Beavers use late drive to top Knights
GLEN ROSE — Friday night’s Class 3A thirdround match between Glen Rose and Centerpoint proved to be a battle of not only execution, but ultimately one of sheer will.
Until midway through the second quarter, the game appeared to be a replay of the Oct. 23 meeting between the two teams in which taut defense kept both schools out of the end zone. However, that same taut, heads-up defense, this time, provided three interceptions in the second quarter alone — two by the Beavers, and then a pick-six by Knights junior Dillon Fox to knot the score at 7-7.
Strong blocking by the Beavers’ offensive line, along with explosive running by junior running back Dalton Taylor, eventually led to the 34-21 Beavers win on a chilly night at Beaver Stadium.
“I thought we came out good the first half and got some momentum, and then we relaxed mentally,” said Glen Rose head coach Mark Kehner. “Now, Centerpoint did a phenomenal job coming out in the third quarter and taking all the momentum away from our game. And I was really proud of our kids because, you know, they could have rolled over with the pressure and died, and they didn’t. They just kept fighting, plugging. That last drive on the run game was phenomenal. The offensive line and Dalton Taylor just took over, downed it out and, you know, got the win. So I couldn’t be any more proud of my kids.”
With the Beavers securing a 21-7 halftime lead, the third quarter belonged to the Knights.
Poised Knights junior quarterback Josh Lawson orchestrated a 10-play touchdown drive with a mix of heavy runs by senior Houston Way and quick receptions by C.J. Fox and Dillon Fox with Dillon Fox taking the final reception into the end zone from 17 yards out. Junior Hayden Rogers nailed the point-after to lessen the spread to
21-14. Steadily holding the Glen Rose defense, Centerpoint (8-4) again made a play towards the end zone — this time quicker — as Lawson connected with Dillon Fox, who got loose to run
75 yards for the score and knot the score for the final time with 1:14 remaining in the third.
The fourth quarter proved to be a different story as it was the Beavers’ defense that stepped up, ultimately holding the Knights scoreless the rest of the way. After holding the Knights on their first three drives of the final period, the Beavers went for a field goal with 3:33 remaining after getting as close as the 4-yard line, only to mishandle the snap and allow a Centerpoint
recovery at the 14-yard line.
As in the opening quarter, though, keyed-in defense continued to rule until Taylor and the Glen Rose offensive line took over in the final minute. After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty took the Beavers back to their own 35-yard line, Launius drove the keeper up the middle to the 50, and it was all Dalton Taylor from there — a rush to the 45, the 29, the 5, and then into the end zone untouched as he jumped over a defender.
Freshman kicker Dossen Jackson tacked on the extra point with 59 seconds remaining. Nineteen seconds later, a pick-six by senior Colton Hixon capped the Beavers’ victory and put an end to the Knights’ season.
Kehner said down the stretch with the score still knotted at 21-21 going into the final minute, the offensive line simply went into overdrive, encouraged by a fired-up sideline.
“They were fired up on the sideline — they wanted to run the ball,” he said. “We told them we’re going to run behind them, and they did what they needed to do. And Dalton ran really, really tough. So I was proud of the young man.”
Centerpoint head coach Cary Rogers noted after the game that a slow first half hurt their chances of coming out on top.
“We got off to a tough start; we turned the ball over,” he said. “Everything that could go wrong in the first half did. The kids regrouped and fought back in the second half, you know, to tie it at 21. … We got the ball late at 21-21 and turned it over, and they scored in a hurry. Of course, they got the last touchdown, and we were trying to make something happen, … but I couldn’t be prouder of the kids for how they fought back and everything and how tough they played them. They did a good job out there tonight.”
Launius was 7 for 19 passing for 89 yards and rushed for 25 yards and a touchdown. Dalton Taylor had 26 carries for 211 yards, Hixon had 34 yards on six carries, and Ethan Taylor had nine carries for 53 yards.
Lawson was 14 for 27 passing for the Knights for 225 yards. Way had 13 touches for 83 yards, Dillon Fox had 90 yards receiving, and C.J. Fox had two catches for 70 yards.
Glen Rose travels to First Security Stadium in Searcy this coming Friday night to play Harding Academy (10-1) in the semi-finals following the Wildcats 52-21 victory over Booneville Friday night. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m.