BEARCATS FALL TO 5A CARDINALS

The Booneville Bearcats controlled most of the second half Friday night but managed to cut a two-score in half in a 30-22 loss to Class 5A Camden Fairview.

Having deferred their option upon winning the opening coin toss, the Bearcats (1-1) trailed 22-8 but were due to get the second half opening kickoff.

Conner Lentz returned the kickoff 10 yards and the Bearcats got seven yards from Dax Goff on the first play of the half and a free 15 for the play continuing well out of bounds.

Lentz (shown) and Goff then carried for three straight first downs and the Bearcats were at the Fairview 3-yard line.

It would take four downs but Jace Washburn would finally get into the end zone to get the Bearcats within 22-14 – a PAT try failed – with 8:09 to go in the third quarter.

Goff finished the night with 27 carries for 141 yards and Lentz added 72 yards on nine attempts.

The Bearcats then successfully executed an onside kick with Seth Wilson recovering Juan Moreno’s perfectly placed kick at the Fairview 44.

Rylen Ray, who had only 6 first half yards, erased a first down holding penalty with 10 yards but the Bearcats could not move the sticks and sent on Dakota Mattson to punt.

Mattson would turn in a defensive gem five plays later, tracking down a speedy Cardinal and punching the ball out for Washburn to recover.

Ray, who finished with 63 yards, converted a pair of third downs on the ensuing possession, one coming on a gain of 23 yards, and the Bearcats were at the Fairview 34 when the quarter ended.

The Bearcats would, however, turn the ball over on downs and Fairview drove 67 yards to go up 30-14 with 7:59 to play.

Taking advantage of a pass interference penalty but having to overcome a major foul of their own, the Bearcats would keep the ball until the 1:34 mark and make it a one possession game.

It was Ray getting his second touchdown of the year, again, on a fourth-and-1, on a play that came after the Bearcats had used their final time out.

Goff ran for a two point conversion for the second time in the game and the Bearcats were back to within one score at 30-22.

Out of time outs the Bearcats had no choice but to try another onside kick, but it was unsuccessful.

The Bearcat defense had forced a three-and-punt to open the game with Matt O’Bar recording the first of his six tackles and Fairview (2-1) throwing a pair of incomplete passes.

With their first possession the Bearcats moved from their 30 to the Fairview 15 but would run out of downs.

The Cardinals would take the lead with a big play, a 70-yard catch and run, then added a two-point conversion to make it 8-0.

The Bearcats evened the game at 8-8 with a 60-yard drive. Goff got three yards to the 13 on a fourth-and-2 then threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Lentz. Goff added the two to tie it.

Fairview sandwiched touchdowns around a Bearcat punt and led 22-8 with 1:51 left in the half.

That was enough time for the Bearcats to reach the Cardinal 31 but a fourth down pass by Goff was intercepted with 12 seconds left in the half.

The Bearcats are on the road next week, taking on Harding Academy at Harding University in Searcy.