Harrison quarterback makes White Hall pay

HARRISON 49, WHITE HALL 7

HARRISON — White Hall was so focused on Gabe Huskey, and Ben Johnson could see the windows of opportunity Friday night.

Harrison’s junior quarterback seized the moment as he ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more and led the Goblins to a 49-7 victory to start the Class 5A state playoffs at F.S. Garrison Stadium.

The win gives Harrison (11-0) another home game as the Goblins host Wynne, a 10-6 winner over Camden Fairview, in next week’s quarterfinal round.

“People think we’re a oneman show, and we’re not,” Harrison coach Joel Wells said. “We have some other guys that can hurt you. When they tried to take Gabe away, Ben did a great job.

“He was very efficient in the passing game and with his legs. He’s quick and can run the football very well. He’s gotten a lot stronger than a year ago and has had some big games running the ball.”

Johnson’s efficiency came through in the second quarter as he helped the Goblins turn a 7-0 lead into a 28-7 cushion by halftime. One play after his 6-yard run on a fourth-down play kept a drive alive, he hit Rilee Johnson with an 11-yard touchdown pass to give Harrison a 14-0 lead with 10 minutes, 32 seconds left in the first half.

Johnson then relied on his legs for the other two scores. He capped Harrison’s next possession with a dive into the end zone to cap a 5-yard touchdown run; then, he scored on a 33-yard run as he broke through a White Hall defense that momentarily had 12 men on the field.

“It was more of a team thing,” Johnson said. “The coaches schemed it up really well. It was more of a read,

and they were all taking Gabe because he’s so good. I was just able to pull it back and get some yards and a couple of scores.

“That long run was mainly stumbling, but I was able to get it in there. There was some good blocking on the O-line, too.”

Johnson only threw two passes in the first half, but he had to throw a little more after Harrison’s offense stumbled on its first possessions of the second half. His 29-yard pass to Huskey set up the next play as he hit Colton Shaver with a 36-yard touchdown pass and made it a 35-7 game.

Huskey, who scored Harrison’s first touchdown on a 34-yard run in the first quarter and finished with 142 yards on 23 carries, scored on a 9-yard run two plays into the second half and started the running clock.

“They really loaded it up, so we had to open up the game and throw a little more,” Wells said. “They had a bunch of guys in the box, and that allowed us to hit a couple of big pass plays.”

White Hall (5-5) picked up its only score with seconds remaining in the first half as Deshawn Buckner scored on a 1-yard run. The Bulldogs took their opening possession from their 20 to the Harrison 17 before a holding penalty and a fumble ended the drive as Harrison’s Thailer Lovell recovered the loose ball.