Class 6A: Mahone leads El Dorado to state title win

By ArkansasOnline

Posted: December 5, 2009 at 3:25 p.m.

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LITTLE ROCK — El Dorado held off Pine Bluff late in its own territory and the Wildcats won their first state championship in 51 years Saturday in the Class 6A state championship, 27-20.

The loss ended a seven-game winning streak for Pine Bluff (9-5) in front of 7,586 at War Memorial Stadium.

El Dorado (12-1) used a balanced offense and turnovers to win the championship. Cameron Mahone scored the winning touchdown with a 7-yard run on third-and-goal late with 8:24 remaining. Mahone was named the MVP and also scored a touchdown on a 52-yard interception return, had 10 tackles and one sack.

Pine Bluff's Claude Johnson rushed for 164 yards on 40 carries and also completed 10 of 27 passes for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns with an interception. Johnson's pass on fourth-and-12 on the El Dorado 41-yard line fell incomplete late in the game to end the Zebras' comeback attempt.

The Zebras led 20-7 at halftime, but El Dorado's defense held them scoreless for the entire second half.

For more coverage, make sure to pick up a copy Sunday of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. A live blog from the game can be replayed in the 2009 Playoffs section. The live blog for the Class 7A championship between Springdale Har-Ber and Fort Smith Southside will kick off at 6:30 p.m.

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