ROGERS — Fort Smith Southside applied a quick knockout Friday night.
The Rebels scored three first-quarter touchdowns, including two in the first five minutes, and overwhelmed the War Eagles 38-3 in 7A-West Conference play in Gates Stadium.
Southside’s Zach Hood intercepted Heritage quarterback Reed Brown’s tipped pass on the War Eagles’ first play from scrimmage, and things never got much better from there for Heritage.
Rebels quarterback Hunter Whorton hit running back David Price with a swing pass, and he cut up the sideline for a 21-yard touchdown with 10 minutes, 28 seconds left in the first quarter following the interception.
Southside followed a Heritage three-and-out with another short drive, culminated by an 11-yard touchdown run by Julius Jones with 7:53 left in the opening period. Rebels kicker Wesley Cason missed the extra point, but that’s one of the few things that went wrong for Southside Friday night.
Southside coach Jeff Williams admitted things couldn’t have gone much better for his team, which converted two of three Heritage turnovers into touchdowns.
“You couldn’t have planned it any better,” Williams said. “They turned it over and we took advantage. I really think the turnovers early kind of set the tone.”
The Rebels (6-3, 4-2 7A-West) added another five-play drive following a Zac Stewart fumble. Whorton connected with Jordan McGee on a 35-yard completion on that drive, which was topped off by a four-yard run by Jones. Whorton’s pass on the two-point conversion try was incomplete, but Southside still led 19-0 with 4:34 left in the first quarter.
Heritage coach Perry Escalante was left shaking his head as his team has now lost four straight to drop to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the 7A-West.
“We come out and turn it over, then we play decent on defense and let that back run right by us,” Escalante said. “It’s real frustrating when I know we’re better than that. Right now we’re just struggling. That’s about all you can say.”
Williams said his team was hitting on all cylinders, winning its third straight game. But Whorton has been a big key.
“I told you earlier this week when he plays good, we play good,” Williams said. “He’s playing really well right now. He’s a very accurate quarterback.”
Whorton completed 16 of 21 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns. Jones was also effective on the ground, running for 95 yards on 15 carries and three TDs.
But Whorton hooked up with McGee on a 29-yard scoring strike with 8:12 left in the third quarter for a 38-3 lead, which invoked the mercy rule.
Heritage closes the regular season at Fayetteville next week, while Southside takes on cross-town rival Fort Smith Northside.
7A-West Conference
FORT SMITH SOUTHSIDE 38, ROGERS HERITAGE 3
Fort Smith Southside 19 13 6 0 — 38
Rogers Heritage 3 0 0 0 — 3
First Quarter
South — Price 21 pass from Whorton (Carson kick), 10:28
South — Jones 11 run (kick failed), 7:53
South — Jones 4 run (pass failed), 4:34
Herit — Severs 35 FG, 0:40
Second Quarter
South — Price 16 pass from Whorton (Carson kick), 10:44
South — Jones 2 run (kick blocked), 1:19
Third Quarter
South — Nolan 29 pass from Whorton (kick failed), 8:12.
Gamebreaker
Fort Smith Southside 38 Rogers Heritage 3
Why The Rebels won
Southside scored three first-quarter touchdowns, capitalizing on two Heritage turnovers, and rolled to the lop-sided victory.
Why The War Eagles lost
Turnovers put Heritage in an early hole it could never climb out of as the War Eagles were held out of the end zone for the first time this season.