoring six plays later on a 5-yard run from Hart for a 7-0 lead. Bauxite answered immediately when Dabbs broke free for a 64-yard touchdown to tie the game 7-7. Jimerson passed to Darion Weaver for a 43-yard gain on Malvern’s next possession and two plays later, Hart scored on a 3-yard run for a 14-7 lead.

Bauxite put together a 15play drive that resulted in a 23yard field goal from Matthew Babazanges with 10:34 to play in the second quarter to make it 14-10. Nine plays later, Hart scored on a 1-yard plunge for a 21-10 Malvern lead. Bauxite came back on Dabbs’ 35-yard touchdown run and he added the 2-point conversion to cut the Leopards lead to 21-18 with 3:40 to go before halftime.

Jimerson broke free for a 36-yard run and two plays later, he scored from 13 yards out to put Malvern ahead 28-18 by halftime. Jimerson added a 22yard touchdown run on Malvern’s first possession of the third quarter for a 35-18 lead.

Bauxite closed the gap to 35-24 on a 17-yard touchdown run from McDowell. After a Malvern punt, Dabbs broke free for a 64-yard touchdown run and Bauxite added a 2-point conversion to trail 3532 on the last play of the third quarter.

Jimerson opened the fourth period by returning Bauxite’s kick off 79 yards for a touchdown to put Malvern up 42-32. Two 15-yard penalties on Malvern allowed Bauxite to get a 7-yard touchdown run from Eason Sandage with 10:03 remaining to cut the lead to 42-38.

Dabbs led Bauxite with 242 yards on 19 carries, while Malvern was led by Jimerson with 141 yards on 14 rushes.

ASHDOWN 49, MENA 10

MENA — Detravion Green ran for three touchdowns and caught a fourth as Ashdown (4-0, 1-0 7-4A) cruised over Mena (3-1, 0-1).

LaDarrius Bishop returned a punt 61 yards for an Ashdown touchdown and Patrick Christopher caught a 99-yard pass for another Panther score.

Ashdown’s Anthony Nelson added a 52-yard touchdown reception.

ARKADELPHIA 34, NASHVILLE 24

ARKADELPHIA — Arkadelphia (4-0, 1-0 7-4A) scored the game’s final 20 points to outlast Nashville (2-2, 0-1).

The Badgers, who entered Friday’s game not allowing a point in three consecutive games, trailed 24-14 with 6:31 remaining in the third quarter. But Jack Burnham scored from 1 yard out to pull Arkadelphia within 24-21 with 4:00 left in the quarter.

Arkadelphia took a 28-24 lead with 9:40 to play on Cannon Turner’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Burnham. Turner added a 21-yard touchdown run to cap the Badgers’ scoring.

Nashville quarterback Tyler Hanson threw three touchdown passes.

1-4A SHILOH CHRISTIAN 35, BERRYVILLE 0

BERRYVILLE — The Saints cruised to a 4A-1 Conference-opening victory as Landon Brown fired four touchdown passes.

Shiloh Christian (3-1, 1-0 1-4A) was never threatened as Brown hit Blake Thompson on scoring strikes of 40 and 10 yards.

2-4A SOUTHSIDE BATESVILLE 21, STUTTGART 7

BATESVILLE — Koby Rich threw two touchdown passes to lead Southside Batesville (4-0, 1-0 2-4A) over Stuttgart (0-1, 1-3).

Daniel Barnard returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown for the Southerners first score, and Rich passed 42 yards to Dawson Blevins for another touchdown as Southside Batesville held the Ricebirds scoreless in the first half.

3-4A HARRISBURG 47, CAVE CITY 14

HARRISBURG — Clay Wright threw for over 350 yards and 6 touchdowns in Harrisburg’s (3-1, 1-0 3-4A) win over Cave City (0-4, 0-1).

Wright threw five first-half touchdowns — two to Weston Stanford, two to Gavin Casebier and one to Dylan Mathis — to put the Hornets up 35-6.

GOSNELL 41, BROOKLAND 0

GOSNELL — Junior running back Cadarius Young rushed for two touchdowns, including a 38-yard run, as Gosnell (1-3, 1-0 3-4A) defeated Brookland (3-1, 0-1).

Junior running back Devon Burks, senior fullback Zach Kibler and sophomore running back Brian Denkins also scored as part of the Pirates’ ground game.

8-4A HAMBURG 28, DEWITT 8

HAMBURG — Junior Andravyon Forrest caught two touchdown passes and ran for another score for Hamburg (2-2, 1-0) in a comeback victory over DeWitt (1-3, 0-1).

Forrest accounted for a combined 163 yards in offense for the Lions, who were down 8-7 at halftime.

WARREN 44, CROSSETT 6

WARREN — Keemontrae McKnight started Warren (3-1, 1-0 8-4A) off with a 10-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, added a 4-yard scoring dash before halftime then finished it off for the Lumberjacks with a 45-yard touchdown sprint in the fourth quarter to lead Warren over Crossett (0-4, 0-1).

1-3A MELBOURNE 31, MOUNTAIN VIEW 14

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Stone Runyan returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown as Melbourne (4-0, 1-0 1-3A) beat Mountain View (0-4, 0-1). Silas Motes added another touchdown for the Bearkatz.

