Neaville leads late rally for Searcy
SEARCY 28, WEST MEMPHIS 27
SEARCY — Quarterback Andrew Neaville scored a 1-yard touchdown with 3:23 to play in the fourth quarter and teammate Kolten Howe kicked the winning point as Searcy rallied for a 28-27 victory over West Memphis.
Down 27-21 after Neaville threw his third interception of the second half, the Lions (41, 2-0 7A/6A-East) turned to their senior quarterback and running back Luke Dixon on a final drive that covered 72 yards on 14 plays for the eventual winning scores.
During the drive, Dixon covered 32 yards, including a crucial 19-yarder that put the Lions at the West Memphis 5. Two plays later Neaville sneaked in for the touchdown.
West Memphis (3-2, 1-1) marched to the Searcy 15, but the drive broke down on second and 3 when junior Martavous Thomas hauled in a pass from quarterback Kylin Whiting and couldn’t get out of bounds before the clock ran out.
Searcy Coach Mark Kelley said he felt his team was fortunate to survive three second-half turnovers.
“We escaped with a win, and I emphasize escape,” said Kelley. “You turn it over three times like that you start thinking maybe this isn’t your night.”
Searcy rushed out to a 14-0 lead on two touchdowns by Dixon, one of which was on the ground and the other a 10-yard pass from Neaville, who was 15 of 31 passing for 202 yards.
Searcy held a 21-14 halftime lead despite giving up 106 yards rushing on 8 carries to Thomas.
The Blue Devils tied the game 21-21 on a 64-yard touchdown by junior Jonathan Craig with 6:55 to play in the third quarter and they took a brief 27-21 lead on a 9-yard touchdown by Devontae Dean with 10:56 to play in the fourth quarter.
After West Memphis’ Jerry Edwards intercepted a Neaville pass, the Blue Devils had an opportunity to widen their margin, but came up short on fourth and 1 from the Searcy 28, giving Neaville plenty of time to lead his offense for the game-tying touchdown.
“We really had to have [Neaville and Dixon] on that last drive, and they stepped up and made the big plays,” Kelley added.
JONESBORO 51, LR CENTRAL 27
JONESBORO — Princeton Pitts rushed for 153 yards and four touchdowns to lead Jonesboro (4-1, 2-0) to a 7A/6A East victory over Little Rock Central (1-4, 1-1).
Jonesboro also scored on a fake punt in the third quarter to take a 35-point lead.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK 62, MOUNTAIN HOME 6
MOUNTAIN HOME — Alex Day ran for three touchdowns to lead North Little Rock (1-4, 1-1) to a 7A/6A-East Conference victory over Mountain Home (1-4, 0-2).
North Little Rock ran up a 41-6 halftime lead.
Corvesea Cooney’s 1-yard quarterback sneak and Savannah Melton’s extra point gave the Charging Wildcats a 7-0 lead. Day’s first touchdown came on a 50yard run for a 14-0 first quarter lead after Melton’s kick.
Touchdown passes of 32 yards by Cooney and 34 yards from Trey Cox both went to Kyleal Lewis. After Garrett Larson’s interception, Day scored on a 13-yard run. Cox completed a 25-yard touchdown pass for a 41-6 halftime lead. Melton was good on three of the four second-quarter extra-point attempts.
Day rushed for 48 yards for his third touchdown and Wynton Ruth’s 4-yard touchdown run, both in the third quarter, put North Little Rock ahead 55-6. Melton was good on both extra points.
North Little Rock scored its final touchdown on Marcus Christopher’s 11-yard run in the fourth quarter. Melton converted her eighth extra point after the score.
7A-WEST ROGERS 28, ROGERS HERITAGE 6
ROGERS — Rogers (1-4, 1-1) ran for 306 yards as it wore down crosstown-rival Rogers Heritage (0-5, 0-2) in a 7A-West Conference game at Whitey Smith Stadium.
Milacio Freeland carried 11 times for 98 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown run, to lead Rogers. Grayson Lee added 75 yards on 8 carries and Joseph Sultemeier had 55 yards and 2 touchdowns, both from a yard out, on 17 carries.