GOFF, ELLIOTT BOTH RUN FOR FOUR TOUCHDOWNS

Goff, Elliott Both Run For Four Touchdowns

GLENN PARRISH

Booneville School District | 11/20/2022

PHOTO CREDIT: Stacy Holbert

With Dax Goff and Cody Elliott scoring four touchdowns apiece, the Booneville Bearcats rolled over Smackover 60-14 in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs Friday night in Smackover.

On the way to eight rushing touchdowns, the Bearcats (10-2) ran for 547 yards in the first meeting between the schools.

Goff ran 18 times for 208 yards and now has 1,892 yards on the season, the second most in school history. Goff needs 76 yards for the rushing record and, obviously, 108 to reach 2,000.

Going into Friday's game Elliott (shown tossing the ball to an official after a third quarter touchdown) needed 44 yards to become the third 1,000-yard rusher this season. He ran 16 times for 179 yards.

Elliott actually got it started with an 8-yard touchdown run just 1:21 into the game. With Marcos Mullor’s point after it was 7-0.

The score was set up by a fumble forced by Chase Plymale and recovered by Hunter Warren on the first offensive play of the game.

Second seeded from the 3A-5, Smackover (7-5) went three-and-punt on its second possession and the Bearcats took 10 plays to score. Goff got the touchdown from the 5 and it was 14-0 with 5:00 left in the opening quarter.

The Bearcats, the two seed from the 3A-1, then surrendered a 66-yard kickoff return and with a two-point conversion pass it was 14-8.

Kickoff return coverage would be an issue again before it ended.

Demari Pool fair caught the ensuing kickoff and in three plays it was 20-8 with Goff running 54 yards for his second touchdown. A snap issue disrupted the PAT try.

Goff scored for the third time on the final play of the first quarter — the Buckaroos had punted again — and although a two point pass try failed it was 26-8.

Smackover used a 32-yard pass to cross midfield but ultimately punted from its own side of the 50 on the it’s next possession and the Bearcats offense retook the field.

The unit scored on a fifth straight possession but it took Brooks Herrera recovering a fumble to save the possession, and overcoming a holding call on a 28-yard Peyton Tatum run before doing so.

Goff eventually got the touchdown from the 10 and it was 32-8 with 4:07 left in the half after another failed two-point try.

Then came the kickoff which was muffed and then returned 97 yards for a touchdown to make it 32-14.

Elliott scored his second touchdown from 2 yards out with 33 seconds remaining in the half and Mullor’s PAT made it 39-14.

Plymale fielded the second half opening kickoff and was dropped but the Bearcats needed just four plays to score. Elliott went 22 yards for the touchdown and Mullor kicked it to 46-14.

Smackover would reach the Bearcat 15 on its next drive but a Trace Hall interception gave the Bearcats the ball back.

After starting from their 9 after Hall’s 5-yard return the Bearcats were at their 36 in four plays. There, Elliott broke free for a 64-yard touchdown that made it 53-14 with 5:57 left in the third quarter.

Juan Buigues-Jarro added the point after for his first point as a Bearcat.

Two plays after the kickoff Hall picked off another pass, tipping it up then hauling in in, only this time he took it back 51 yards for a touchdown. Buigues-Jarro hit his second PAT and it was 60-14.

By the end of the quarter Smackover had reached the Bearcat 13 and two plays later the Buckaroos were at the 1 before fumbling for a fourth turnover.

It was Dylan Todd who recovered the ball and Rhett Nietert took over at quarterback and the Bearcats kept the ball the rest of the night.

Nietert converted a third down and Smackover contributed a couple of penalties that moved the ball across midfield.

After first down carries by Nietert and Garrick Barr the Bearcats were in victory formation to close it out.

The Bearcats move on to the quarterfinals where they’ll face Osceola, who beat Camden Harmony Grove 48-7. Friday.

The Bearcats and Seminoles (8-3) are meeting for the third time in five years and fourth overall. The Bearcats have won the last two meetings which were the 2018 state title game (35-0) and a second round game in Bearcat Stadium in 2020 (10-7).
PRIVACY POLICY | © 2024 MASCOT MEDIA, LLC