Hot Springs dug a hole early Friday night at Tommy J. Holt Field at Joe Reese Stadium that proved too deep to climb out of, falling 46-19 to Magnolia on homecoming.
The Panthers took the initiative from the outset in their first 5A-South Conference win of the year, gaining 190 yards to the Trojans’ zero in the first quarter. Magnolia (4-3, 1-3) scored on its first three possessions to lead 19-0 at the end of the quarter and added on in the next frame.
Louisiana-Monroe commit Kadyn Roach scored from 78 yards out for his third touchdown of the half with 8:23 to play in the second quarter, giving the Panthers a 26-7 lead that regained the momentum after a Trojan score and fumble recovery had given them life.
The senior fullback finished with a game-high 203 yards on 23 carries, including 141 in the first half. Fourteen and 11 yard touchdown runs by Amir Cooper and quarterback Braelyn Beasley extended the halftime lead to 40-7. Beasley benefited from a Trojan defense that overplayed Roach early in the game and ran for 80 of his 96 yards before halftime.
While Magnolia’s option attack rolled up 306 rushing yards in the first half, Hot Springs (1-6, 1-3) struggled to gain any traction. The Trojan offense did not make a first down until the second quarter’s opening play, a 16-yard run by junior Deante Sanders on a pitch to the outside.
The Trojans went three-and-out on six of their seven first half possessions and managed only 55 yards from scrimmage by halftime. Six penalties for 60 yards contributed to the Trojans losing ground on three of the series.
A six-play, 59-yard scoring drive was the only continuity they showed. It was sustained by a 22-yard completion from Santiair Thomas to tight end Ramello Cason on third down. Thomas capped the drive two plays later, scoring from three yards out to cut the Panthers’ lead to 19-7 with 9:35 to play in the half.
He added a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that was followed by Damien Walker’s 63-yard scoring run with 10:38 left in the game.
The Trojans finished the game 2-for-12 on third down and had 163 total yards. They were also on the wrong end of the time of possession, with Magnolia controlling the ball for almost two-thirds of the game.