Mena runs over Hot Springs
Mena’s ground game gashed Hot Springs for 393 yards Friday night in a 29-18 Bearcat victory at Reese Memorial Stadium.
Two Bearcat seniors triggered the team’s 419-yard attack, quarterback Carson Cannon running for
156 yards and Justin Dean for 151. Dean, scoring three touchdowns, averaged 17.3 yards per carry.
Still, Hot Springs had its moments, scoring on its first possession and retaking the lead when Kenny Byrd’s 18-yard run made it
18-16 with 7:52 left in the game. Dean scored on runs of 16 and 20 yards in the last 4:51, sealing Mena’s second early-season victory over a
5A-South team.
Mena’s final touchdown came after Hot Springs botched a double reverse on fourth down deep in its territory. Such miscues were emblematic of the Trojans’ performance in their home opener, prompting Hot Springs coach Chris Vereen to say, “We’ve got to prepare for the other team, but we’ve got to fix us.”
Mena, as against De Queen in Week 1, got big plays all night from Dean, whose 13-yard touchdown run before halftime helpd the Bearcats lead 16-12 at the break.
“He’s something else,” coach Tim Harper said. “When he makes his mind up, it’s definitely gonna take a game to tackle him.”
Hot Springs led 6-0 and 12-8 in the first half but missed conversions after Byrd’s eight-yard run with 8:44 left in the first quarter and Damien Walker’s 17-yard scamper with 4:39 left in the half.
The Trojans finished with 239 yards, Coby Wallace with 12 carries for 89 yards, but were erratic through the air. Though the completion went for 64 yards to Joseph Westbrook, Aaron Williams was one of nine passing and had two intercepted.
Looking ahead to Friday’s game at Arkadelphia, Vereen saw areas for improvement for his 0-2 squad — among them running pass routes, preparing for blitzes and sharpening the run defense.
“It’s just missed cues on our part,” he said. Mena 8 8 0 13 — 29 Hot Springs 6 6 0 6 — 18 First quarter HS — Kenny Byrd 8 run (conversion failed), 8:44.
M —Carson Cannon 2 run (Cannon 2-point conversion), 1:37. Second quarter HS — Damien Walker 17 run (conversion failed), 4:39.
M — Justin Dean 13 run (Cannon 2-point conversion), 1:39. Fourth quarter HS — Byrd 18 run (conversion failed), 7:52. M — Justin Dean 16 run (conversion failed), 4:51.