BEARCATS COMPLETE 3A-4 TITLE

Statistically it was not a big night for the Booneville Bearcats in Perryville, at least not individually.

Still the Bearcats (10-1, 7-0) opened a 50-0 lead over the Mustangs by halftime and cruised to a 50-13 win to complete an outright Conference 3A-4 title.

The Mustangs started the game with a three-and-out, including a Rylen Ray tackle for a loss on third-and-4.

On the first Bearcat offensive play, Rocky Ross took a pitch and went 56 yards to the Mustang 2. Randon Ray scored from there.

Rylen Ray ran for a two-point conversion and an 8-0 lead.

Starting from their 46 after Perryville’s second punt the Bearcats scored in seven plays with Rylen Ray getting the touchdown from the 7.

Pablo Ferrer kicked his first of six straight point after kicks and it was 15-0.

Starting from their 39 after a turnover on downs the Bearcats needed just two plays to score.

Brooks Herrera went 53 and Dax Goff scored from the 8 and it was 22-0 with 2:31 left in the opening quarter.

A 9-yard punt gave the Bearcats the ball back for one more first quarter play and Randon Ray ran for 15 to the Mustang 27.

Ross started the second quarter with a touchdown run from there and it was 29-0. That would be Ross’ last carry, finishing with 83 yards on his two attempts.

Defense set up the next touchdown as Goff forced a fumble that Mason Goers scooped up and returned to the Mustang 13.

Two plays later Rylen Ray had his second touchdown, going in from the 7, and it was 36-0.

Chase Plymale tripped up a Mustang runner for a yard loss on another third down -- Mustangs were 4-13 on third down -- to force another Perryville punt and the Bearcats started their next possession at the Mustang 42.

Plymale had four solo stops and an assist, including the tackle for a loss.

Goff went 39 yards after the punt and Randon Ray scored his second touchdown from the 3 to make it 43-0.

Randon Ray was also done at that point with just 41 yards on his six carries. Peyton Tatum was under
center the rest of the way.

The Bearcats sent Ferrer on for a 48-yard field goal attempt on their next possession but the kick was short.

A possession later Tatum had an 11-yard carry and Trace Hall (pictured) ran 43 yards for a touchdown and it was 50-0 with 2:46 left in the first half.

Perryville made a bid to score before the half but Blazen Jones had an intended receiver well covered in the end zone on a fourth down pass with :08 left in the half.

Perryville would score twice in the second half, the first coming on a 4-yard run midway through the third quarter to make it 50-7.

The Mustangs scored again midway through the final quarter on a pass play that covered 23 yards.

Cody Elliott rumbled 51 yards for a touchdown but saw it wiped out by a penalty but the Bearcats were able to keep the ball the rest of the way.

With the win the Bearcats are the top seed from the 3A-4 and will face Salem (6-4), the fifth seed from the 3A-2 at 7 p.m. Friday at Bearcat Stadium.

Salem was the opening round opponent for Paris last year, losing 40-32.

The Bearcats have won five straight conference titles.