SHELTON, DROEMER SCORE TWO TOUCHDOWNS EACH, JR. BEARCATS POUND LAVACA

Chase Shelton and Conner Droemer had combined to carry the ball just 46 times for the Booneville Junior High Bearcats over eight games.

They got only seven more carries Thursday night against Lavaca but three of them went for touchdowns – two by Shelton and one by Droemer – and Droemer added a kickoff return touchdown to lead the Bearcats to a 35-8 win over Lavaca Thursday.

The win clinches a share of the Conference 3A-1 title for the Bearcats (9-0, 6-0) with only Cedarville remaining on the schedule.

The game turned early in the second quarter. Lavaca trailed 7-0 – Shelton had run 5 yards for a touchdown – but had reached the Bearcat 14-yard line going into a quarter break.

Michael Nichols led a charge that resulted in a 2-yard loss when the teams switched ends. On second down Lavaca was flagged for holding, and on third down the Arrows turned the ball over.

It was Seth Wilson causing a fumble after a pass completion and Oliver Loaeza recovering for the Bearcats.

That was be the beginning of a miserable quarter for the visitors.

Five plays after the takeaway Droemer bolted 33 yards to make it 13-0 with 3:57 left in the half.

Lavaca turned the ball over on downs at their 43 with 1:39 left in the half and Shelton (shown) took a pitch from Rhett Nietert and went to the end zone on the next play to make it 21-0 – Nietert kept for the two-point conversion.

Though the Bearcats had just one time out they got the ball back, and still had the time out because Lavaca had an incomplete pass, and two short gains, the later coming out of bounds.

Wilson blocked a punt and returned it for an apparent touchdown that was negated by a penalty but the Bearcats still had 12 seconds and the ball.

Shelton got two yards and was drug down by his facemask and the Bearcats had the ball at the Lavaca 11 with :01 left on the clock.

Out of their last time out Nietert rolled to his left and ran back to his right and scored. Loaeza kicked the PAT and it was 28-0 at the half.

Because Lavaca took the ball to start the game the Bearcats got the ball to start the second half. Droemer took a handoff on the kickoff and went 76 yards for a touchdown and it was 35-0 after Loaeza added the PAT.

On the ensuing possession Cyle Myers caused and recovered a fumble but the Bearcats would fumble the ball back and Lavaca eventually scored on a fourth down pass play that covered 26 yards.

Needing a first down to run out the clock the Bearcats got a 36-yard run from Reed Brackney.

The first Bearcat scoring drive had started with a 33-yard Clint Osborne to Droemer pass and ended with Shelton’s first touchdown of the night.

Osborne had also caused a fumble on Lavaca’s first possession but the Arrows were able to save the possession .

On their second possession the Arrows drove into Bearcat territory before Wilson caused the turnover.

The Bearcats will close out the 2022 season at home on Thursday when they host Cedarville. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.