Scrappers rout Leopards in 63-7 victory

NASHVILLE, Ark.—Thank goodness for the mercy rule.

The mercy rule is a running clock after a team leads by 35 points or more that went into effect Friday evening in the Nashville-De Queen contest at Scrapper Stadium.

The Nashville Scrappers turned the game into a rout when it exploded for four touchdowns in the second quarter for a 42-7 lead, and went on to a 63-7 victory over the Leopards.

Nashville broke on top, 22-0, in the first quarter before De Queen scored its only touchdown.

The Scrappers scored on their first possession, marching 80 yards on just nine plays with Ty Gordon scoring on a one-yard run.

Four minutes later, Keshawn Stewart broke loose on a 46-yard scamper to put Nashville ahead, 14-0.

Nashville surprised De Queen with an onsides kick recovered by the Scrappers at the Nashville 48. On the first play, Carmillias Morrison went the 48 yards for a touchdown. Gordon ran for a 2-point conversion for a 22-0 advantage.

The Leopards didn’t waste any time for its score. After taking the kickoff to the 30-yard line, Isaiah Williamson found a wideopen Hayden Harp for a 70-yard touchdown completion.

Nashville took advantage of two fumbles and an interception for three of its four touchdowns in the second period.

Nashville (2-0) increased its lead, 29-7, on a 38-yard pass from Tristen Jamison to Devay Ragland.

An interception by Davonte Witherspoon put the Scappers in business at the De Queen 40. But the short drive ended inside the five-yard line.

However, Isaac Johnson recovered a quarterback fumble at the three-yard line where Stewart scored from three yards out, making the score, 36-7.

Morrison scored his second touchdown on a 35-yard run, and Jacobe Jefferson closed out the first-half scoring on a 6-yard run for a 49-7 advantage.

With a running clock the number of possessions was limited, but Nashville was able to put two more touchdowns on the scoreboard.

Jefferson scored his second touchdown on a 23-yard run in the third quarter, and Quincey Garland scored on a 30-yard run in the final seconds of the contest, just before it started raining and lightning strikes in the area.

Stewart led a Scrappers’ 324yard rushing attack with 117 yards, and Morrison had 94 yards.

The Nashville defense had a big game with three fumble recoveries and a interception, and limited De Queen to just eight yards rushing.