BEARCATS SPLASH WAY TO TWO SEED

Wading through Lavaca for 422 offensive yards the Booneville Bearcats made splash after scoring splash and led 42-6.

They did so behind the offensive line of Maddox Crosby, Jeremiah Shaw, Sam Hicks, Caleb Richardson, Cutler Haller and JJ Redmond.

Some of the names changed but the Bearcats (9-1, 6-1 Conference 3A-1) added a second half touchdown and won 49-6 to wrap up the two seed for the 3A-1 in the Class 3A state playoffs that get underway next Friday.

Lavaca dropped to 5-5 and 4-3 and will be the four seed.

Manager Will Houston represented the Bearcats as the game captain and the Bearcats took the football to start the game.

It took only six plays, only two of which were second downs, to open a 7-0 lead on a 30-yard Conner Lentz touchdown run and Oliver Loaeza point after.

Despite a persistent downpour throughout the first half Loaeza, with Rhett Nietert holding and Jace Washburn snapping, would be perfect on PAT kicks on the night.

The Golden Arrows first offensive play came as a first-and-5 after an onside penalty but Lavaca could not get a first down and punted.

The Bearcats doubled the lead to 14-0 on a second touchdown by Lentz, this one coming on a run of 37 yards on a drive that again did not reach third down.

Lentz would gain 117 yards on his eight carries.

Hunter Warren, who finished with 15 carries for 106 yards, would be the force behind the next score.

The junior first recovered a fumble that was more attributable to the defense than the elements, then capped a short drive with an 8-yard run.

The Arrows actually forced the Bearcats into third down twice on the drive, but gave up a first down by jumping offside once and Warren converted a third-and-1 two plays before the touchdown that made it 21-0.

Lavaca was facing a fourth-and-5 from the Bearcat 33 when the first quarter ended and an incomplete pass ended the Arrows’ best drive to that point.

With 9:32 left in the first half it was Washburn running 13 yards for a touchdown to make it 28-0.

A 52-yard kickoff return gave the Arrows their best scoring opportunity and they took advantage with a four play drive that covered the 19 yards.

Washburn broke up a 2-point conversion pass attempt to keep it 28-6.

On the ensuing possession there would be six different players carry the football – by halftime eight different Bearcats had carries – including Seth Wilson (shown) who scored the touchdown from the 7 that made it 35-6 with 3:28 to play in the half.

A defensive force at linebacker who is typically found at tight end, Wilson took snaps at fullback, logging his first carries since youth league play.

The combination of an incomplete pass, a rush out of bounds, and a Bearcat time out preceding a punt meant the Bearcats had the ball back in just 34 seconds.

As it turned out the remaining 2:54 would be enough for two possessions because the first one lasted just one Washburn to Nietert pass that would cover 69 yards to make it 42-6.

Just 50 seconds after Nietert’s first catch of the season and Washburn’s seventh touchdown pass of the season, the Bearcats had the ball back.

Washburn took a knee after a pair of Brody Chambers carries went for 12 yards.

The Bearcats started the second half with another quick scoring drive – Conner Droemer got 55 yards on his only carry – with Callen Montalvo scoring from the 4 to make it 49-6.

For Montalvo it was his first senior high carry and he became one of 14 different players to log at least one carry in the game.

Reaching the Arrow 1-yard line after a Blade Petchenik fumble recovery, the Bearcats were in a position to score again in the final quarter but would settle for a turnover on downs with about 6:30 to play.

With the sportsmanship rule in effect Lavaca kept the ball the rest of the way, reaching the Bearcat 26 before Connor Mayo and Avery Reno combined on a negative yardage play on what would be the final snap.

As the second seed from the 3A-1 the Bearcats will welcome Magnet Cove to Bearcat Stadium Friday night. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. and tickets must be purchased electronically through a link that should be available Monday.

Lavaca will travel to Mayflower, the two-seed from the 3A-2. The winners of the games in Booneville and Mayflower will meet November 15. A Bearcat win means they will host a second round game.