Cardinals work past Wildcats

PINE BLUFF — Camden Fairview won a share of its fifth consecutive conference championship Friday night, as the Cardinals pulled away in the second half to beat the Watson Chapel Wildcats 2814.

Camden Fairview (9-1, 6-1) finishes tied for the 5-A South championship with Hope, which defeated Magnolia 41-0, but Camden Fairview enters the Class 5A playoffs as the No. 2 seed after losing to Hope earlier in the season.

Watson Chapel (5-4, 5-2) would have emerged as the No. 1 seed if it had defeated Camden Fairview because it beat Hope earlier.

But Camden Fairview jumped out to a 14-0 lead on two 1-yard sneaks by quarterback Matthew Ollison, and despite blowing the lead, the Cardinals had enough when it counted.

Watson Chapel closed to 14-2 after a sack of Ollison for a safety with 1:52 to play in the first half. The Wildcats took advantage of a short free kick and scored when Devonte Battles ran in from 10 yards out with seven seconds remaining to make it 14-8 at the half.

Watson Chapel tied the game 14-14 early in the third quarter, taking the half’s first possession and scoring on Josh Harris’ 7-yard touchdown run. Watson Chapel’s two-point attempt failed.

Camden Fairview took the lead for good with 11:11 remaining to play on Cornelius Page’s 12-yard touchdown run.