Sports

JUNIOR ‘CATS FALL TO CAC

By Sean Saunders/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 11:52 PM CST

Watson Chapel Junior High missed several opportunities to come away with a win Tuesday, and Central Arkansas Christian took advantage to snag a 21-18 victory in the River City Conference Championship game at Wildcat Stadium.

Watson Chapel (8-1) appeared to have converted on a 99-yard drive on its opening possession of the second half when Xxavier Holman broke loose for a 62-yard touchdown run, but the play was called back for a block in the back. CAC (9-1) forced the Wildcats into a fourth down, and they had Jordan Stargell wide open near the goal line off a double move, but the receiver dropped the ball.

“We had that block in the back and then we didn’t score,” Watson Chapel coach Mark Cantwell said. “It was a backbreaker. We had a lot of opportunities after that, but we just couldn’t capitalize on them.”

The Mustangs took advantage of the break and drove for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown. Logan Stafford, who had seven receptions for 151 yards, sparked the drive with a 58-yard catch, and Dylan Sherrill finished with a 1-yard sneak on the first play of the fourth quarter. Sherrill also added the extra point to make it a two-possession game.

“I have to give a lot of credit to our quarterback Dylan Sherrill,” CAC coach Danny Sullivan said. “He makes us go. He’s one of those kids that can coach from the field.”

Watson Chapel got back into the game when Holman ripped off another big-gainer that resulted in a 58-yard touchdown. Holman had 118 yards on 15 carries after being held to negative-3 yards on nine carries in the first half.

But Watson Chapel was unable to come up with the stop on the ensuing series. The Wildcats forced what appeared to be a three-and-out, but they muffed the punt to give CAC back the ball. Then Watson Chapel forced what appeared to be a turnover on downs, but pass interference was called on the play. When the Wildcats finally got the ball back, there less than a minute left and they were 80 yards away from the end zone.

“The defense played their hearts out,” Cantwell said. “We had some opportunities, but we just couldn’t capitalize on it.”

A scoreless first quarter didn’t foreshadow the offensive explosion that occurred in the second. Watson Chapel’s Charles Owens got the Wildcats on the board on their opening drive of the second period with his arm and his legs. Owens sparked the Watson Chapel offense with a 67-yard run, and he finished off the drive with a 27-yard strike on a post pattern to Stargell.

But almost as quickly as Watson Chapel grabbed the lead, the score was tied at six when Dean Barnes took a wide receiver screen 53 yards for a score.

A big return by Marquis Handley set up Watson Chapel on the 50-yard line, and Handley also set up the ensuing touchdown for the Wildcats. Handley took an option pitch from Owens and raced 29 yards to the 2 before Holman plunged in for the score.

But CAC wasn’t done in the quarter. Stafford needed only two big plays to get the Mustangs back in the end zone — a 40-yard pitch-and-catch followed by a 20-yard reverse. Sherrill added the two-point conversion on a scramble to give CAC a 14-12 lead heading into halftime.

“(Stafford) was unbelievable,” Sullivan said. “... That’s the best game I have ever seen him play, and I’ve seen him play since elementary.”

Watson Chapel finished the year as the River City Conference South Division Champions after starting the year 8-0.

“We had a great season,” Cantwell said. “They worked their tail off and had a great year, and we’re excited for them.”

CENTRAL ARKANSAS CHRISTIAN 21, WATSON CHAPEL 18

CAC 0 14 0 7 — 21

Watson Chapel 0 12 0 6 — 18

SCORING SUMMARY

SECOND QUARTER

WC — Stargell 27 pass from Owens (run failed), 5:20.

CAC — Barnes 53 pass from Sherrill (pass failed), 4:04.

WC — Holman 2 run (pass failed), 1:31.

CAC — Stafford 20 run (Sherrill run), :40.

FOURTH QUARTER

CAC — Sherrill 1 run (Sherrill kick), 7:59.

WC — Holman 58 run (run failed), 7:06.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

RUSHING: CAC, Stafford 2-28, Sherrill 8-11, Hanvey 4-(-3); Watson Chapel, Holman 15-118, Handley 11-61, Owens 1-67.

PASSING: CAC, Sherrill 11-15-0-216; Watson Chapel, Owens 1-6-1-27, Langford 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING: CAC, Stafford 7-151, Barnes 1-53, Huckaby 2-12; Watson Chapel, Stargell 1-27.

Jack Robey 32, El Dorado 8

The Jack Robey Colts won their conference championship by defeating El Dorado on Tuesday at Jordan Stadium.

Walter Ashley led the way with 19 carries for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Brandon Starks had a 12-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Jackson, and Sanantonio Cole had a 7-yard touchdown run.

The score was 16-8 at halftime. El Dorado scored first, but Robey rolled after that.

Print this story   |   Email this story