Conway provides second thriller in a row in tight victory over Bentonville

The first two games for coach Keith Fimple with the Wampus Cats probably couldn’t have been more heart pumping after Conway came back and won 24-21 over Bentonville Friday night. Down 21-3 after Bentonville senior wide receiver Harrison Campbell scored on a 10-yard reverse run with 5:14 left in the third quarter. The deficit didn’t faze the Wampus Cats as they battled back and answered the Tigers’ touchdown when senior running back Cary McClain ran 71 yards for a touchdown, scoring in 58 seconds, trimming the difference down to 11. Both teams stalled out on their next drives, but Bentonville was faced with a third-and-nine when Conway junior linebacker Reed Hughes stepped in front of a Tiger senior quarterback Easton Hughes pass, giving the ball back to Conway at their 43 after an 18-yard return. After McClain pushed the ball to midfield, Wampus Cat senior Jovoni Johnson hit a wide open Will McKenna on a 50-yard double reverse pass on the second play from scrimmage, cutting the Bentonville lead to four with 8:32 left in the fourth quarter. Neither team could get anything going until Conway took over the ball with 3:27 left in the game at Bentonville’s 28 after a short punt. Keeping the ball inbounds, the Wampus Cats began to run the ball and throw short yardage plays. Conway was able to shave more than two minutes off the clock when Johnson capped off the drive with a 5-yard rushing touchdown, taking the lead for the first time since the 5:36 mark when junior kicker Will Hogue made a 26-yard field goal. With 1:09 left in the game, Bentonville was backed up to their 20-yard line, hoping to at least get in field goal range to give their team a shot to play in overtime. The Tigers started off the drive, picking up 12 yards on a pass from Easton Hughes to senior tight end Landon Beeler. However, Easton was sacked for six yards by Conway junior linebacker Dewayne Smith, setting up a 2nd-and-16. With the clock running down, Easton spiked the ball, stopping the clock. Faced with a 3rd-and-16, Easton dripped back looking for a receiver. He let go off the ball after finding his target, but Wampus Cat senior Malik Benton stepped in front of the target and intercepted Easton’s pass. Conway lined up in victory formation, giving the Wampus Cats and Fimple the second win of the season. Conway’s backfield fueled the offense with Johnson completing 13 of 23 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 89 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. McClain once again found himself rushing for a high yardage total, getting 162 yards and one touchdown on the ground on 25 carries. Next week, the Wampus Cats will look to make it 3-0 when they travel to Jonesboro to take on the Hurricane.

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CONWAY PROVIDES SECOND THRILLER IN A ROW IN TIGHT VICTORY OVER BENTONVILLE

ANDY ROBERTSON

Log Cabin Democrat | 9/4/2018