BEARCAT DEFENSE, OFFENSE MAKE BIG PLAYS

Twice the Booneville Bearcat defense was put in a tight spot in a one score game Friday night. Both times they slammed the door shut.

Both times an offense that would run for 510 yards, responded to the momentum shift and the Bearcats (13-1) went on to a 49-21 win over Glen Rose in the first meeting between the two schools.

The win earns the Bearcats a semifinal appearance – the school’s 20th appearance in the round of four – and a trip to Searcy to face Harding Academy for the third time in seven years.

The first time the defense made a stand came when Glen Rose (9-3) had reached the Bearcat 11-yard line with a first down in a 21-14 game with just over five minutes left in the first half.

It was third-and-1 at the 2 when Dunn Daniel made a tackle for a yard loss and, on fourth-and-1, Dax Goff and Casey Mattson wrapped up a ball carrier at the 2, a yard short of a first down.

After that play Randon Ray got one yard on first down, and on second down, the quarterback went 97 yards to make it 28-14.

The run ties for second longest in school history and is the longest in a playoff game.

It was also the highlight of a career high 220 yards on 19 carries for Randon Ray.

Out of halftime the Beavers needed just four plays to score to make it 28-21 and an onside kick worked to give the Beavers the ball back at the Bearcat 48.

From three Rylen Ray threw a ball carrier for a 3-yard loss on first down, Mason Goers slapped away a second down pass and Dax Goff broke up one on third down putting Glen Rose was into punt formation.

The Bearcats then went 86 yards in seven plays. Brooks Herrera converted a third-and-11 with a 62-yard burst and two plays later Randon Ray scored from the 15 – it was his playoff record tying fourth touchdown of the night – and it was 35-21.

The Bearcat defense had hit another gear.

Mattson forced a fumble on a completion on Glen Rose’s next offensive play and Peyton Tatum recovered it at the Beaver 43.

The Bearcat defense forced five total turnovers.

Herrera, with only his second carry of the night, ripped off 14 on a fourth-and-9 to get the Bearcats to the red zone but an eventual field goal try was wide right.

Starting from the 20 Glen Rose did have a 3-yard gain before a sack by Goff wrapped up the third quarter.

Goff, who had 13 total tackles, was just getting started. He picked off a pass on the first play of the final quarter and took it back 22 yards for a touchdown to make it 42-21.

Goff’s score also meant the Bearcats had returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the same postseason for the first time.

Herrera picked off a pass just 36 seconds later and, with a horse collar tackle the Bearcats were at the Glen Rose 33.

Goff rumbled for a touchdown from there and it was 49-21 with 11:17 to play.

Herrera broke up a fourth down pass to end another Glen Rose possession and he and Rayce Blansett both had breakups to force a punt.

Glen Rose’s last possession ended with Taten Rice keeping a Glen Rose ball carrier six yards away from the end zone.

The game had started with Glen Rose winning the toss and deferring their option until halftime.

Seven plays later Rocky Ross went 33 yards for a touchdown to complete a 72-yard drive and it was 7-0 with the first of Pablo Ferrer’s seven straight successful PAT kicks – that’s 20 in the playoffs and 44 straight.

Glen Rose tied the game at the 4:09 mark of the opening quarter.

Trace Hall returned the ensuing kickoff to the Glen Rose 40 but a penalty pushed the Bearcats back to their side of the field.

A 55-yard drive took just four plays. Randon Ray ran for 43 yards to set up his 3-yard touchdown run to make it 14-7.

Glen Rose again drew even at 14-14 with 11:14 to go in the half.

One play after the ensuing kickoff Rylen Ray was tripped up after a 73-yard pickup and Randon Ray completed the two-play drive with a score from the 2 to make it 21-14.

Randon Ray forced a fumble on a completed pass – Goers recovered it (shown) – but the Bearcats would be forced to punt and Glen Rose drove to the Bearcat 2 only to be turned away.