West Memphis stops six-game losing streak

6A-EAST WEST MEMPHIS 21, SHERIDAN 20

WEST MEMPHIS — It took a final play in the end zone, but the West Memphis Blue Devils withstood a late charge for a 21-20 victory over Sheridan in 6A-East action Friday.

Facing fourth and 5 from the West Memphis 11, the Yellowjackets tried a reverse pass from Levi Flora to David Myers, but it was broken up with 42 seconds to play to end the Blue Devils’ six-game losing streak.

In a game marred by turnovers, the Blue Devils (2-6, 1-4) shook off four of their own in the first half and cashed in on the costliest miscue of the night.

The Blue Devils’ Daniel Kelly pounced on a fumble by Sheridan quarterback C.J. Dollarhide at the Sheridan 12 with 8:26 to play in the fourth quarter.

Mardarius Warren, who scored two touchdowns, scored on the next play, running 12 yards for the go-ahead score and erase a 20-14 Sheridan advantage.

“We needed something to lift our spirits and that fumble gave our sideline some energy,” said Warren, a senior who scored on a 73-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Warren was inserted into the game after starting running back A.J. Motley suffered a knee injury in the first quarter.

“When A.J. went down I decided to step up,” Warren added. “I’ve been playing running back since my 10th-grade year, so I knew what to do.”

It could have been a disastrous first half for West Memphis, but after turning it over four times, three of which came on interceptions, it trailed only 12-7 at halftime.

But Warren burst through the Sheridan line and then past the secondary on his way for the 73-yard score to give West Memphis only its second lead in any game since the Blue Devils’ opening game.

The lead didn’t last long, though.

Dollarhide’s 14-yard touchdown with 11:15 remaining and a two-point conversion gave Sheridan (2-6, 0-5) a 20-14 lead.

After Warren’s go-ahead TD, the Yellowjackets had one more opportunity to take the lead. They gained possession on their 37 with just over four minutes to play.

Two key third-down conversions and a fourth-down conversion put Sheridan at the West Memphis 16, but a false start on second and 5 from the 11 proved costly for the visitors.

Flora’s pass into the end zone was knocked down by Brandon Peters to preserve the West Memphis win.