Win over FC Mustangs puts Pioneers into conference race
The Batesville Pioneers are back in the thick of the 5A-East conference race.
On Friday night in Forrest City, Batesville (2-4, 1-2) dominated defensively from the opening series for a 39-12 win over the Mustangs (1-5, 03), and fading fast with just four conference games remaining on the season schedule.
Pioneers’ senior linebacker Adrian Gutierrez intercepted a Forrest City pass and returned it 46-yards for a touchdown on the opening drive of the game and later in the first half, recovered a fumble in the endzone for a touchdown.
With 11:16 to play in the first quarter, Gabe Witt added the two-point conversion after the Mustangs were called offsides on the extra-point try. Batesville led 8-0.
The Pioneers defense held Forrest City to a punt and Witt opened Batesville’s first official drive of the game with an eight-yard run. Dayshaun Brown struck the middle of the Forrest City defense for a 20yard gain and Keaton Douglas added seven more yards to get the ball across midfield.
Brown's 18-yard run and a pass interference penalty against the Mustangs moved Batesville to the Forrest City seven yard line. A solid Forrest City goal-line stand forced a Batesville turnover on downs at the five-yard line.
Following the turnover Batesville stopped Forrest City for a two-yard loss, before Batesville's Jacob Easter hit the Mustangs quarterback in the end zone resulting in a fumble. Gutierrez recovered the ball for a Batesville touchdown and following the extra point, the Pioneers led 15-0 with 52 seconds to go in the first quarter.
Forrest City punted on its first possession of the second period and a facemask penalty gainst the Mustangs put the ball in Mustangs territory. Douglas ran for nine yards, Storlie kept for 10 and Witt added a 15-yard run to the Mustangs 12.
Batesville was unable to get the touchdown on the possession and settled for a 25yard field goal for a 18-0 Batesville lead with 7:33 to go before halftime.
Forrest City recovered its own fumble on second down and 10, before being called for intentionally grounding avoid a sack. After a Mustang punt Batesville broke for a 24-yard run to the Forrest City four and a Pioneer touchdown, putting the Pioneers up 25-0 with 5:03 to go in he first half.
Batesville forced another Forrest City punt that was partially blocked and netted only two yards. Jace Jeffery hauled in a Batesville pass for 14 yards which set up Batesville's 17-yard touchdown. for a 32-0 lead with 2:14 to go in the first half.
Batesville added one final first half touchdown, a twoyard scoring run with 1:30 to play before halftime. Ordonez added the extra point kick for a 39-0 lead which brought the "mercy rule" running clock into play for the remainder of the game as Batesville’s starters were pulled and the junior varsity players taking the field for the seocnd half.
Batesville was 5-of-12 for 44 yards and a touchdown and rushed 31 times for 161 yards with two touchdowns. Storlie was 4-of-7 for 39 yards, Witt rushed 14 times for 69 yards. Brown had five rushes for 30 yards and Douglas ran seven times for 47 yards.
The Mustangs went into half with minus 5 total yards in the first half.
Forrest City was able to avoid the shutout by scoring twice late in the game to set the final score.
The Mustangs will travel to Paragould on Friday while the Forrest City Junior Mustangs will host Paragould on Thursday.
Palestine-Wheatley is scheduled to host Manila Friday for homecoming activities. The Patriots have not played since a loss to Walnut Ridge on Sept. 24, due to covid and low numbers. The P-W Junior Patriots will play at Manila on Thursday.