Camden HG duo dominates
CAMDEN HARMONY GROVE 40, HAZEN 14
CAMDEN — Two touchdowns each from Xaylon Falls and Jace Garcia carried Camden Harmony Grove to a 4014 victory over Hazen and a spot in the Class 2A semifinals against Mount Ida in Camden on Friday.
Garcia scored on Harmony Grove’s first possession of the second quarter, then added a second score on the first possession of the second half. Falls scored on a 53-yard run late in the second quarter, then added another on the team’s first possession of the fourth quarter on a 34-yard run.
After eliminating Magnet Cove last week, Hazen Coach Joe Besancon said his biggest concern was Harmony Grove’s speed.
“That’s kind of been our advantage all year,” Harmony Grove Coach Tony Chambers said. “Their size worried me. The running backs are big, the quarterback’s huge. They are all sophomores, so I’m glad we are leaving 2A.”
Starting at its 45 after recovering an onside kick, Harmony Grove picked up four first downs without going to third down. Garcia scored from the 4 on a second down. The kick failed and Harmony Grove was up 20-0
On the second possession by Harmony Grove (9-3) in the third quarter, Garcia caught a 42-yard pass from Gannon Bearden that gave them a first and goal at the 2.
On the play, Garcia suffered a hyperextended left knee. Chambers held him out for precautionary reasons the rest of the way.
After Falls lost 3 yards on first down, Bearden got the score on the next play, going over from the 5 for a 27-0 lead with 5:41 left in the quarter.
Hazen (9-3) got its offense going on the next possession, riding running backs Ay’Jon Green and Tarrell Penn to a first and goal at the 2. Blayne Toll was stopped for a 1-yard gain on first down, then backup quarterback Jacob Weems scored on the next play. Penn scored the two-point conversion with 1:08 left in the quarter, and Harmony Grove had a 27-8 lead.
Hazen tried an onside kick, but it was touched by Hazen before the ball went 10 yards, giving Harmony Grove a first down at the Hazen 49. A holding penalty and a 3-yard gain by Bearden put the ball at the Harmony Grove 44.
Garcia’s replacement, freshman Jeremie Edwards, hauled in a pass from Bearden on the next play and outran the Hazen defense for the touchdown and a 33-8 lead.
Harmony Grove scored again with 10:21 remaining in the game on Falls’ second touchdown.
EARLE 50, SALEM 31
EARLE — Gerry Bohanon threw three touchdown passes as Earle (10-1) defeated Salem (6-6).
Anthony White scored three rushing touchdowns. He had scoring runs of 63, 78 and 18 yards.
Trevon Reel added a touchdown run for the Bulldogs, the No. 1 seed from the 3-2A Conference.
FOREMAN 51, DANVILLE 6
DANVILLE — Kyren Batey ran 18 times for 280 yards and 4 touchdowns to lift Foreman (11-1) over Danville (92) into next week’s Class 2A semifinals.
The Little Johns scored first on Trent Cathey’s 1-yard touchdown run with 9:18 left in the first quarter for a 6-0 lead.
But Foreman ran off the next 31 points to take a 31-6 halftime lead. Batey started things with a 2-yard touchdown run followed by a 29-yard field goal by Sam Gamble to give the Gators a 10-0 lead after the first quarter.
Batey’s 47-yard touchdown run was followed by C.J. Green’s 24-yard pass to Chance Gross for a 24-6 lead with 2:49 left in the second quarter. Batey closed the half with a 49-yard scoring run with 50 seconds remaining.
The Gators then added 92-yard touchdown run by Batey with 3:52 left in the third quarter.
Corey Lovewell scored on a 19-yard run with 10:22 left in the fourth quarter to make it 45-6 before Isaac Carver set the final margin on a 4-yard scoring run at the 8:07 remaining.
MOUNT IDA 34, CONWAY CHRISTIAN 28
MOUNT IDA — Jonathan Lagrange’s 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter provided the winning margin as Mount Ida (13-0) downed Conway Christian (11-2) to set up a Class 2A semifinal showdown at Camden Harmony Grove.
The Lions led 21-14 at halftime and increased the lead to 28-14 on a 62-yard touchdown run by Cade Jackson early in the third quarter.
The Eagles stormed back behind quarterback Jacob Wood, who scored on a 6-yard run and threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Jesse Drather to tie the game at 28-28 entering the fourth quarter.
After Conway Christian turned the ball over on downs, Mount Ida used six plays for Lagrange’s eventual game-winner.
The Lions got 110 yards on the ground from quarterback Ridge Gibbs and 86 more from Lagrange as they rushed for 317 yards as a team.
Wood led Conway Christian’s offensive attack by completing 25 of 41 passes for 368 yards and 2 touchdowns. Luke Gates led the Eagles with 53 yards rushing on 16 carries.