Wildcats attack early in 42-14 win over Troy
Watson Chapel scored a touchdown in all three phases of the game before Hot Springs found the end zone Friday night at Reese Memorial Stadium.
For the second week in a row, a Trojan opponent scored in the opening minute. Watson Chapel, like Arkadelphia the previous week in a 41-3 rout, used an early touchdown as a send-off to a 42-14 win in the conference opener for both teams.
Setting the tone quickly, the Wildcats scored in five plays after Scott Taylor recovered a game-opening onside kick. Quarterback Jakobi Jackson found Jaquan Dorsey for 26 yards on third down before Davion White carried 14 yards for a touchdown, Taylor’s extra point making it 7-0 with 52 seconds off the clock.
Hot Springs drove to Watson Chapel’s 16 before fumbling, then forced a punt that Brandon Moye returned 44 yards for a touchdown. It was 21-0 just 14 seconds into the second quarter after Watson Chapel safety Michael Williams returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown.
“We are making some bad mistakes and, unfortunately, once the momentum starts, it kind of snowballs on us,” said Hot Springs coach Chris Vereen.
Jackson threw touchdown passes of 51 yards and 2 yards to Jalyn Williams, setting the halftime score at 35-0. Jackson finished the first half 8-for-12 for 136 yards and ran four times for 35 yards.
“I guess it was accurate,” Vereen said. “Once again, we are kind of young in a lot of positions, two positions in particular you don’t want to be young at.”
White had 63 yards on seven carries and a 12-yard reception. Dorsey finished the half and the game with three catches for 65 yards. The Wildcats had 239 yards in the first two quarters.
The clock ran for the entire second half. Omar Allen’s early third-quarter 58-yard touchdown run was called back for holding, one of several long plays for Watson Chapel negated by penalties. Devontre Curry saw his 84yard touchdown reception called back in the first half.
Hot Springs intercepted two Jackson passes in the third quarter, but a fumble on one return placed Watson Chapel on the one, where Allen went over and after which Taylor kicked it to 42-0.
Running back Trayvon Gordon put the Trojans on the scoreboard with a 47-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter against Watson Chapel’s firstteam defense. Erick Guadron converted the point after. Vereen said Chapel had issues the week before with cramps in the second half.
“That’s one thing I will say is we have not had that issue,” Vereen said. “We feel like our guys are in good condition. I think that is one of the reasons we were able to move it a little bit in the second half.”
Gordon ran seven times for 89 yards in the second half, setting up the Trojans on the one-yard line late in the fourth quarter. Wasson scored on the next play and finished the game with 13 carries for 52 yards. Guadron made the extra point to set the final score.
“About the only two bright spots are, one, our kicker and I thought … Gordon did a really good job at running back there late in the game getting some things going and getting us in the end zone,” Vereen said.
“But we’ve got to get better. We can sit here and sugarcoat it and talk about all kinds of things, this, that and the other and make excuses. The bottom line is we’ve got to get better.”
Watson Chapel finished with 253 yards (only 14 in the second half).
Hot Springs had 222 yards. Kenneth Byrd ran 7 times for 23 yards, Chris Stewart nine times for 30 yards and Coby Wallace seven times for 39 yards.
“You could bring the Dallas Cowboys to town or you could bring a third- and fourth-grade team, we’ve got to fix ourselves,” Vereen said. “We are worried about the Hot Springs Trojans and not so much of who we are playing because, right now, if we had six guns and a bullet, it’s like we’re reloading it to shoot ourselves.
“We’ve got to quick making so many mistakes, be in the right spot and do what we are supposed to be doing. Once again this week, we are going back to work on us and try to fix us.”
Hot Springs goes to Hope Friday night, both teams 0-4 after losing 5A-South openers. The Bobcats have been outscored 171-66 by Nashville, Ashdown, Prescott and De Queen.