HALLER, POSEY REACH END ZONE AGAINST CEDARVILLE

Rowgan Haller and Chase Posey became the seventh and eighth different junior high Bearcats to score a touchdown this season, and Cooper Smithson had a 94-yard scoring run during a 38-8 win over Cedarville Thursday night at Bearcat Stadium.

Haller’s touchdown came on a 42-yard pass play from Drake Brackney. Haller is the fourth different receiver with a touchdown catch this season.

It came with 5:48 to go in the first half and, with Smithson’s 2-point conversion run it was 24-0.

Before Posey (55, shown blocking) got his Smithson got his second touchdown of the game, on a 3-yard run with 1:15 to play in the half and Brackney ran for the 2 to make it 32-0.

Jude Baker would make the tackle on the ensuing kickoff, one of three he made on kickoffs on the night.

Posey, who had been the intended recipient of the lateral on a hook-and-lateral but Trevor Swaim caught the ball with a knee down, scored on a 2-yard run with 5:14 to play in the third quarter to make it 38-0.

That also enacted the Arkansas Activities Association’s sportsmanship rule.

On what was the first offensive play for the Bearcats, Ayden Rhinehart had given the Bearcats the lead with 4:24 to play in the first quarter.

Rhinehart’s 41-yard run came after Karson Tillery blocked a punt, though Cedarville would retain possession as it was touched by a Bearcat, and Posey recovered a fumbled pitch.

Edwin Garcia ran for the 2-point conversion after the Rhinehart touchdown to make it an 8-0 lead.

The lead grew to 16-0 after a Pirate punt and a false start pinned the Bearcats at their 6-yard line because Smithson went 94 on the second Bearcat offensive play and Rhinehart ran for the extra 2.

Smithson totaled 144 yards on just four carries.

The Bearcats reach the midpoint of the season 5-0 with the win and 2-0 in Conference 3A-1 play. Up next is a trip to Hackett for a 7 p.m. kickoff next Thursday.