The Booneville Junior High Bearcats dominated Dardanelle in a half of football Tuesday night at Bob Keenan Field.
The Bearcats built a 24-7 lead by the intermission then turned it over to reserves and Dardanelle was able to score a couple of touchdowns during a running clock second half.
Three plays into the game the Bearcats broke on top. After Hunter Warren got three yards and Chase Shelton tipped after a 6-yard gain, Conner Droemer went 61 yards for a touchdown.
Warren added a two-point conversion to make it 8-0.
Dardanelle’s first possession included a 52-yard burst --Rhett Nietert saved the touchdown -and Shelton broke up a fourth down pass to end a threat.
The Sand Lizards got another opportunity after the Bearcats fumbled, and took advantage, converting a pair of fourth downs and scored with 6:56 to go in the second quarter to cut it to 8-7.
A two-play drive by the Bearcats made it 16-7. Shelton got the first two and Warren bolted 68 yards for a touchdown.
Nietert, who made the start at quarterback, ran for a two-point conversion.
Jumping offside before a fourth down play, the Bearcats gifted the Sand Lizards a first down on their next possession but Seth Wilson (shown making a tackle) forced a fumble that Clayton Green recovered.
The Bearcats then scored in seven plays. Lentz scored the touchdown from the 10 and Warren ran for his second extra two to make it 24-7 just 35 seconds before the intermission.
Warren ran for 81 yards on just three carries and Droemer had 78 yards on his two attempts.
Clint Osborne, Michael Nichols, and Warren all had 1.5 tackles for a loss with Nichols recording a sack.
In the second half Reed Brackney converted a fourth down with a 13-yard carry to highlight the second half.
Dardanelle scored after a pair of second half fumbles by the Bearcats.
The Bearcats will open the season next Thursday when they host Perryville at Bearcat Stadium. The seventh grade will also hit the field for the first time Thursday.
