JUNIOR BEARCATS CLAIM OUTRIGHT TITLE

Assured of a share of the Conference 3A-4 title, the Booneville Junior High Bearcats instead wanted the outright title and got it with win in Paris Thursday night.

Statistically it wasn’t that close, but the only statistic that matters said it was as thin as it gets, with a 14-13 win, which came after twice trailing the Eagles.

Paris went in front 13-8 on a 61-yard run with 4:43 to go in the game, but the Bearcats retook the lead just three minutes later.

They covered 78 yards over those three minutes after a block in the back flag on the kickoff return – the Bearcats had seven penalties for 65 yards to just two for 6 yards for Paris. An eighth penalty for a sideline warning was also thrown.

Jace Washburn, who ran for 97 yards in the game, started the title drive with a 15-yard burst.

Conner Droemer got 5 yards to the Bearcat 42, but Hunter Warren was stopped for no gain on second down. Conner Lentz got 5 on third down to move the chains.

Washburn then rumbled for 31 yards to the Paris 22 and after Droemer got 3 yards to the 19, Paris took a time out.

Droemer finished with 42 yards on nine carries and scored the touchdown (shown) and two-point conversion that gave the Bearcats an 8-7 lead with 6:01 to go in the game.

Out of the stoppage, Lentz got free for the go-ahead touchdown. Despite Paris’ second penalty of the night the Bearcats were unable to convert a two-point try keeping it 14-13 with 1:43 to go.

Lentz finished with 49 yards on five carries.

Starting from their 44 after the kickoff return the Eagles managed one first down, despite a negative yardage stop by Warren.

After an incomplete pass from the Bearcat 43 there were 42 seconds to go. A sack by Trevor Karow took 10 seconds and it was third-and-21.

Paris took its last time out but Demari Poole and Karow got the Paris quarterback after a single yard gained to bring up fourth down.

A pass interference flag got the Eagles 15 yards, but not a first down.

Only 3 seconds remained when Poole recorded a sack and fumble caused that Chase Shelton scooped up to end it.

Poole had five solo and four assisted tackles, including four for a loss.

Karow had two solo and two assisted stops with two for a loss. Warren also had two tackles for a loss and Conner Roberts had 1.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

It was scoreless for a half as the end of a 74-yard pass to Dakota Mattson was ruled a fumble and a touchback when he was drug down from behind.

Paris had 14 total yards at halftime and finished with less than 100 without the 61-yard play. The Bearcats had 307 total yards.

The Bearcats have a game remaining on the schedule against Charleston on Tuesday – it was originally set for Thursday but has been moved.

The game will feature two conference champions as Charleston wrapped up its league title on Thursday night as well.