HALL GETS THREE CARRIES, SCORES ON ALL OF THEM

Back in April, after Trace Hall used his blazing speed to pre-qualify for the state track meet, Head Coach Doc Crowley vowed to get the senior more touches this year.

Hall had just 16 carries in 2021, but he averaged better than 17 yards per attempt.

Tuesday night at Bob Keenan Field it was more of the same as Hall got only three carries.

However, he scored touchdowns on all of them, running for 172 total yards, and the Bearcats beat Dardanelle 30-14 in the half of football played by regulars.

Quarterback Peyton Tatum got six yards to start the scrimmage, then pitched to Hall and it was 6-0 just 40 seconds into the game after a 64-yard run (play shown above).

Drew Vega threw for 43 yards – of his 48 yards passing – on the Sand Lizards’ first possession but a penalty reduced it to a 28 yard gain.

A third down conversion moved the ball to the Bearcat 19 but negative yardage stops by Dax Goff and bye duo of Brett Welling and Rylen Ray, followed by a pair of incomplete passes ended the threat.

Three plays later Hall bolted 72 yards for a touchdown.

A two-point conversion run by Goff made it 14-0 with 4:39 left in the first quarter.

A 59-yard run by Vega got Dardanelle on the board but a PAT kick was wide and it was 14-6 with 4:11 left in the quarter.

Ray started the next drive, which took six plays, with a 10-yard gain. Goff had a 38 yard effort and later scored from the 2.

Ray ran for a two-point conversion and it was 22-6 67 seconds before the quarter break.

In a quarter than saw 387 total yards of offense there would be three turnovers over the remaining 1:07.

First it was David Hicks recovering a fumble, but the Bearcats fumbled the ball back the next play. Two plays later Tatum picked off a pass and the Bearcats had the ball at their 45 to start the second quarter.

The Bearcats started the second quarter with a fumble but managed to save the possession.

From there Goff, who finished with 61 yards, got 19 and Hall went 36 yards for his third touchdown of the night.

Ray fan for a second two-point conversion and it was 30-6 with 10:40 left in the half.

Hall also ran Vega down after a 45-yard gain – the Lizard quarterback ran for 175 yards on 16 carries – but Dardanelle was able to cut it to 30-14 with 7:17 to play.

A second Bearcat fumble gave Dardanelle the ball back at the Bearcat 25 but Chase Plymale made a tackle for a loss and Brendan Dove made a leaping grab for an interception in the end zone.

Tatum got seven yards to start the next drive and gave way to Jace Washburn. Cody Elliott moved the chains but the Bearcats eventually took a simulated punt.

After a sack by Goff, a pair of incomplete passes, and another punt Washburn took a knee to end the
half.

Dardanelle drove 70 yards to a score start the running clock second half. It would be the last points of the night.

Garrick Barr had a pair of first down pickups and Washburn and Clayton Loftin both moved the chains as well but the Bearcats ultimately turned the ball over on downs on their only possession of the second half.

The Bearcats will open the season next Friday at Dollarway High School in Pine Bluff.