JUNIOR BEARCATS STILL PERFECT IN 3A-4 PLAY

The Booneville Junior High Bearcats recovered three Mayflower fumbles in the third quarter, scoring after two of them to turn a 14-6 halftime lead into a 28-6 win over the Eagles at Bearcat Stadium Thursday.

The Bearcats remain a perfect 4-0 in Conference 3A-4 play with the win.

Mayflower had the ball to start the second half but on a third -and-4 an Eagle runner lost the ball and Connor Roberts was there to recover for the Bearcats.

Though backed up by a holding penalty on the next play the Bearcats would turn the turnover into points after Jace Washburn hooked up with Dakota Mattson for 17 yards on a third-and-9.

Chase Shelton got the touchdown on a run of 17 yards and Washburn went back to Mattson for a two-point conversion and a 22-6 lead.

Mayflower fumbled again one play after the kickoff and Seth Wilson was there to recover for the Bearcats.

Another holding penalty – the Bearcats had 8 penalties for 65 yards – played into a Demari Poole punt that was downed at the Eagle 11-yard line.

A third straight offensive play ended in a fumble for the Eagles and Hunter Warren made the recovery for the Bearcats.

This time it took just one play to score as Washburn just broke the plane on an 11-yard run that ended the third quarter and it was 28-6.

Washburn ran for 112 yards on his nine carries, to go with the 17 passing yards on the one completion and he hit Mattson twice on conversion plays.

After Clayton Loftin kicked off, Mayflower kept the ball the until just 2:29 remained, but turned the ball over on downs and the Bearcats ran out the clock.

The Bearcats scored on their first possession of the night. Washburn rumbled for 49 yards to start an 86-yard drive and Warren finished it from the 5. A two-point try failed.

Mayflower drove to the Bearcat 21 but turned the ball over on downs with 7:57 left in the first half and the Bearcats got a 26-yard run from Washburn, 40 yards from Conner Droemer, and a couple from Conner Lentz before Warren scored from the 11.

Washburn hit Mattson for the conversion and a 14-0 lead.

Mayflower responded with a scoring drive of their own that covered 60 yards and actually got the ball back after a Bearcat punt with 1:44 left in the half but were unable to do further damage.

The Bearcats will be on the road next Thursday, taking on Dardanelle for the second time – the week was originally listed as an open date. Dardanelle won the season opener 28-12.