Miners hold off Cobras in close win
BAUXITE 23, FOUNTAIN LAKE 21
BAUXITE — The Bauxite Miners had an entertaining home clash with Fountain Lake Friday at The Pit on homecoming.
In a second half packed with big plays, the hosts used a clutch lategame defensive stand to hold off the Cobras for a 23-21 victory.
At the intermission, neither team had got on the board in this 7-4A contest. However, both offenses began to roll in the second half. That resulted in several momentum swings.
With 6:44 left in the fourth quarter, Bauxite (3-4, 2-2) grabbed a 23-21 lead when Devin Jones scored on a 5-yard run up the gut of the Fountain Lake (2-3, 0-3) defense. Garrett Mccallister’s point after was tipped and fluttered short of the goal post.
Now trailing by two, the Cobras then went on a long drive into Bauxite territory. However, the Fountain Lake surge began to stall. All of a sudden, the Cobras faced a fourth-and-18 from the Miner 36.
On the pivotal play, quarterback Jack Wurz took off down the field quickly making his way toward a
first down. But, Bauxite’s Conner Stacy was able to chase down the QB for a big collision near the sideline. Stacy’s tackle ended the run by Wurz just shy of the first-down marker. With 1:58 remaining in the fourth quarter, Bauxite had forced a key turnover on downs.
The Cobras would not receive another possession as Bauxite ran the clock out to earn the victory.
Bauxite scored the last points of the game, and it also scored the first points of the game.
The Miners took a 7-0 lead when Hunter Ferrell completed an 84-yard touchdown pass to Braden Arnold – who got behind the Cobra defense – on the first play from scrimmage of the second half.
But Fountain Lake got on the board when Caleb Lacy ran 5 yards for a TD. Wesley Campbell’s kick tied the game at 7.
Fountain Lake was later put in great position to score after Trystan Redifer blocked a Bauxite punt and recovered at the Miner 8-yard line. The Cobras capitalized when Steven Dearmon scored on a 6-yard run. Following the kick, Fountain Lake led 14-7.
With 4:47 left in the third, the Miners tied the game when Ferrell connected with Arnold for a 38-yard touchdown pass.
In the closing moments of the quarter, Bauxite’s Jack Rosnermanz recovered a Fountain Lake fumble.
At the start of the fourth, thanks to the fumble recovery by Rosnermanz, Bauxite had the ball on Fountain Lake’s side of the field. The Miners regained the lead when Mccallister made a 32-yard field goal.
Now trailing 17-14, Fountain Lake snatched the lead away from Bauxite when Dearmon scored on a slick 19-yard run in which he showed power and speed. With 8:37 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Cobras led 21-17.
However, the Miners stepped up and went on a long drive that was capped off by Jones’ TD run. That turned out to be enough as Bauxite picked up a tough conference home victory.
The Miners stay home next week when they host the Robinson Senators at The Pit in Bauxite Friday. The Senators downed the Malvern Leopards 35-13 Friday.