Class 3A/2A report

Hermits seeing big numbers

Hermitage Coach Greg Mauldin has been forced to endure a few long nights the past couple of years, but maybe none longer than last Friday, when his Hermits took a 74-60 victory over Strong.

"It was a long game," said Mauldin, whose team racked up 664 total yards in the victory. "It was exhausting. When we finished, it felt like I had played in the game."

Hermitage (1-1) has compiled and given up a lot of points in its past four games -- the final two of the 2014 season and the first two of 2015. Last season, the Hermits defeated Parkers Chapel 62-61 in Week 9 and suffered a 54-40 loss to Bearden in Week 10. Hermitage started this season with a 65-44 loss to Lafayette County.

In their latest high-scoring affair, Hermits quarterback Cody Vines and running back Monta Thomas were each responsible for six touchdowns.

Vines completed 9 of 13 passes for 307 yards and 6 touchdowns. Thomas ran 11 times for 262 yards and 3 touchdowns. Thomas also caught two touchdown passes and returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown. Mauldin also said senior Jerimiah Belin caught in a 51-yard scoring pass, while junior Alex Davis hauled in a 61-yard touchdown pass.

Mauldin said Vines has been a pleasant surprise for the Hermits.

"He's thrown for a very high percentage," Mauldin said. "He showed he could do some things during our fall practice, so we moved him to quarterback. That's allowed Monta to move around and do some other things for us."

On Friday, Hermitage led 22-16 after one quarter, 38-24 at the half and 68-40 starting the final quarter.

This week, the Hermits will play at Woodlawn, where Mauldin expects the Bears to play "ball-control."

"They've been good at it the last two years," Mauldin said. "It's the one thing we're going to be working on."

Mauldin also said his team must find a way to stop opponents from scoring.

"We've got to learn to tackle," Mauldin said. "I know the object of the game is to outscore your opponent, but we don't want to keep doing this."

DIERKS

Super secondary

The Dierks Outlaws had four interceptions in last Friday's 42-15 victory over Mountain Pine.

"I can't remember a four-interception game," said Dierks Coach David Bennett, who has compiled a 104-65 record at the school. "If we've had one, it's been before I was here."

Senior Tyler Kesterson and Braydon Kirby each secured two interceptions against the Red Devils. It was a good night overall for the Dierks defense, which allowed only 13 yards rushing and 142 total yards.

The Outlaws (2-0) were led offensively by senior Trendin McKinney (19 carries, 118 yards, 3 touchdowns) and senior quarterback Jake Green (11 of 19, 122 yards, 3 touchdowns). Sophomore Jarrett Fox caught four passes for 63 yards.

Green has now thrown for seven touchdowns in two games.

"It was a good night for him," Bennett said of Green. "He was 11 of 17 in our first game, so he's been consistent."

Dierks will play at Fouke (2-0) on Friday. The Panthers are coming off a 47-3 victory over Foreman and sophomore running back Jarrett Easley has rushed for 361 yards and five touchdowns in the first two games.

"Fouke is much improved," Bennett said. "They are bigger and stronger up front. And we've got to go down there. It's going to be a challenge for us."

MOUNTAINBURG

Ten TDs for Stephenson

Through the first two games of the season, Mountainburg's Clayton Stephenson has rushed for 580 yards and scored 10 touchdowns.

Stephenson, 5-7, 150 pounds, ran for 224 yards on only 11 carries in the Dragons' 56-8 victory over Union Christian last Friday. He compiled 116 yards in his first four carries, scoring on runs of 2, 28 and 79 yards in the first eight minutes of the game. He added two 11-yard scoring runs in the second quarter and a 33-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

He ran only three times for 67 yards in the second half.

Stephenson ran for 2,055 yards and 22 touchdowns in 10 games in 2014.

ODDS & ENDS

Paris junior wingback Nate Davidson scored all three touchdowns -- one rushing and two receiving -- in a 21-14 come-from-behind victory over Waldron. Davidson ran 16 times for 87 yards, including a 4-yard run with 6:17 remaining that wound up as the game-winning score. ... After compiling 552 yards in its season-opener vs. Brookland, Cedar Ridge ran for 444 yards in a 41-12 victory over Rector. Quarterback Zack Powell led the Timberwolves with 76 yards on only five carries. ... Brinkley posted its second shutout of the season with a 25-0 victory over Palestine-Wheatley. The Tigers are the only team to have posted shutouts in their first two games this season.

Sports on 09/16/2015

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