Defensive-minded Trojans rout Bobcats

Hot Springs junior linebacker Adrian Conway (27) takes down Hope quarterback Hunter Hellums (7) for a sack in Friday's game at Tommy J. Holt Memorial Field at Joe C. Reese Stadium. The Trojans won 51-7. Photo by Grace Brown of The Sentinel-Record
Hot Springs junior linebacker Adrian Conway (27) takes down Hope quarterback Hunter Hellums (7) for a sack in Friday's game at Tommy J. Holt Memorial Field at Joe C. Reese Stadium. The Trojans won 51-7. Photo by Grace Brown of The Sentinel-Record

For a team whose coach is focused on defense, Hot Springs put on an offensive performance to match its defensive output Friday night as the Trojans routed the Hope Bobcats 51-7 at Tommy J. Holt Memorial Field at Joe C. Reese Stadium.

The Trojans (3-2, 2-0 5A South) put up their best offensive performance of the year as the team compiled 523 yards of offense while holding the Hope Bobcats (1-4, 1-1) to a mere 137 yards and seven first downs.

"That's a great win, a great win," said Hot Springs second-year head coach Darrell Burnett. "The biggest thing is, like I told the kids, we were on that side of the fence last year as far as taking those type of losses. I'm proud of the kids because it was a game they were expected to win, which is different. We were doing a lot of hoping and wishing last year, so we were expected to win and we were expected to win [by] a pretty decent factor. And our kids came out with that mindset of being hungry, being greedy and came out the first quarter finally and played ball."

The Trojans scored on each of their first five possessions.

Following the second score of the game, Malik Brewer muffed a punt that was recovered by Hope's Au'vion Horton at the Trojans 48, turning a three-and-out into a 19-yard gain for the Bobcats with 1:32 left in the opening period. The Bobcats gained up to the 45 on four plays, turning the ball over at the horn.

Hope was held to just 18 yards in its first two drives and 72 total yards in the first half.

"They dominated us in the trenches, and if you know football, that's where it starts, up front, and they got the best of us tonight on both sides of the ball," said Hope head coach Phillip Turner. "I give coach Burnett and his staff credit, as well as the kids, they played well tonight. They deserve that win."

The defensive-minded Burnett was pleased with keeping the Bobcats under 20 yards in their first two drives.

"That's huge. That's a testament to our kids," he said. "Some of those guys on defense played last year, so they went through the battles and that's what you're supposed to do. ... You're supposed to put your stamp on it.

"We want to score and create turnovers every game, and we keep talking about being that 2001 Miami Hurricane defense. We're playmakers all over the field, so I'm proud of kids. Coaches did great, too."

Following the Trojans' fourth touchdown of the night, Hope worked the ball down the field on an eight-play, 74-yard drive to find the end zone. Quarterback Hunter Hellums hit Davian Durden on a 19-yard pass to put the Bobcats within 19 after Jimmy Pardes' kick.

"You know, we gave up the one score on defense, but that was followed by some offsides and unsportsmanlike penalties, hitting the quarterback on the sideline," Burnett said. "So I was upset about that one touchdown, but overall, man, offense was quick and real balanced. Defense played hard. [We] want to create a lot more turnovers. We want three to four turnovers a game. We still got improve on that factor so. A great win for the kids, a great win for the community. We appreciate everyone coming out in the rain and supporting us."

Turner said that he was not surprised to see the Trojans earn the win.

"Like I told the kids last week after our Friday night game [when] we played De Queen," he said. "The team that prepares well for this game is going to win this game. And they prepared better than we did. We didn't have a good week of practice, kind of sluggish, and it showed tonight. So the best team won."

Hot Springs will host De Queen for homecoming next week, and the Bobcats will host McClellan.

1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q F

Hope 0 7 0 0 7

Hot Springs 13 20 12 6 51

First quarter

HS--James Dawson 19 pass from Isaac Shelor (kick failed), 9:25.

HS--Malik Brewer 3 run (David Carter kick), 3:10.

Second quarter

HS--Carlos Brewer 18 run (kick failed), 10:12.

HS--C. Brewer 14 run (David Carter kick), 8:13.

H--Davian Durden 19 pass from Hunter Hellums (Jimmy Pardes kick), 4:31.

HS--Malik Cooper 21 pass from Shelor (David Carter kick), 1:56.

Third quarter

HS--M. Brewer 29 pass from Shelor (conversion failed), 4:12.

HS--M. Brewer 15 run (David Carter kick), 3:43.

Fourth quarter

HS--Brandon Griffin 1 run (kick failed), 4:33.

H HS

First downs 7 29

Total yards 137 523

Rushes-yards 18-101 40-327

Passing 36 196

Comp-Att-Int 4-24-1 13-17-0

Punts-yards 7-260 0-0

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-2

Penalties-yards 6-26 6-55

Time of possession 18:16 29:44

Individual statistics

Rushing -- Hope, Ammorrion Dempsey 5-56, Hunter Hellums 5-22, Jarod Hamilton 6-15, Ladarius Watson 1-6, Keyuan Booker 1-2. Hot Springs, Carlos Brewer 21-211, Brandon Griffin 10-60, Malik Brewer 9-56.

Passing -- Hope, Hellums 4-24-1-36. Hot Springs, Isaac Shelor 13-17-0-219.

Receiving -- Hope, Davian Durden 2-26, Ragee Lawson 1-12, Mckinsey Davis 1-0. Hot Springs, M. Brewer 6-112, Malik Cooper 2-29, Trent Gordon 1-20, James Dawson 1-19, Pierce Smalley 1-15, C. Brewer 1-14, Jayvion West 1-10.

Sports on 10/06/2019

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