Foreman falls to Mineral Springs

MINERAL SPRINGS, Ark.—No. 1 goes down. The Foreman Gators, Class 2A’s top-ranked team in the state, were upset by the Mineral Springs Hornets, 14-13, in a District 7-2A game Friday night at Hornet Stadium.

The Gators (7-1) had a potential game-winning 36-yard field goal attempt with 28 seconds left in the game that was blocked.

Foreman got a huge break when a poor snap on a Mineral Springs’ punt attempt resulted in a blocked kick with the Gators recovering at the Hornets’ 16-yard line.

Three plays later resulted in a loss of 3 yards, which set up the failed field-goal attempt.

In an expected high-scoring game, it turned into a defensive struggle in a game played in rain throughout the contest.

Mineral Springs (6-2) scored its winning touchdown in the third quarter on a 51-yard run by Cameren Lee with 4:11 left in the period.

Although Mineral Springs recovered three Foreman fumbles in the first half, the Hornets were only able to score one touchdown.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Hornets recovered a Foreman fumble at the Gators’ 14-yard line early in the second quarter.

A 13-yard run by Tahji Beal set up Ladarrius Hicks 1-yard touchdown run.

Foreman tied the game, 7-7, after a 7-play, 62-yard drive. Backup quarterback Isaac Carver scored on a 2-yard run.

Starting quarterback Kyren Batey was injured three plays earlier. Batey did return in the second half.

Foreman put together a long 63-yard drive on its first possession of the third quarter.

A 31-yard pass from Batey to Chase Boyd put the Gators at the 11-yard line. It was the first pass of the contest for Foreman.

On the next play, Batey ran it in from there to put the Gators on top, 13-7. The extra-point kick failed, leaving the score, 13-7, with 7:14 left in the third.

After the ensuing kickoff, Mineral Springs started at its 36-yard line.

On the fifth play, Lee broke around the right side of the Hornets line, and went down the sideline for the 51-yard touchdown with 4:11 left in the third. Hicks booted the winning extra-point kick.

Foreman put together a long drive from its 16-yard line to the Hornets’ 26-yard line in the fourth quarter. On a fourth-and-4, the Hornets defense tossed Batey for a 2-yard loss with 3:12 left in the contest.

Beal paced the Hornets’ running attack with 92 yards on 18 attempts, and Lee had 80 yards on nine carries.