JR. BEARCATS PLAY KEEP AWAY IN SECOND HALF, BEAT DARDANELLE

It wasn't a game of keepaway per se but Dardanelle ran three offensive plays in the second half last night and the Booneville Junior High Bearcats claimed a 6-0 win in an AAA benefit game.

Driving 75 yards in 16 plays, the Bearcats kept the football the entire third quarter and almost two minutes of the final quarter scoring the game’s only points.

There were two fourth down conversions, including the touchdown, a 19-yard Tayden Washburn run on fourth-and-7.

Washburn did not have a first half carry — reserves played the opening quarter with a running clock and the regulars also had a running clock for the second quarter. He finished with 9 carries for 92 yards.

On what would be the Sand Lizards’ only possession of the second half, there was a false start, a tackle at the line of scrimmage by Layton Shaffer, an incomplete pass, and a short gain stop by Callen Montalvo and Brody Chambers to force a punt.

Washburn and the Bearcats kept the ball the rest of the way with Washburn again converting a fourth down with a 23-yard run.

The Bearcats ran the ball 23 times for 134 second half yards. Chambers logged six of those carries for 21 yards and finished with 31 yards.

Hayden Daniel, who moved from quarterback to halfback after the first quarter, completed a 57-yard night as well.

Dardanelle’s biggest scoring threat occurred in the first quarter but was snuffed out by a Jayden Young (53, shown) sack on a fourth down play.

A 38-yard run by Daniel got the Bearcats inside the Sand Lizard 10-yard line in the final minute of the half but the half ended before the Bearcats could get in the end zone.

The Bearcats will open the season next Thursday at Perryville. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.