Bryant won its second consecutive Class 7A state championship with a 21-7 victory over North Little Rock on Friday night at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Junior quarterback Austin Ledbetter threw three touchdown passes for Bryant (13-0), which went undefeated for the first time in school history. Two of those passes went to senior wide receiver Jake Meaders, for 26 and 17 yards, respectively.
It was the second year in a row that Bryant defeated North Little Rock in the state championship game. The Hornets won last year's title game 27-7.
North Little Rock (8-5) played in its fourth consecutive title game Friday night, but lost its third title game since 2016.
The Hornets are the first back-to-back champion in Class 7A since Fayetteville in 2015 and 2016.
Bryant outgained North Little Rock 309-203 and forced four turnovers, including three interceptions in the first half.
Ledbetter completed 16 of 29 passes for 203 yards with 3 touchdowns and one interception to lead the Hornets. Meaders caught 6 passes for 97 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Hornets led 14-0 at halftime thanks to two touchdown passes from Ledbetter.
North Little Rock had three turnovers and a missed 45-yard field goal from junior Liam Selhorst in the first half.
With 37 seconds left in the first quarter, Cotton was intercepted by Bryant junior safety Austin Schroeder.
Bryant responded quickly on offense.
Senior Ahmad Adams' 20-yard run and junior Tanner Anderson's 21-yard run set up Ledbetter's 6-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Tre'vun Herron to give the Hornets a 7-0 lead with 18 seconds left in the first quarter.
After North Little Rock went three and out, Bryant took a 14-0 lead with 6:02 remaining in the second quarter on Ledbetter's 26-yard touchdown pass to Meaders.
North Little Rock trimmed the lead to 14-7 with 8:53 left in the third quarter. On third-and-8, Cotton threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Battles.
But Bryant came right back, as Ledbetter found Meaders for a 17-yard touchdown to make it 21-7 Bryant with 7:20 left in the third quarter.
North Little Rock was led offensively by senior running back Brandon Thomas, who had 68 yards on 21 carries. Cotton went 4-of-17 passing for 50 yards with a touchdown pass.
Sports on 12/07/2019