Positives, negatives in Cats' benefit tilt at North Little Rock

The final tally on the scoreboard read North Little Rock 22, El Dorado 9 in Friday’s preseason benefit scrimmage at North Little Rock.

The score didn’t tell the entire story for El Dorado coach Chris Hill.

“We had some bright spots. Of course, we have a lot of things we need to fix,” Hill said. “I think the final score with the varsity was 16-3. We had a bad snap in the end zone for a safety. We gave up a long pass on third and 10, which was a breakdown on defense there. Offensively, we had our chances. It’s really about what you’d expect. We start six sophomores out there, guys in new positions learning a new offense. I thought our effort was good. I don’t think we got tired.

I thought our conditioning was good.”

The Wildcats fell behind 16-0. The 7A Charging Wildcats scored on a long pass and had another score set up after an interception before securing a safety after an errant snap.

El Dorado’s Cooper Henry kicked a 37-yard field just before the half for a 16-3 deficit.

North Little Rock scored on a 10-yard run early in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats’ Khortlyn Rozier intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown for the final margin.

Defensively, the Wildcats gave up the big pass play and surrendered the touchdown after the turnover.

“We turned the ball over on about our 20 and they gave up a score there,” said Hill. “It’s tough not to but for the defense, when the offense messes up, ya’ll have to bail us out. You have to be extra tough on the goal line. Besides that, we did some good things.”

North Little Rock went 6-6 competing in the 7A Central last season. Hill said the Charging Wildcats were a good test for El Dorado to start the season.

“They’ve got some athletes. They still have a lot of pride in the way they play at North Little Rock. They’re as athletic as anybody we’ll play all year long,” Hill said. “I think it was a good scrimmage for us. We came out of it healthy. We also came out of it with the understanding that we have some things we have to improve on. Once we do that and take out the self-inflicted wounds, we have a chance to be a good football team.”

“Our job now is to be the most improved team from today until Sept. 1.”