JR. BEARCATS HANDLE HILLBILLIES

Hunter Warren ran 14 times for 165 yards and scored three touchdowns as the Booneville Junior High Bearcats rolled over Ozark 24-8 at Hillbilly Stadium in a game shortened to three quarters due to weather.

With 4:37 to go in the third quarter the Bearcats (2-0) led 16-8 and had a first down at the Ozark 34-yard line the teams were sent to locker rooms due to lightning.

Out of the delay the Bearcats had a fourth-and-1 at the Ozark 25 and turned Warren loose and the fullback went for his third touchdown.

Conner Droemer ran for a two-point conversion to make it 24-8.

Ozark got a first down on the ensuing possession through a penalty but was facing third-and-7 when the quarter ended.

Players were then sent back to the dressing room and after a conference, the game was called.

Ozark had started the second half with a touchdown pass but a block in the back wiped it out and on a pop pass completion two plays later Warren caused a fumble that Clint Osborne recovered.


The Bearcats set the tone early.

Ozark won the toss and deferred their option until the second half so the Bearcats took the football.

Three plays in Warren went 23 yards to the Ozark 48. A 3-yard gain by Chase Shelton was followed by a penalty and the ball was at midfield.

Warren ran through a huge hole (shown) and scored easily from there. Conner Lentz added a two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

The initial Hillbilly possession ended in a punt that Droemer returned 37 yards to the Ozark 31.

Rhett Nietert started the next scoring drive with a 9-yard gain and Warren would score from the 6.

Lentz again ran for a two-point conversion and it was 16-0 with 1:32 left in the first quarter.

Seth Wilson made a tackle for a loss to start the next Ozark possession but the Hillbillies would convert a fourth-and-7 and go on to score 5:01 before halftime to make it 16-8.

The Bearcats moved quickly into Ozark territory again before a fumble caused by a well timed blitz gave the ball back to Ozark.

Zaine Penny responded with a negative yardage play and combined with Wilson for another to help overcome the turnover.

After another timing caused fumble which the Bearcats recovered and a timing induced offside flag the Bearcats had a Warren gain to the Ozark 12 wiped out by a penalty but couldn’t do more first half damage due to running out of time.

The Bearcats will next play on Thursday at Russellville – some schedules had the game on September 15 – then have an open date.