For the first time since Doc Crowley took over as the head coach of the Booneville Bearcats the offensive numbers are down. But, are they really?
The leading rusher for the Bearcats this season is Dylan Todd with 331 yards and three touchdowns. That pales in comparison to the numbers Dax Goff and Randon Ray were producing the last four years, but the 2024 Bearcats are something those teams were not – 5-0 through their first five games played.
Just behind Todd in rushing is Conner Lentz, who did not play in Hackett, at 284 yards and five touchdowns. Damari Poole has the most touchdowns, at seven, and most carries at 36, for 223 yards.
Three others are over 100 yards, including Rhett Nietert, who led the Bearcats in rushing last week, becoming the fourth different player to do so in five games.
But, offensive numbers involving Greenland are seldom lacking. History – both recent and all time – indicates there will be points scored Friday night, and likely somewhere near 70.
In Greenland’s five 2024 games there have seen a combined 349 points scored, just shy of 70 per night, with Greenland responsible for an average of 40 and opponents at 29.8.
In the six meetings between the Bearcats and Pirates to date there have been 424 points scored, though the difference is a much more lopsided average of 50.7 by the Bearcats and an even 20 by the Pirates.
• Mascots: Booneville Bearcats; Greenland Pirates
• When: 7 PM, October 11, at Jonathan Ramey Field in Greenland
• Series: Booneville leads 6-0-0 (1.000)
• Streak: Booneville has won last 6
• Last Meeting: Booneville 41 Greenland 14 on October 6, 2023
• First Meeting: Booneville 56 Greenland 24 on November 1, 2002
• Conference Affiliations: Both are 3A-1
TODAY IN BEARCAT FOOTBALL HISTORY: Aces are wild apparently. The Bearcats are 11-1-1 in games documented to have been played on October 11. Ironically the last October 11 game was against Greenland in 2019, a 41-6 win by the Bearcats. Also on the date in 1974 the Bearcats beat Mansfield 39-6 in a game that had a 74-yard kickoff return touchdown by Kean Cunningham and four 2-point conversions – 2 by David Fuller – and nine total extra points. On October 11, 2002 Josh Holloway ran for 196 yards in a narrow 21-14 win in Subiaco. On October 11, 1985 Robbie Jones threw for 140 yards and three touchdowns, all to Larry Simpson, including 50-yarder, in a 47-0 win over Mansfield. Finally, Larry Heslip returned a blocked punt 31 yards for a touchdown in a 27-13 win over Mansfield on October 11, 1963.
NOTES: With a special teams fumble recovery in the end zone by Cutler Haller, the Bearcats have now scored in all three phases of the game this season. The Bearcat winning streak of 17 is the second longest in program history (senior high). Hunter Warren scored his first touchdown of the season last week and now seven different ball carriers have found the end zone – Chase Shelton had one called back or it would be eight. Dakota Mattson caught a touchdown in Hackett for the second time in his career Friday night and caught a touchdown pass from Jace Washburn for the second straight week. Greenland is the third Pirate opponent this season; following this Pirate will be three straight Tigers.
THE 3A-1: After two weeks of conference play there are three schools without a league blemish and three without a win. The Bearcats beat Hackett 42-6 to remain the only overall unbeaten while Mansfield won in Charleston 42-39 to get to 2-0 and Lavaca beat West Fork 13-7 to complete a northwest Arkansas sweep. Greenland beat Cedarville 49-14 for their first 3A-1 win.
Another unbeaten will fall this week because besides the Bearcats at Greenland, this week’s schedule features Lavaca at Mansfield. Also on tap are Hackett at Charleston and Cedarville at West Fork.
THEME: The pep rally theme is camo.
BEARCATS OFFENSE THRIVING WITH VARIETY
