Finding themselves playing from behind for the first time this season the Booneville Bearcats responded by scoring 58 unanswered points in a 64-14 win in Greenland.
Countering the first of three Rhett Nietert touchdown runs and a missed point after with a touchdown pass and PAT, the Pirates led 7-6 with 7:19 to play in the first quarter.
Greenland then successfully executed an onside kick, maneuvered to a first-and-goal from the 5, and scored on fourth down to go up 14-6 with 1:48 left in the quarter.
That made 5:31 of the home side of the scoreboard sporting a larger number than the visitor’s side. It would stay that way just the 1:48 showing on the clock.
Tayden Wasburn recovered another onside attempt and Nietert started a 53-yard drive with 26 yards and, after a holding call, got 26 more – Nietert was on his way to a career high 141 yards on just seven carries.
Hunter Warren scored from the 8 on the final play of the quarter and Dylan Todd ran for a 2-point conversion to get the Bearcats (6-0, 3-0 Conference 3A-1) into a 14-14 tie.
Taking advantage of a pass interference flag that negated an interception, as well as a facemask penalty, the Pirates (3-3, 1-2) threatened to go back in front, reaching the Bearcat 18-yard line.
However, four incomplete passes – Greenland was 9-of-26 for 93 yards through the air in the first half – gave the Bearcats the ball back.
Todd was stopped for no gain to start the ensuing drive but Nietert and Damari Poole, twice, moved the chains and the Bearcats were at the Pirate 35.
Nietert scored from there and with an Oliver Loaeza point after, the Bearcats were back in front, 21-14, with 5:25 to play in the half.
The Bearcats forced a punt then embarked on what would be an eventful 3:48 to play in the half with which to work.
The possession would start with Greenland flagged for pass interference and the Bearcats drawing a hold on successive plays.
Following the holding call Jace Washburn had a 10-yard pickup and Poole moved the chains on a third down – the Bearcats were 6-of-6 on third down – and Warren eventually scored from the 1 to make it 27-14 with 1:44 to play in the half. Greenland blocked the PAT.
Warren ran 10 times for 83 yards with his first two touchdown game of the season.
The Bearcat sideline celebrated what it believed was an Aiden Fox caused fumble with Poole recovering with 1:10 left in the half but Greenland retained the ball with a with a ruling that the runner was down.
Still, the Bearcats forced a punt and had Washburn hit Todd for 40 yards. Todd fumbled, but it went out of bounds much to the chagrin of the home fans.
An interception allowed the Pirates to avoid further damage.
Damage, however, was fast approaching out of the halftime break as the Bearcats unleashed a 30-point barrage in the third quarter.
The half began with Triton Halpain recovering an onside kick try at the Pirate 35 – an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the final play of the half had been assessed on the kickoff.
Jace Washburn offset a holding penalty that brought up a second-and-19 with a 24-yard touchdown run and the senior quarterback also added a 2-point conversion run for a 35-14 lead just 53 seconds into the second half.
The elder Washburn finished with 71 yards on eight carries on the night.
Greenland was forced into a holding call on the ensuing possession as Poole continued to be almost unblockable and the Bearcats got the ball back at their 30 after a punt.
Todd, who ran for 93 yards, got 41 yards to flip the field in one play and Nietert completed the drive from the 16. Todd’s second 2-point run of the night made it 43-14 with 8:13 to play in the quarter.
In less than two minutes the Bearcats had the ball again after holding on downs – Greenland was 2-of-6 on fourth down – at the Pirate 47.
Four more plays later Todd got into the end zone at the pylon completing a 15-yard scoring run and Loaeza kicked the PAT for a 50-14 sportsmanship (running) clock lead with 4:30 to go in the quarter.
Another failed fourth down throw gave the Bearcats the ball back almost three minutes later.
Done as a running back, Nietert went under center and would take just one snap because Chase Shelton took a handoff 37 yards for a touchdown on what would be the final play of the quarter and it was 57-14.
The Bearcats had only one fourth quarter possession and extended the lead to 50 at 64-14 on a 1-yard Tayden Washburn touchdown that came after Levi McMaster ran for 22 yards on three carries, Devon Ritchie had 12 on one, and Rylie Swint had 22 on his only carry.
Tayden Washburn’s scoring run capped a night in which the Bearcats ran for 527 yards and amassed 575 total yards.
The Bearcats are at home this Friday against West Fork. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
AFTER ROUGH START BEARCATS BLAST PIRATES, 64-14
