The Booneville Bearcats defeated the Osceola Seminoles 35-0 to win the Class 3A state title Saturday at War Memorial Stadium. The Bearcats controlled the game and the clock with their offense, running the ball 66 times for 391 yards. They never passed the ball in the game.
“That is what we try to do, just control the ball and control the clock and keep it out of people’s hands,” said Booneville head coach Scott Hyatt. “If we can do that we have a better chance to win.”
Get $99 in FREE gear with annual subscription to ArkansasVarsity.com
Jeremy Elliott recovered a fumble by Osceola’s Greg Hooks with 10:32 left in the first quarter to set up the Bearcats first score of the game when Andrew Robertson ran it in from 33-yards out. Gavin Kent’s PAT gave the Bearcats a 7-0 advantage.
The Bearcats second score came on a 16 play, 91-yard drive that started at the beginning of the second quarter. It was capped off by a two-yard run by Michael Hesson with 5:04 left in the second half. Kent’s PAT gave the Bearcats a 14-0 advantage.
A one-yard run by Hesson with 32 seconds remaining in the first half followed by Kent’s PAT gave the Bearcats a 21-0 advantage at the half.
Booneville received the opening kickoff of the second half, and took 6:47 off of the clock on a 14 play, 78-yard drive that was capped off by a four-yard run by game MVP Carson Ray. Kent’s PAT gave the Bearcats a 28-0 advantage with 5:13 left to play in the third.
Osceola had an opportunity when Kam Turner picked up an Ethan Dobbs fumble and returned it eight yards to the Booneville 32. However, Turner threw an interception on the next play that was returned 24-yards by Hesson to the 49.
The Bearcats then went on a seven play, 51-yard drive that was capped off with a 21-yard run by Ray with 8:03 remaining in the game. Kent’s PAT forced the sportsmanship rule at this point.
While the Bearcat offense was able to dominate the clock and time of possession, their defense was solid as well, holding Osceola to 192 yards of total offense in the game.
“I was proud of our defense,” said Hyatt. “Coach Arron Kimes did a great job with our defensive scheme. The weather may have affected them a little bit, but I thought our kids just played hard for four quarters.”
Carson Ray earned MVP honors in the game after running the ball 25 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns. He also had one tackle on defense, which went for a loss.
Booneville finishes the season with a 15-0 record, while Osceola finishes at 13-2.
Get $99 in FREE gear with annual subscription to ArkansasVarsity.com
ARKANSASVARSITY.COM BUSINESS PARTNERS
--------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are not an ArkansasVarsity.com subscriber, you can become one by CLICKING HERE. It costs less than a cup of coffee per day to get access to the most in prep sports and recruiting information anywhere in the state.
Want to become a partner with ArkansasVarsity.com? Email Luke Matheson at Luke@ArkansasVarsity.com
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:
@LUKEMATHESON - @CHASEGAGE1 - @ARKANSASVARSITY -@ARPOWERPOLL