PREP FOOTBALL: Scoop and score helps NLR down Southside

FORT SMITH -- When it was needed, the North Little Rock defense came up with a big play to seal the win over Fort Smith Southside.

Rashad Muhammad scooped up and fumble and rambled 50 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to clinch the Charging Wildcats' 28-14 win over the Mavericks in a 7A-Central game Friday at Rowland Stadium.

North Little Rock (4-2, 3-0) shut out Southside (1-5, 0-3) in the second half after the Mavericks climbed to within 21-14 on the last play of the first half.

Southside had a first down at the Wildcat 45 when quarterback Parker Wehunt was stripped of the ball and Muhammad grabbed the ball and raced to score for a two-score lead at 28-14 with 9:50 left in the third quarter.

"The defensive score was the difference in the game," North Little Rock coach Jamie Mitchell said. "(The defense) has carried us all year. We have been a struggle on offense from day one. We were very fortunate to win after committing three turnovers."

The offense did have some success, rushing for 245 yards and finishing off the game, marching 13 plays to run out the final seven minutes of the game. Jerrell Rice finished with 173 yards on 26 carries and two touchdowns.

"We're able to go two tight (ends) in the I and bleed the clock," Mitchell said. "We hang our hat on running the football. We just need to find a way to get some guys healthy on offense. It's been a grind. We're just using bubble gum to piece it together."

The Mavericks did have opportunities in the second half, but two possessions in the third quarter inside the Wildcat 20 ended with no points.

"The second half we had a lot of opportunities, but we never could convert," Southside coach Jeff Williams said. "We gave up a fumble for touchdown and you cannot do that against good teams. We need to make a completion or not give up a sack. These are little bitty things and they are all correctable. But if you don't get them corrected, they will hurt you."

The Charging Wildcats led 21-14 at halftime despite two turnovers. Rice rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

The Mavericks scored just before halftime on a 1-yard pass from Wehunt to Conner Austin to trim the deficit to a touchdown.

"I am proud of the kids. They played hard," Williams said. "They are getting better and better and we have a lot of football to play."

On North Little Rock's first play from scrimmage, Southside's Leighton Johnson recovered a fumble at the Wildcat 26. Two plays later, Wehunt hit Jay Washington on a screen for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 9:17 left in the first quarter.

The Wildcats answered with a 74-yard, 13-play drive capped by Rice's 2-yard run with 4:11 left in the first quarter.

Rice gave North Little Rock the lead with an 80-yard run. It was a sweep to the left side and was free at the 30 and outran the Maverick secondary for the score. The Wildcats had its first lead at 14-7 with 11:33 left in the second quarter.

After a Southside punt pinned the Wildcats at their 9, the NLR offense marched 91 yards in 17 plays capped by Kareame Cotton's 1-yard sneak for a 21-7 lead with 2:37 left in the second quarter.

NORTH LITTLE ROCK 28, FS SOUTHSIDE 14

North Little Rock 7 14 7 0 — 28

FS Southside 7 7 0 0 — 14

First Quarter

SOUTH – Washington 26 pass from Wehunt (Banda kick), 9:17.

NLR – Rice 2 run (Selhorst kick), 4:11.

Second Quarter

NLR – Rice 80 run (Selhorst kick), 11:33.

NLR – Cotton 1 run (Selhorst kick), 2:37.

SOUTH – Austin 1 pass from Wehunt (Banda kick), :01.5.

Third Quarter

NLR – Muhammad 50 fumble return (Selhorst kick), 9:50.

Four Downs

• With the win, North Little Rock has now tied the all-time series with Southside at 15-15-1. The Charging Wildcats have now won five straight over the Mavericks.

• The two teams combined for five turnovers -- three by North Little Rock and two by Southside.

• The Charging Wildcats ran off the final 7:06 of the game, marching from their 12 to the Maverick 31 in 14 plays.

• Next week, Southside travels to top-ranked Bryant while North Little Rock hosts Little Rock Catholic.

Sports on 10/12/2019

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