Panthers pound way past Grizzlies

CABOT 40, FORT SMITH NORTHSIDE 14

FORT SMITH — When the game was on the line, Cabot just kept converting third downs to keep drives alive.

The Panthers rushed for 367 yards, pulling away in the second half to whip Fort Smith Northside 40-14 in a 7A-Central game at Mayo-Thompson Stadium Friday night.

With Fort Smith Southside’s win over Little Rock Central, Cabot (5-4, 3-3) has clinched the 7A-Central’s fourth seed and a first-round home game. The Panthers host unbeaten North Little Rock next week.

“We’re locked in and I’m happy for our kids,” Cabot coach Mike Malham.

Northside (2-7, 1-5) must win at Southside next week to clinch a playoff berth.

The Grizzlies got within 19-14 with 4 minutes, 57 seconds left in the third quartrer on a 15-yard pass from Derrick Wise to James Clayton.

The Panthers, though, responded with a nine-play, 61-yard drive, capped by Adam Flores 8-yard run with 48 seconds left in the third quarter for a 26-14 lead.

The drive, Malham said, re-established strategic control of the game. Cabot converted two third downs. In fact, Cabot converted its last seven third downs in the second half and was 9-of-14 for the game and a perfect 3-for-3 in fourth-down conversions.

“We needed that scoring drive,” Malham said. “We came out in the second half (leading 19-14) and wanted to score early and get a nail in the coffin. Instead, they stop us and they score to get back in it.”

After that, the Panther defense rose up, stopping a Grizzly fourth-down play at the start of the fourth quarter and intercepting a pass with 4:19 left. Northside only ran five offensive plays in the final period.

While Cabot offense controlled the ball and the clock, the Panther defense limited Northside to just 203 total yards (154 rushing, 49 passing).

Cabot marched 55 yards in 11 plays to put the game away on Bradley Morales’ 9-yard run with 4:39 left for a 33-14 lead. After the interception, reserve back Graham Thomas added a 1-yard run with 26 seconds left to set the final score.

The Panthers had five rushers with at least 50 yards or more on the ground, led by T.J. Rogers with 108 yards rushing and two touchdowns.