Note to Our Readers: This story was sourced in its entirety from Mr. Glenn Parrish, Communications Director, Booneville School District. Mr. Parrish is a RNN Sports contributor, and we thank him for bringing this story to our readers.
The Booneville Bearcats had 10 first half possessions Friday night in Greenland. They punted once, scored eight touchdowns, and burned the final 1:38 of the half in victory formation.
There were 440 total offensive yards in the half, 203 coming on seven Dax Goff carries, and there were eight rushing touchdowns, with four by Goff and two each by Trace Hall and Cody Elliott.
But first it was Greenland (3-3, 1-2 Conference 3A-1) with the big play, a 65-yard pass to get it started. The Pirates scored three plays later and led 7-0.
Cameron Osborne recovered an onside kick and the Bearcats (5-1, 3-0) used the advantageous field position to score in just 57 seconds.
Elliott got nine, Goff got a single yard, then Goff scored from the 39. Marcos Mullor added the point after to tie it, 7-7.
Greenland appeared to go three-and-out on its second possession but a third down defensive penalty afforded the Pirates a fresh set of downs and a 42-yard pass made it 14-7.
Even with the two big gains totaling 107 yards the Pirates would have just 174 in the first half, and would finish with 216.
A holding penalty only slowed the second Bearcat possession and Goff went 55 yards for his second touchdown to make it 14-13. Mullor’s kick was blocked.
It was the start of 48 unanswered points by the Bearcats.
Forced to punt, Greenland managed only an 11-yard effort and Peyton Tatum threw to Hall for 12 on the next play.
Hall finished the four play drive with a 14-yard run to make it 19-14. Tatum commented with Elliott on a try for two but the fullback was stopped short.
After Greenland punted again with 3:07 to go in the first quarter and there would be two fumbles that kept momentum with the Bearcats.
First, Hall saved a possession recovering an errant pitch and, after the Bearcats punted, Goff forced a fumble David Hicks recovered.
From there Tatum threw Jace Washburn a touchdown pass but saw it wiped out by a penalty.
Still, Goff went 18 yards for this third touchdown of the quarter and Mullor kicked the PAT to make it 26-14. with 50 seconds still remaining on the first quarter clock.
Greenland punted again less than a minute into the second quarter and Hall ripped off 35 on the next Bearcat play.
Hall later lost a touchdown to a flag during the drive but would run for 17 yards to set up Elliott’s 1-yard score.
Goff set up in the wildcat and ran for a two-point conversion and a 34-14 lead.
A 44-yard punt pushed the Bearcats back to their 29 to start their next possession. Goff went 71 yards for a one-play drive and Tatum scored a two-point conversion for a 42-14 lead.
Though 7:25 remained in the first half Goff would be through running the ball at that point.
On his way to 141 yards on the night, Hall wasn’t.
After another three-and-out that included a negative yardage play by Chase Plymale and Elliott, Hall ran 64 yards for a touchdown that wasn’t.
After a mark-off Hall went 62 for one that stood and Mullor added a PAT for a 49-14 lead with 5:41 left in the half.
Greenland then strung together three first downs — their first since the Pirates led 14-7 — but a Brendan Dove (shown) interception ended the drive.
Elliott carried two of the next three downs and scored on a run of 33 yards and it was 55-14. The PAT kick failed.
Elliott ran for 85 yards on nine carries.
After another three-and-out by the Pirates, with Elliott and Plymale sharing a sack to force the punt, the Bearcats opted to run out the first half clock.
Washburn took over at quarterback for the second half but was under center for just 10 plays. One of those was a 10-yard run by Garrick Barr.
Greenland scored the final points of the night midway through the final quarter.
The Pirates had another scoring opportunity after a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, but the game would end on a sack by Trevor Karow.
The Bearcats are at home this week to face Mansfield, who comes in 4-2, 1-2 after a 42-7 loss to Charleston.
