The 2021 Bearcats paid tribute to the 1986 Bearcat football team with a 42-0 shutout win over the Manila Lions Friday at Bearcat Stadium.
The 1986 team was honored before Friday’s game and were honorary captains for the game.
It was 35 seasons ago those Bearcats won the school’s first state title. It did so with a smothering defense that had a streak of 23 straight quarters – including the first two rounds of the playoffs – without surrendering a point.
Friday’s shutout by the Bearcats was the third of the season and saw the Bearcats (12-1) record 10 tackles for a loss in dismantling Manila (9-3) in the first meeting between the schools.
Dax Goff was responsible for four of the tackles behind the line of scrimmage as Manila managed just 42 yards of offense.
Actually, it was defense that got it started.
As is customary, the Bearcats deferred their option until the second half after they won the opening coin toss.
That forced Manila to take the football and allowed the Bearcats to turn loose that defense.
Manila’s first six offensive plays, all of which were run before the Bearcat offense ran a play, netted a minus 8 yards of offense.
After consecutive negative yardage plays, the Lions went to the air on third-and-14. Brooks Herrera (shown) made them pay for that with an interception he would return 30 yards for a touchdown and it was 7-0 less than two minutes into the game.
Manila’s next two offensive plays lost four more yards and a third down pass was incomplete to force a punt.
However, an offense noted for pushing around anyone on the other side was actually stymied on their first possession and Rylen Ray was called on to punt.
He wouldn’t have to do it again.
Manila had a flicker of life with a big gain and another first down – the Lions only had four all night – before Mason Goers forced a fumble that Manila got back, but lost six yards on the play.
Broken up by Peyton Tatum, a fourth down incomplete pass – Manila did not complete one – ended what would be the only Lion threat.
The Bearcats were in the midst of a 71-yard drive when the opening quarter ended with them having reached the Lion 22-yard line.
Three plays into the second quarter Randon Ray scored from the 8 and it was 14-0.
Goff and Cody Elliott teamed up for one tackle for a loss and Goff made a second one alone for an 8-yard loss on Manila’s next possession and the Bearcats had the ball back at their 23 after a punt.
Seven plays later Rocky Ross was headed for the edge, saw an opening he liked better, planted a foot, shifted, and went 52 yards for a touchdown to make it 21-0 with 5:27 left in the first half.
As he had done on the previous scores Pablo Ferrer added the extra point. It was his 34th straight made point after, tying the school record for consecutive successful kicks.
Rayce Blansett forced a fumble on the kickoff return and Goff recovered it but the Bearcats would ultimately fumble the ball back at the Lion 2-yard line just 3:58 before halftime.
Manila went backward with a stop by Chase Plymale and Goff and a false start from inside the 1 moved the ball just inches before the Lions ultimately punted again.
The Bearcats complicated the matter with a personal foul penalty after the punt and were facing fourth-and-11 at the Lion 37 out of a time out with 52 seconds left in the half.
Randon Ray threw to a double covered Blansett in the end zone and the senior receiver hauled in his second touchdown pass of the post season to make it 28-0 with Ferrer’s record breaking 35th straight made PAT.
Having deferred, the Bearcats got the ball to start the second half and when Brett Welling secured an onside kick at the Bearcat 48, the mercy rule was 52 yards away.
Goff got the last 16 of those yards and it was 35-0 with 10:06 to play in the third quarter.
Besides leading the defense, Goff would lead a balanced Bearcat offense with 77 yards on eight carries. Ross had 75 yards on six carries, Randon Ray had 70 on 14 attempts, and Rylen Ray ran for 59 on 10 carries.
Manila used a Bearcat penalty – there were 10 for 100 yards with 75 yards worth coming in the second half – to cross midfield but a fourth down errant snap was recovered by Casey Mattson and the Bearcats were at their 49.
The third quarter clock ran out on the Bearcats after they reached the Lions' 9 – a penalty had wiped out a Ross touchdown – but Goff started the fourth quarter with his second touchdown and it was 42-0.
Manila had just one more possession and it included yet another tackle for a loss – by Rylen Ray and Dunn Daniel, who had two in the game, -- and the Bearcats kept the ball the rest of the way.
The win brings up a quarterfinal round game with Glen Rose. The Beavers (9-2) are the the runner-up from the 3A-5 who beat Pine Bluff Dollarway 53-12 in the opening round of the playoffs and Camden Harmony Grove 28-7 last Friday.
