Colts fend off Cobras in 4A playoffs

WILSON — Fountain Lake scored first in its opening-round playoff game against Rivercrest on Friday, but the home Colts rallied in the second half for a 36-14 win.

A week after the Cobras (6-5) overcame an early deficit at Ashdown (3-7), the visitors got on the scoreboard first with a two-yard touchdown run by senior Colson Simpson with 8:59 remaining in the first half. It was Simpson’s team-leading 12th touchdown of the season. Senior Joe Murphy kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

Fountain Lake was also successful on onside kick attempts against the Panthers a week ago. An onside attempt went awry Friday as Rivercrest junior Easton Elder returned the ensuing kick 50 yards for a touchdown. Junior Riley Jones kicked the extra point to tie the game at 7-7.

An interception by Fountain Lake senior Kyle Fortner stalled a Rivercrest drive at the end of the half to keep the game knotted at the break.

Fountain Lake’s kick return team was affected by high winds to start the second half. Rivercrest’s opening kickoff was hung up by the wind and the Colts (10-1) recovered the ball on Fountain Lake’s 35-yard line.

Senior quarterback Demilon Brown finished off the drive with a five-yard touchdown run, his 23rd touchdown of the season. The lead was 14-7 after another kick by Jones.

The next kickoff was affected again by the wind the the Colts recovered. It was Jones that finished off the drive with a five-yard touchdown, but his kick into the wind was no good. Rivercrest led, 20-7, just four minutes into the third quarter.

The Cobras got back within one score late

in the quarter. Junior quarterback Ian Lacy connected with Murphy for a 14-yard touchdown. Murphy’s kick made it 20-14.

Senior running back Kentavious Robinson put the game out of reach in the final quarter. He scored from 14 yards out with

8:42 left in the game and the extra point attempt was blocked. Robinson scored again with 5:05 on the clock and Jones converted the extra point.

Robinson entered the game as one of the top rushers in the state. He was averaging 10 yards per carry for 1,567 yards and

16 touchdowns this season.

Jones added a 23-yard field goal with the wind with 1:30 remaining in the game to set the final.

Fountain Lake was the No. 5 seed from the 4A-7 conference. Rivercrest was the No. 1 seed from the 4A-3. The Colts are ranked No. 5 in Class 4A in the Arkansas Sports Media High School Football Poll.