By PATRIC FLANNIGAN
Sports writer
Delayed but not denied.
After a lightning delay and scoreboard issues led to an hour delay, the 老澳门六合彩图库 Fairview Cardinals and Arkadelphia Badgers finally faced off with the former picking up the 40-25 win.
The Cardinals trailed 17-6 at what time in the first half and the Badger's relied heavily on its ground attack. While the Cardinal defense didn't allow a run over 8 yards in the first half, the 3, 4 and 5 - yarders proved enough to keep drives alive for the visiting team. Arkadelphia showed what they wanted to do offensively on their first drive of the game when they went on a 20-play drive down to the Cardinals' 5. Arkadelphia would settle for a field goal to take the three point advantage after chewing up half of the quarter.
CF was the opposite as big plays would be the theme for its offense throughout the night. Trent Haygood returned the ensuing kickoff to the 25 and Darre'll "Juney" Atkins Jr would find Jordan Elliott for a 48 yard pass on first down. A couple of plays later, Jaden Porchia found a hole up the middle for a big 25 yard gain. Then CF would cap the drive with a 9 yard TD pass from Atkins to Haygood to put the Cardinals ahead. The PAT was partially blocked.
Arkadelphia would go back to the ground game on its next offensive drive. The Badgers would start at their 35 yard line and end up on the Cardinals' 35 as the first quarter closed. Then on the first play of the second quarter, Badger quarterback Bryceton McCoy would hit a wide open on a play action pass for a touchdown. Arkadelphia added the PAT to go ahead 10-6.
CF turned the ball over on downs at its 44 yard line and hit a first down pass to No. 1 that would get the added benefit of a facemask penalty to move the ball inside the Cardinals 10. The Badgers would keep the ball on the ground the rest of the way and Reed would score on a 3 yard run. The PAT was again true and Arkadelphia would claim the 17-6 lead with about seven minutes left in the half.
Cardinals started their next possession at their 27 yard line following the 20 yard kickoff return by Haygood and went to an empty backfield with Atkins picking up yards on quarterback keepers. Atkins would hit William Henton on an outside screen and he cut across field to pick up 15 yards and a first down at the Badger 35. CF then drew up a smooth play for Atkins to find a wide-open Justin Frazier out of the backfield for a 28 yard reception that he would've walked into the endzone if it wasn't for the turf monster. The teams would exchange penalties on the next couple of plays before Atkins found the endzone on a 5- yard TD run.
Arkadelphia moved the ball down to the Cardinal 22 before the half but missed on a fourth down pass to the endzone. CF was able to run a couple of plays to kill the remaining time in what ended up being a critical stop for the Cardinals defense as CF would receive the ball to start the second half.
The quick score ability of CF would show its face again when Haygood raced 90 on a kick-off return for a TD, but it was called back due to a holding call around the 20. CF would go downfield immediately as Henton got a step on his defender and was able to reel in a catch along the sideline for a 34 yard pick up. CF would face a third and 13 later in the drive but Atkins would find Ja'Mauri Utsey out of the backfield for a 12 yard pick up. Atkins then picked up the first down on a quarterback keeper. A couple of plays later, Henton would outjump a defender for a 29 yard TD reception to put CF ahead 18-17 with about 8 minutes left in the third. The two-point conversion failed.
Arkadelphia moved the ball down the field again and almost came up with a touchdown before Ronal "Buck" Buchanan made up for lost ground and knocked the ball out of a receivers hands at the goal line. A play later, sophomore Dakylan Hunter came up with an interception in the endzone.
CF attempted to put its foot on Arkadelphia's neck on their next drive but missed on two big passes down the field. On a third down, Atkins attempted to buy more time on a drop back but lost the ball as he was pulled down from behind. The Badgers scooped and scored from the five yard line to reclaim the lead and added a two point conversion.
CF would end up inside of the Badgers 10 yard line to start the fourth quarter and got into the endzone shortly after on another Atkins run and then Haygood took the option pitch in to add the two point conversion to go ahead 26-25.
The CF defense would play lights out in the fourth quarter, stopping the Badgers run game in the back field on first and second down before forcing an intentional grounding on a third and long. This would lead to the Badgers first punt - the only punt between the two teams - on the night. CF took over at their 14 and Atkins picked up a first on a 20 yard keeper after making a good read. The Cardinal offense would stall and face a third and 21 after a penalty. Atkins hit Dayton Browning who was able to absorb contact at the first down marker and race another20 yards down the field for a huge 52 yard pick up. A play later, Haygood took the handoff and raced for a 24 yard touchdown. Atkins kept it on the option play to get the 2 extra points.
CF's defense stood tall again as Buckhanan came up with an interception at the 22 yard line. Haygood picked up 53 yards on a handoff after being ruled out of bounds on his way to the endzone. Atkins would add the final score from the Cardinals on another run.
The Badgers would be unable to respond as they turned the ball over on downs on their last possession.