Batesville scores final 21 points to subdue Nettleton

JONESBORO — Batesville’s running game left its cleat marks on Nettleton in the 5A-East opener for both teams Friday night at Nettleton.

Batesville (2-2, 1-0) outgained Nettleton 364-210, including a 262-42 advantage on the ground, and pulled away to a 31-10 victory.

Senior Louis Sonner rushed 7 times for 94 yards and 1 touchdown to lead the Pioneers. Junior quarterback Zach Griffin rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown while completing 4 of 6 passes for 71 yards and 1 touchdown The Pioneers had 11 players touch the ball offensively.

Nettleton gained 168 of its yards passing as quarterback Deondre Henry who completed 13 of 21 passes, including a 63-yard touchdown pass from Henry to Jayron Northern, who caught 6 passes for 124 yards.

“We had our chances in the first half, but we made some critical mistakes,” Nettleton Coach Steve Hampton said.

Nettleton senior running back Joe Frazier missed his second consecutive time with an injury.

Nettleton (2-2, 0-1) led once, 3-0, after taking the opening kickoff and driving 78 yards in 16 plays before settling for a 22-yard field goal by junior kicker Ciarian Dooley with 5:07 to play in the first quarter.

Henry completed all six pass attempts on the drive, and the offense converted two key third downs and one fourthdown situation before stopping at the Batesville 5.

Batesville took advantage of a Nettleton fumble and interception to take a 10-7 lead with 4:14 left in the first half on a 27-yard field goal from senior Ricardo Terreaux and a 33-yard halfback pass from junior Kylan Robinson to senior Preston Thomas.

The Raiders tied the game 10-10 with just over two minutes to play in the first half when Henry found Northern open deep down the middle for the 63-yard touchdown.

Batesville took a 17-10 halftime lead when Zach Griffin’s 9-yard quarterback keeper concluded a 60-yard drive with 51.7 to play in the second quarter.

Nettleton outgained Batesville 195-144 in the first half, but the second half was all Batesville.

Sonnier’s 66-yard run up the middle put Batesville in front 24-10 with just over eight minutes to go in the third quarter.

Griffin added a 32-yard scoring pass to junior Kylan Robinson early in the fourth quarter to extend the Batesville lead to 31-10.