Cubs deny junior Trojans late
Hot Springs started strong in the first half of Thursday’s game against Magnolia, but the Cubs got the edge on the junior Trojans in the second half to finish with a 20-16 victory at Tommy J. Holt Field at Joe C. Reese Stadium.
“They played their guts out,” Hot Springs junior high head coach Justin McArthur said. “That’s the way this team’s been all year. Even ones we’ve lost, every loss we’ve had has been between one play of winning or losing the game, and that’s why I really don’t worry about this team down the road is because they’re gonna fight, they’re gonna show up, they’re gonna persevere and do what they’re supposed to do.”
Akeem Dorsey and Derrick Hicks combined to set up 23-yard pass from quarterback Jacob Wisener to Hicks with 5:35 left in the first quarter. Hicks was successful the conversion play to put the junior Trojans in the lead, 8-0.
A penalty moved the Cubs back to the 41-yard line on their first possession, but they picked up three first downs, paving the way for Garrion Curry to find the end zone. The PAT left the Cubs behind by one.
With 3:40 left on the clock in the second frame, Dorsey executed a five-play drive to punch it in on a 17-yard run, and the conversion propelled Hot Springs to a 16-7 lead.
“He transferred in last year, and he’s a great kid,” McArthur said of Dorsey. “He’s got an infectious personality. He loves football, loves to play the game, and he’s one of those kids you want to be around. He’s just one to put everybody in a good mood. He loves it with all his heart, and he’s a great kid to coach.”
Hot Springs recovered a Magnolia fumble to regain possession, but Drew Mickey picked off Wisener’s pass. Magnolia took advantage of the interception as Jase Carter moved the ball to the
7-yard line in four plays, carrying it in to score with 3:55 left until the fourth, pulling the junior Cubs within 16-14.
“I thought offensively, we came out those first two drives and executed, scored, got both 2-point conversions,” McArthur said. “Got a big stop on defense — went into the half with a 9-point lead, which means they had to score twice to beat us, or we had to put it in the end zone at least once, and we would’ve put the game away. We just didn’t do it. No fault to the kids. The kids did an outstanding job.”
Magnolia was able to find the end zone once more with 2:11 in the game as the quarterback spotted running back Jacob Hebert on a short pass, and Hebert took off on an 18-yard run. The
2-point conversion was denied to set the final score.
The junior Trojans travel next Thursday to face off against Texarkana.
“Knowing this team like I do, I know we’re gonna go down there and give ‘em our best shot,” said McArthur.