LINCOLN — Berryville ran a successful wide receiver screen pass on its first play of the game last week against Green Forest, and the the Bobcats tried the same play against Lincoln on Friday night.
The Wolves were ready.
Lincoln linebacker Tyler Cummings intercepted Austin Carr’s pass and raced 40 yards for a touchdown that jump-started the Wolves to a 28-13 victory over the Bobcats in the 4A-1 Conference opener for both teams.
Cummings’ interception was the first of three straight touchdowns for the Wolves (4-0, 1-0 4A-1) as they took a 21-6 lead at halftime. But the game wasn’t settled until the Lincoln defense stopped the Bobcats on fourth-and-1 at midfield with just over eight minutes left in the game and the Wolves leading 21-13.
Three plays later, Lincoln quarterback Drew Harris raced 36 yards for a touchdown and a 28-13 lead.
“Great start,” said Lincoln coach Brad Harris. “We kind of came unraveled there, but Berryville had a lot to do with it. We made a stop when we needed to. That fourth down play was huge. We are real proud that we are 1-0 in conference.”
Cummings said the Wolves defense worked all week in practice defending the first play called by Berryville (2-2, 0-1).
“Our coaches found out their tendencies, and we kind of figured out what they were going to do,” Cummings said. “We got coached well all week and the coaches set me up to make that play. I knew it was coming.”
Cummings also got the job done on offense as the senior rushed 19 times for 108 yards and one touchdown. Cummings also came up with several key tackles.
“The offensive line did a great job of opening up holes,” Cummings said.
EXTRA POINTS:
w Berryville running back Ethan Chapin rushed 17 times for 97 yards and the senior also had two catches for 34 yards. Bobcats running back Emillo Duarte added 62 yards rushing on 16 carries.
w It also wasn’t a good night for the Berryville band. The bus carrying the band to game broke down on the way to Lincoln and didn’t arrive until just before halftime. But they did perform after the game.
w Lincoln was whistled for seven penalties for 51 yards in the first half. Two of the penalties — an offsides call and personal foul — came on Berryville’s only scoring drive of the first half that cut the Wolves lead to 21-6 with 58 seconds left in the first half.
UP NEXT: Lincoln travels to Pea Ridge next week while Berryville travels to Ozark.
HOW THEY SCORED
LINCOLN^28
BERRYVILLE^13
Berryville^0^6^7^o^—^13
Lincoln^14^7^0^7^—^28
First Quarter
Lincln — Cummings 40 INT return (Gonzalez kick) 11:44
Lincln — Haynes 11 pass from Harris (Gonzalez kick) 3:29
Second Quarter
Lincln — Cummings 1 run (Gonzalez kick) 8:27
Bville — Carr 3 run (kick failed) :58
Third Quarter
Bville — Chapin 3 run (Reyes kick) 2:45
Fourth Quarter
Lincln — Harris 36 run (Gonzalez kick) 7:08