BEARCAT SEASON ENDS IN SEARCY

For the second straight year the Booneville Bearcats saw their season end on the road, at a private school in Searcy.

Harding Academy (12-2) advances to its third straight 3A final with a 56-27 win.

They did so with big play after big play and although the Bearcats (13-2) had a few of their own they were unable to match the Wildcats consistently.

There were highlights from the Bearcats, including Randon Ray running 25 times for 151 yards to push his career rushing yardage count to 4,342, or 99 yards past the previous leader, his father Allen Ray.

Randon Ray also scored two touchdowns, giving him 33 on the season, tying his brother Carson Ray for the most in one season, and making it 76 times he was in the end zone in high school, which tied Bryson May for the school record.

Rylen Ray, Randon’s brother, ran for 73 yards on 12 carries and finished the year with 1,027 becoming the sixth member of the Ray family to surpass 1,000 yards.

There was also a school record tying 99-yard Bearcat drive.

After a Harding punt was downed inside the Bearcat 1-yard line in the final quarter Randon Ray logged his final carry for 11 yards and came out of the game for a couple of plays with a cramp.

After Rocky Ross picked up 15 yards, and Brooks Herrera got 40 – with another 15 yards for a late hit – Randon Ray returned to hand the ball off to his brother a final time and that play went for 12 yards to the Wildcat 2.

Dax Goff scored from there and Pablo Ferrer added the extra point to make it 56-27.

Harding had started their attack with a 70-yard run on the third play from scrimmage for a 7-0 lead.

The Bearcat offense did not have to answer because Ross returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a
touchdown. It is the longest kickoff return in a playoff game in school history.

Harding needed 12 plays to go back in front 14-7.

The first Bearcat offensive play of the game was an 8-yard gain but the Bearcats ultimately punted without managing a first down.

Harding then scored in just four plays, with a 31-yard run making it 21-7.

Goff started the next Bearcat possession with a 24 yard gain and Randon Ray had a 32 yard effort to set up his 24 yard touchdown in a five play drive that made it 21-13.

Ferrer saw his consecutive PAT streak snapped at 45 when the kick hit the upright on the college field’s goalpost, which are more narrow -- by almost five feet -- than high school posts.

Pushed back by a penalty Harding started their next possession at their 9 and scored on a 91 yard run to make it 28-13 after a quarter.

A 35-yard run by Herrera got the Bearcats into Wildcat territory on the next possession but a false start penalty put them behind the sticks and the Bearcats turned the ball over on downs.

When a double pass worked for 76 yards and the Bearcats were down 35-13.

A Bearcat fumble, only the eighth turnover in 14 games played, led to a short drive and a 42-13 halftime edge for Harding.

Early in the third quarter Ray hooked up with Rayce Blansett for 49 yards, but after two penalties – one called during and one post play – the net was an 8-yard loss and the Bearcats, after another penalty, ultimately punted.

The Bearcats had 6 yards in first half penalties but finished with 85 yards worth of penalties.

Harding scored again after the punt and once more after the Bearcats turned the bal lover on downs at their 48 and the lead was 56-13.

Working around a couple of penalties the Bearcats got on the scoreboard again with 8:05 to play on a 4-yard Randon Ray run to make it 56-20.

Harding's only punt, which was downed inside the 1 ended their next possession.

The Bearcats lose eight players off of this team.