DARDANELLE -- It wasn't the usual offensive beatdown, but Dardanelle still found plenty of ways to score Friday night in its 4-4A victory over Baptist Prep.
The Sand Lizards ran only 19 offensive plays in the first half, but Chris Kershner was on the receiving end of five of them and added more highlights on special teams and defense as the Sand Lizards defeated the Eagles 51-12 at Keenan Field.
Kershner caught five passes for 141 yards -- with three of them going for touchdowns of 14, 35 and 40 yards -- and even scored a touchdown before Dardanelle (6-0, 3-0) took its first offensive snap, returning the first punt of the game 73 yards with 8:59 left in the first quarter.
"Any time you score on defense or special teams, you're increasing your chance of winning the game," Dardanelle Coach Josh Price said. "They did a good job, especially in the first half, to set the tone early."
A three-and-out series turned into more points when sophomore Temo Martiniz kicked a 48-yard field goal. The Sand Lizards followed that with their longest drive of the game with their starters in, capping a six-play drive with a 14-yard toss from Elyas Carter to Kershner that made it 17-0.
Dardanelle held the ball for only 2:02 in the second quarter but still managed four touchdowns, with Kershner turning two short dump-offs into long scores and scooping up a fumble that he returned 29 yards for another score.
The first-team defense held the Baptist Prep (0-6, 0-3), formerly Arkansas Baptist, to minus-3 yards rushing while giving up 230 passing yards but held the Eagles to six points.
"We needed a game like this against a spread team to get our D-backs, linebackers and those guys some reps against a live deal," Price said. "I was very pleased with those guys."
PULASKI ROBINSON 55,
SUBIACO ACADEMY 0
SUBIACO — Quarterback Brennen Johnson passed for three touchdowns and running back Myles Fells added two more scores on the ground as Pulaski Robinson (6-0, 3-0 4-4A) shut out Subiaco Academy (2-4, 0-3).
Johnson’s scoring throws went to T.J. Hammonds, Tonda Bullock and Trenton Dunn. Fells scored on runs of 25 yards and 16 yards and finished with 130 yards on 9 carries.
Hammonds, Nick Harper and Shumar Blair also had rushing touchdowns for the Senators.
NASHVILLE 69, WALDRON 7
WALDRON — Trent Harris accounted for three touchdowns as Nashville (6-0, 3-0 7-4A) rolled over Waldron (0-6, 0-3). Davion Holmes had two rushing touchdowns, and Leonard Snell passed for a touchdown and rushed for another. Darious Hopkins added a touchdown for the Scrappers.
ASHDOWN 20, MALVERN 14
ASHDOWN — Tre Green scored with 17 seconds left in the game to lead Ashdown (5-1, 3-0) to a 7-4A conference victory over Malvern (4-2, 2-1).
In the first quarter, Ashdown took a 6-0 lead after Jaden Hill ran for a 1-yard touchdown. After a missed PAT, Malvern answered with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Trace Collie to Amari Reed to take a 7-6 lead.
In the second quarter, Hill threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Northcross to put Ashdown ahead 12-7, then threw a two-point conversion pass to Cameron Solomon to make the score 14-7 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Malvern tied the score at 14-14 after Devin Shaw scored on a 1-yard run, and the Leopards’ PAT was good. But Green’s 13-yard run in the fourth quarter sealed the victory for Ashdown.
WARREN 63, DUMAS 34
DUMAS — Junior running back Dennis Daniels rushed for five touchdowns and junior quarterback Hayden Lassiter threw for three more scores as Warren (5-1, 3-0 8-4A) defeated Dumas (3-3, 0-3).
The Lumberjacks set the tone early with Daniels running 50 yards for his first touchdown and Lassiter throwing his first touchdown pass, which went 23 yards to Franklin Gilmore, to give Warren a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
Lassiter’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Treylon Burks to open the second quarter built the lead to 21-0. The Lumberjacks and Badgers traded touchdowns the rest of the half with Daniels rushing 29 yards and 6 yards for scores and Lassiter throwing a 28-yard touchdown pass to Keemontrae McKnight.
Warren led 42-21 at halftime.
Daniels scored two more touchdowns in the third quarter, both on 1-yard runs. Desean Jackson wrapped up the scoring for the Lumberjacks with a 55-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
HAMBURG 24, STAR CITY 16
HAMBURG — Stetson Selby passed for two touchdowns and John Wilson rushed for another to help Hamburg (5-1, 3-0 8-4A) defeat Star City (3-3, 1-2).
Hamburg’s Allen Lemus kicked a 30-yard field goal, which was the only points for either team in the first half.
Selby finished the night with 123 yards through the air, including a 19-yard touchdown pass to Lorenzo Walker. Wilson’s 149 yards on 14 carries included an 82-yard run.
Jaylen Mallett scored on a 3-yard run, Blake Wynn returned a punt 41 yards for another touchdown and Andy Magana kicked a 31-yard field goal to account for Star City’s points.
Tye Brown had 359 yards passing for the Bulldogs.
Sports on 10/10/2015