Hornets’ QB accounts for three TDs
Maumelle junior quarterback Weston Pierce threw for two touchdowns and scored on a keeper with 1:26 remaining to propel the Hornets to a 31-21 season-opening victory over Sylvan Hills on Thursday night at Bill Blackwood Field in Sherwood.
Wide receiver Cayden McGee was on the receiving end of both of Pierce’s scoring passes, catching a 20-yard TD pass in the first quarter and a 41-yarder in the second quarter.
Trailing 21-14 at the start of the second half, Maumelle (1-0) got a break when Jesse Knight picked up a fumble and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown.
It was one of five forced fumbles the Hornets caused.
“Our defense played lights out tonight,” said Maumelle Coach Kirk Horton, whose team also intercepted a pass. “That scoop-and-score right after the half was great.”
The last Sylvan Hills turnover came with 3:24 to play and set the Hornets on the Bears’ 28 as Pierce capped the scoring drive to seal the victory.
The Hornets ran the ball seven times during a 10-play drive to open the game, but it was Pierce and McGee who put the points on the board with 7:53 left in the first quarter.
Sylvan Hills (0-1) tied the game on Jahaun Smith’s 41yard run and then took a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter on a 54-yard run by Smith.
Maumelle tied the game at 14-14 on the second connection between Pierce and McGee.
Sylvan Hills took a 21-14 lead into halftime when Dylan Harris scored on a 6-yard run that was set up by his interception of a Pierce pass.
After Knight’s scoop and score, John Bruchhagen gave Maumelle a 24-21 lead with a 24-yard field goal.
“We’ve got to be more balanced,” Horton said. “We were able to run the ball but our passing was on in the first half, but not so much in the second half. I think were were one-dimensional in the first half, but I think we are going to be all right. When you have a line this big, you’ve got to be able to run the ball.”
FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE 31, FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE 16
FORT SMITH — Once Fort Smith Northside’s powerful running game got cranked up, the Grizzlies rolled.
Northside (1-0) pounded out 296 yards on the ground behind a trio of runners in its victory over rival Southside (0-1).
The win marked six consecutive victories for the Grizzlies over Southside and bumped Northside’s advantage to 34-25-2 in the all-time series.
“It’s six,” Northside Coach Mike Falleur said. “And, we’re proud of it.”
HOT SPRINGS 52, FOUNTAIN LAKE 7
HOT SPRINGS — Hot Springs overcame 160 yards of penalties to rout in the Garland County Kickoff Classic at Allen Tillery Field.
The Trojans (1-0) finished with 19 penalties on the night, most of them in the first half as they took a 26-7 lead into the break.
Fountain Lake (0-1) lost most of their running backs in the first half, and with just 21 players suiting up for the rivalry game, the Cobras could not afford to lose the majority of their offensive players.
Perry Jones led the Hot Springs ground assault with two touchdowns, but Johnathon Walker put the final nail in the coffin as he broke free for a 78yard touchdown, despite finishing with just 77 yards.
Quarterback Isaac Shelor was 15 for 27 for 236 yards and 2 scores, both to T.J. Broughton who finished with 7 catches for 164 yards, including a 47yard scoring catch.
Kadin Hilton picked up the only points for the Cobras, a 43-yard reception from quarterback Wesley Campbell. Hilton had 3 catches for 56 yards, and Campbell was 4-for-26 passing for 60 yards.
Steven DeArmon had nine rushes for the Cobras for 36 yards.