McTelvin Agim made no carries, but helped Hope's offense tremendously.
Two long kickoff returns by the Arkansas commit set up touchdowns, the second a go-ahead six-yard pass to Cory Briggs early in the third quarter. Hope's defense shut out Hot Springs the rest of the way, and Stubber added a 30-yard scoring pass to Andrew Washington in a 25-14 win Friday night at Reese Memorial Stadium.
While Hope moves to 2-0 in 5A-South, Hot Springs falls to 0-2 after a 3-0 nonconference start.
"I'm proud of our kids. They beat a very good team," Hope coach Jay Turley said.
Stubber went 15 for 24 for 224 yards and four touchdowns. He threw a 13-yard TD strike to Treyvon Lawson in the first quarter and a 80-yarder to Washington in the second.
Hot Springs dominated the first half, at least in time of possession. Keeping the ball on the ground for 46 of their 48 plays -- including two punts and a missed field goal, the Trojans had it for more than 18:30 of 24 minutes.
Hope ran 17 plays, two going for touchdowns.
Hot Springs' most time-consuming possession was its first. With help of a roughing-the-kicker penalty, the Trojans held the ball for the opening 10:24, scoring on Korey Wasson's one-yard sneak. It was the drive's 19th play. The two longest were 14- and 17-yard runs by fullback Matt Galloway and Kayvon Ward.
Hope answered on its first play, Lawson taking a quick out from Stubber and going 13 yards for a touchdown. It came after Agim's 81-yard kickoff return, an offside penalty moving the Bobcats to the 13.
Kamar Brown clocked Jonathan Garcia's point-after kick, leaving the Trojans ahead 7-6.
Hot Springs missed a chance after Wasson returned an interception 35 yards to Hope's 23, the Trojans settling for Erick Gaudron's 43-yard field goal that fell short.
On the next play, Stubber found Washington alone down the right sideline for an 80-yard touchdown. Stubber's pass for the conversion was high for Agim, leaving Hope with a 12-7 lead.
Hot Springs answered with an 83-yard drive, Wasson tossing an 18-yard pass to Floyd for a go-ahead TD. Gaudron's kick game the Trojans a 14-12 halftime lead.
Hot Springs plays De Queen at home next week. Hope is home against Watson Chapel, also 2-0 in conference, before an Oct. 16 trip to Lakeside, 2-0 in the league after beating Magnolia 40-13 on the road Friday night.
Sports on 10/03/2015