JUNIOR HIGH BEARCATS SCORE 40 IN OPENER

The Booneville Junior High Bearcats scored on four first half possessions and led 32-0 on the way to a 40-12 win over Perryville in their season opener Thursday at Bearcat Stadium.

Forced to start the game from their own 14-yard line after a kickoff got away from them, the Mustangs had a bad snap and then were introduced to Seth Wilson.

Wilson had a tackle for a loss on second down and combined on a zero yardage play on third.

Wilson finished the game with 10 total tackles, 2.5 for a loss.

After a punt the Bearcats needed to go just 34 yards and went in front 8-0 on a 16-yard Conner Lentz run. Hunter Warren ran for the two-point conversion.

The Bearcats would be perfect on two point tries in the game.

Perryville reached the Bearcat 36 on the ensuing possession but three straight passes hit the ground and Wilson and Warren made a fourth down stop six yards behind the line of scrimmage.

Two plays later Conner Droemer ran for a touchdown but a holding flag brought it back. Droemer later scored from 23 yards out.

Before that quarterback Rhett Nietert hit Warren for 18 yards on a third-and-19 and Warren moved the chains on a fourth down carry.

Perryville’s next possession saw Clint Osborne level a Mustang after a 3-yard gain that was flagged as a personal foul, but the Mustangs would turn the ball over at the Bearcat 44 when Zaine Penny and Wilson combined for a fourth down stop.

Droemer went 56 yards the next play and Lentz added the extra two to make it 24-0.

Using two time outs the Bearcats forced a punt and had the ball at the Perryville 34 after a 23-yard return by Lentz.

Nietert (shown) then hit Chase Shelton for 34 yards and a touchdown and with Warren’s conversion it was 32-0 with 45 seconds to play in the half.

Perryville got a break to start the second half when the kickoff hit a Bearcat and bounced back for a recovery.

The Mustangs scored in two plays and then added a second touchdown with 3:38 left in the quarter to make it 32-12 – both tries for two were stopped.

Droemer returned the ensuing kickoff to the Mustang 34 and Warren scored from there. Droemer added the extra two and it was 40-12 with 3:18 to go in the third quarter.

Although there would be no more scoring there would be a turnover as Cale Smith pounced on a loose snap that was meant to be a Mustang punt.

For the night Droemer totaled 82 yards on three carries and Warren had 52 yards on five attempts. Lentz had 34 yards on his three carries.