BEARCATS RUN OVER LAVACA

For the third time this year the Booneville Bearcats had a 600-yard night on offense. This time they did it all on the ground.

Fifty-nine rushing attempts netted 649 yards, the second most total offensive yard in school history, and clinched the two seed from the 3A-1 in the playoffs, which start in two weeks.

For just the second time there were two 200-yard rushers in Cody Elliott (17-227) and Dax Goff (14-216) and another triple digit rusher in Trace Hall (13-109).

The three combined for eight touchdowns with Goff scoring four times and Elliott and Hall twice each. Hall also ran for a two-point conversion that isn’t included in rushing numbers.

The offensive line that paved the way was Lance Sims, Brett Welling, Matt O’Bar, Johnny Barnes, Cam Osborne, and Clayton Wingfield.

Hall started the punishment with a 34-yard touchdown run the first time the Bearcats (7-2, 5-1 Conference 3A-1) snapped the ball.

Lavaca (6-3, 3-3) had fumbled on a fourth-and-1 to give the Bearcats the ball in plus territory. It was the only time the Golden Arrows failed on a fourth down attempt.

Lavaca’s next possession ended in a punt and the Bearcats overcame holding and illegal shift flags and scored on a 54-yard run by Goff.

Marcos Mullor added the PAT — he did that eight times — and it was 14-0.

Lavaca answered with a drive that saw six pass completions, including the scoring play, and it was 14-6. A two point try failed.

Dunn Daniel returned the kickoff to the 36 and it took the Bearcats seven plays to score. Goff got the touchdown from 34 yards out and it was 21-6.

There was still a minute remaining in the first quarter.

Lavaca again answered through the air, scoring from the 9 and a passing conversion play made it 21-14.

That was as close as it would get.

That was despite the Bearcats starting their next drive with a penalty — the Bearcats had eight penalties for 60 yards by halftime and finished with 13 for 100.

Goff carried for 46 to overcome the penalty and completed the drive with a 3-yard run and it was 28-14.

Goff then had, arguably, the biggest defensive play of the night with an interception in the end zone.

Two plays later Elliott took the ball from Peyto Tatum, fought through would-be tackles, bounced off other defenders, and went 73 yards for a touchdown to make it 35-14 with 6:59 left in the half.

Lavaca answered with a third touchdown pass, which followed consecutive defensive penalties, and it was 35-21 with 4:30 left in the half.

That was more than enough as Elliott scored from the 13 on fourth and inches.

Lavaca blocked the PAT but was offside and, with the ball moved closer, the Bearcats turned to Hall for a two point run to make it 43-21.

Turning the ball over on downs at the Lavaca 17, the Bearcats failed to score with the opening possession of the second half.

The defense then got a sack from Osborne and Welling, and Daniel and Hunter Warren forced an intentional grounding flag after a defensive hold, and Lavaca would punt.

Then needing to go just 33 yards the Bearcats did so with Elliott getting 29 and Hall the touchdown from the 4 to make it 50-21.

Again Lavaca answered via the pass after again being aided by a defensive penalty of roughing the passer on a 30-yard gain.

The PAT failed but it was 50-27.

Starting from their 39 after Dakota Mattson pounced on the kickoff, the Bearcats made it 57-27 with 2:26 to play in the third quarter. Goff got the touchdown, his fourth, from the 15.

When Lavaca punted on its next possession the Bearcats turned to Jace Washburn at quarterback. Washburn had filled in for a down earlier in the game.

Washburn promptly ran for 19 yards, handed to Warren twice for 23 yards, and eventually scored from the 14 to make it 64-27 two plays into the final quarter.

Chase Plymale (shown) started Lavaca’s next possession with a tackle for a loss — he had 3.5 of those on the night — and Sims and Garrick Barr combined for another one of the 11 negative yardage plays to force an Arrow punt.

The Bearcats then reached the Lavaca 16 but decided against trying for a second 70-point night this season by taking a delay of game penalty and having Washburn take a knee three times.

Lavaca followed suit with a couple of kneel downs to run out the clock.

The Bearcats will close out the regular season with a trip to Cedarville Friday. The Pirates are 2-7 and at 1-5 in conference play are eliminated from the playoff picture