SMITHSON SCORES IN ALL THREE PHASES OF GAME, JUNIOR HIGH BEARCATS ROLL TO 3-0

Cooper Smithson scored touchdowns on an interception return, on a punt return, and on a rushing play, all before halftime Thursday night in Paris.

The Bearcats (3-0) were up 40-0 by halftime and won by the same score

It was 16-0 before the Bearcats ran an offensive play.

The Bearcats scored on the first play of the game when Ayden Rhinehart scooped up a fumble and ran 28 yards for a touchdown. Smithson reached the end zone for the first time in the game on a 2-point conversion run.

Three plays after the kickoff Smithson picked off a pass at the Eagle 30 and returned it for a touchdown. Edwin Garcia added the conversion run and it was 16-0 with 5:16 left in the opening quarter.

After a Paris punt Smithson bolted 58 yards for a touchdown but a block in the back penalty negated the score.

Garcia went 68 yards on the next play, despite losing a shoe, and it was 24-0 with 1:31 to play in the quarter. Garcia also ran for the conversion.

Smithson’s punt return covered 62 yards and came with 7:05 to go in the first half.

Drake Brackney connected with Rowgan Haller for the fourth conversion and it was 32-0.

Haller then caused a fumble that Garcia recovered at the Paris 25 and six plays later Smithson ran 7 yards for a touchdown. Brackney added a conversion run for a 40-0 lead.

The teams exchanged turnovers on downs most of the second half with the exception being a Cain Catlett fumble recovery.

The Bearcats will be in action again on Thursday when they travel to Lavaca to start Conference 3A-1 play. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.