Pioneers shut down Eagles in second half for win

GENTRY — What started out as a back and forth game in the opening quarters became an all-Gentry game in the second half with the Pioneers shutting down the Huntsville Eagle offense and taking the win, 49-13, in Pioneer Stadium on Friday night.

With the game tied at seven each, the Pioneers scored their second touchdown at the 10:36 point in the second quarter. Huntsville responded with its second and final touchdown with 10:08 left in the quarter, but the extra point attempt failed. By the 8:28 mark, the Pioneers had added another TD on a pass to Dillon Jarnagan, with an extra point by Lee Vang, making it 21-13, Gentry.

And from then on, the game belonged to Gentry, with the Pioneers scoring four more unanswered TDs.

Gentry scored seven touchdowns in the game — three rushing and another four through the air. Seniors Chris Bell, Ty Hays and Jonathon Corter all carried the ball into the end zone once. Dillon Jarnagan caught two touchdown passes, and Addi Taylor and Dillon Owens each caught one.

Lee Vang was seven for seven in point after attempts in the game.

Gentry had 279 rushing yards in the game and 349 receiving yards. Hays ran the ball 13 times for the Pioneers for 142 total yards. Corter ran the ball three times for 91 yards in the game. Bell picked up 40 yards on eight carries.

Jarnagan had 140 receiving yards on four receptions. Taylor caught three passes for a 106-yards. Braedon Warren and Hays each caught two passes for 62 yards and 37 yards, respectively.

Owens caught a pass for four yards and a TD. Bell completed 13 of 24 passes, resulting in four touchdowns.

Bennett Roberts led in tackles for Gentry with eight tackles

and four assists. Corter had six and one and caused two Eagle fumbles. Ethan Evans and Jared James each sacked the Huntsville quarterback twice, with Evans causing a fumble.

Huntsville had 116 rushing yards in the game and 146 passing yards.

The Pioneers (4-0) travel to Berryville on Friday to face the Bobcats (1-3). Game time is 7 p.m.

Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Gentry’s Dillon Jarnagan catches a pass and checks to see where Huntsville’s defenders are before running to the end zone on Friday in Pioneer Stadium.

Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Gentry’s Jonathan Corter, with Bennett Roberts coming to assist, tackles the Huntsville quarterback and knocks the ball loose during play in Pioneer Stadium on Friday night.

Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Jared James and two other Pioneers put a stop to a run by the Huntsville quarterback during play in Pioneer Stadium on Friday.