CLINTON 31, GREENLAND 6

CLINTON — Sophomore quarterback Weston Amos rushed for two touchdowns and passed for a third to lead Clinton (4-0, 1-0) over Greenland (3-1, 0-1).

Senior Nate Lonnon added 60 yards rushing and one score for the Yellowjackets, who piled up 275 yards in offense.

2-3A BALD KNOB 14, HARDING ACADEMY 13

SEARCY — Bald Knob (2-2, 1-0 2-3A) quarterback Clayton Collins threw a 70yard touchdown pass to Blain Willard in the third quarter and the Bulldogs hung on against Harding Academy (2-2, 1-0).

Harding Academy had a final opportunity to score again late in the game, moving the ball from its 25 to the 8-yard line before penalties pushed the Wildcats to Bald Knob’s 30, but the Wildcats had three incomplete passes to end the game.

Bald Knob had a 23-yard touchdown run by Collins for the first score.

MAYFLOWER 55, BARTON 36

MAYFLOWER — Deon Simmons ran for 352 yards and 6 touchdowns on 31 carries to lead Mayflower (4-0, 1-0 2-3A) over Barton (3-1, 0-1).

Keon Simmons rushed for another touchdown on 7 carries for 82 yards and added an interception. Sean Harris was 11-for-16 passing for 66 yards and a touchdown.

Bradley Smith accounted for three touchdowns for Barton.

3-3A OSCEOLA 26, PIGGOTT 0

PIGGOTT — Derrell Brown rushed for one score and caught another as Osceola (3-1, 1-0 3-3A) scored in each quarter to down Piggott (3-1, 0-1).

Brown opened the scoring on a 1-yard run and Taylor Gavin ran for a 73-yard touchdown in the second quarter to give Osceola a 13-0.

Robert White added a 63-yard scoring run in the third quarter and quarterback D.J. Flie threw a 17 yard pass to Brown with 8:54 left in the game.

HOXIE 28, NEWPORT 7

HOXIE — Chandler Spradlin threw an 81-yard touchdown pass and ran in from 2 yards, leading Hoxie (2-2, 1-0) over Newport (3-1, 0-1).

Newport opened the scoring on a 2-yard run by Tyler Johnson with 2:10 left in the first quarter, but Hoxie responded in the second when Spradlin tossed his 81-yard pass to Lucky Fallis.

Spradlin added a 2-yard run late in the second and Hoxie led 15-7 at halftime.

5-3A PRESCOTT 53, CENTERPOINT 0

PRESCOTT — Thomas Muldrew touched the ball just three times, but scored each time as Prescott (4-0, 1-0 5-3A) shut out Centerpoint (3-1, 0-1).

Muldrew sprinted 12 yards and 2 yards for a pair of first-quarter touchdowns, then passed 65 yards to Cameron Cox for a third touchdown before halftime.

6-3A JUNCTION CITY 64, MCGEHEE 38

JUNCTION CITY — Hishmma Taylor rushed for 262 yards on 24 carries for 4 touchdowns in Junction City’s (4-0, 1-0 6-3A) win over McGehee (2-2, 0-1).

Shuvasceiaye Frazier added two touchdown passes for the Dragons and ended the game 5-for-10 passing for 130 yards and another 109 yards rushing.

3-2A EARLE 46, SALEM 6

SALEM — Anthony White scored there times, including a 92-yard interception return, and Earle (3-1, 1-0 3-2A) dominated Salem (2-2, 0-1).

Earle took a 16-0 lead at halftime on an 18-yard pass from Gerry Bohanon to Alex Coleman and on White’s first score, a 7-yard run.

5-2A CONWAY CHRISTIAN 55, POYEN 26

POYEN — Junior quarterback Jacob Wood rushed for 308 yards and 4 touchdowns to lead Conway Christian (4-0, 1-0 5-2A) over Poyen (0-4, 0-1).

Wood also threw a 21-yard scoring pass to junior wide receiver Jesse Dather.

Wyatt Lawrence added two more touchdown runs as the Eagles compiled 515 yards rushing.

4-2A DANVILLE 41, WESTERN YELL COUNTY 19

DANVILLE — Junior Quentin Tolbert carried 13 times for 106 yards and 4 touchdowns to help lead Danville (41, 3-0 4-2A) past Western Yell County (1-2, 0-2).

Junior quarterback Preston Donnel rushed for one score and passed for another to help pace the Little Johns.

6-2A HAZEN 36, MCCRORY 28 (2OT)

McCRORY — Tarrall Penn’s 5-yard touchdown run in double overtime lifted Hazen (2-2, 2-0 6-2A) over McCrory (2-1, 3-1).

The score was Penn’s second touchdown of the game. Ay’Jon Green also scored two touchdowns for the Hornets and Jacob Weems added another.

8-2A RISON 54, BEARDEN 14

RISON — Junior Malik Davis rushed for a touchdown and returned an interception 75 yards for another score as Rison (4-0, 1-0 8-2A) rolled past Bearden (2-2, 0-1).