Sports

RICEBIRDS COME HOME TO RULE THE ROOST

By Josh Troy/SPECIAL TO THE COMMERCIAL
Saturday, October 11, 2008 1:08 AM CDT

STUTTGART — Homecoming for the Stuttgart Ricebirds football team was celebrated with a victory Friday night at home against the Bald Knob Bulldogs. Although there was many areas in which Ricebird coach Todd Barnes felt his team could have played better, Stuttgart won 42-26.

“That’s (Stuttgart victory) good,” Barnes said. “Our execution and effort was not good.”

“In the first quarter, our kids did not believe they wanted to play with them,” Bulldogs head coach Paul Johnston said. “The longer we went defensively, the longer we gained confidence.”

Bulldogs were able to get four turnovers in the red zone.

However, things did not start going the Bulldogs way until the Ricebirds (6-0, 3-0 2-4A) already had a 21-0 lead in the first quarter.

On the second play of the game, Ricebird quarterback Zach Boleware ran for a 77-yard touchdown.

Two plays after the Bulldogs (2-4, 0-3) made a bad snap on a punt, Reid Counce capped off a two-play, 23-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown run for Stuttgart with 9:43 to play in the first quarter to make it 14-0.

Anthony Wilson’s 59-yard touchdown run with 6:11 left in the first quarter capped an 83-yard drive and gave Stuttgart a 21-0 lead.

After a Stuttgart fumble late in the quarter, Bald Knob quarterback Nick Glaze connected with Gabe Gavin on a 26-yard touchdown pass and, after a failed two-point conversion, Stuttgart led 21-6. But the Bulldogs weren’t able to keep the momentum.

Boleware completed a 61-yard touchdown pass to Cody Burnett and ran for a 69-yard touchdown to make it 35-6 at halftime.

After Gavin ran a punt back to the Stuttgart 33-yard line for the Bulldogs, Eli McGlothlin ran in a 5-yard touchdown for Bald Knob with 6:33 to play in the third quarter. The two-point conversion failed so Stuttgart led 35-12.

Interceptions by Burnett and Tony Pulliam for the Ricebirds in the third quarter kept the Bulldogs from scoring, but Bald Knob would make it closer in the fourth quarter.

Chad Cates threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Royce Smith with 9:23 to play in the third quarter for the Bulldogs. Once again, the two-point conversion was no good and Stuttgart led 35-18.

Boleware threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Logan Ward for the Ricebirds with 7:12 to play in the fourth quarter. Sullivan’s PAT gave Stuttgart a 42-18 lead.

Burnett setup the score with an interception he returned from deep in Ricebirds territory to the Bulldogs 18-yard line.

Cates completed a 41-yard touchdown pass to Royce Smith with 1:34 to play in the game. The two-point conversion was completed to Hunter Mason, which cut Stuttgart’s lead to 42-26 and that score would hold up.

For Stuttgart, Boleware ran for 171 yards and two touchdowns.

Jutrell Wilbert also had an interception for Stuttgart.

The Ricebirds are back in action at 7 p.m. next Friday when they travel to Clinton to face the Yellowjackets.

Print this story   |   Email this story