Dail picks up depleted Cats

Injuries have caused the Conway Wampus Cats to use three quarterbacks this season.

[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD: Full results + recaps, photos and more]

They only needed two -- and 130 rushing yards by senior tailback McCall Dail -- to pull away for a 35-17 victory over the Little Rock Central Tigers at Quigley-Cox Stadium in Little Rock on Friday night.

Dail rushed for two touchdowns and caught a pass for another.

"He's had some great games for us," Conway Coach Clint Ashcraft said. "He's a tough runner."

Sophomore quarterback Jovoni Johnson and his replacement, senior Parker Teague, each threw touchdown passes for Conway (2-6, 2-3 7A-Central).

Central (3-5, 0-5) scored quickly in the second half on a 62-yard touchdown pass from junior Jacob Howard to senior receiver Terrance Jones to take a 17-14 lead, but Conway turned to Dail to take command.

"We just said to say calm and be patient," Ashcraft said. "That's one good thing about our guys; nothing rattles them. It's been an up-and-down year, but our guys compete and play for four quarters."

Dail's 1-yard touchdown run gave Conway a 21-17 lead in the final minute of the second quarter. His second touchdown run from the 1 put Conway up 28-17 with 6:05 left in the game.

Conway reserve senior running back Darius Washington completed the scoring with a 32-yard run with 2:53 left.

Conway scored on its first possession, when Washington completed a 10-play, 80-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Marquise Pleasant.

Central's first score was set up with an interception that senior defensive back Derrick Blake returned 16 yards to the Conway 8. One play later, Howard's 8-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Thomas Walker tied the score at 7-7 with 4:35 left in the first quarter.

Howard completed 14 of 25 passes for 225 yards, but he also threw 3 interceptions.

"He kind of forces stuff every now and then," Central Coach Scooter Register said. "We're pleased with him, but he's young."

Central drove from its 16 into Conway territory in the second quarter but was stopped at the 15 and settled for a 32-yard field goal by senior Jason Ronnel to take a 10-7 lead.

Conway quarterback Johnson left the game with symptoms of a concussion, and Teague filled in midway through the second quarter after junior safety Will Kennedy's interception stopped a Central threat at the Conway 6. He then led a 10-play, 94-yard drive concluded by his 12-yard pass to Dail that gave Conway what would become a 14-10 halftime lead.

"Teague's a senior," Ashcraft said. "He's been a backup, but he wasn't thrown off guard being put the fire. He's been there."

Sports on 10/22/2016

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