FOUNTAIN LAKE -- With more flags flying than one might see in a June 14 parade, Fountain Lake's homecoming game against Bauxite Friday night was festooned in yellow -- the color of an official's marker.
Penalties dragged out a 32-14 Bauxite victory at Beckham Memorial Stadium that kept the Miners unbeaten in Class 4A-7 and made Paul Calley's team eligible for the state playoffs. Logan DeBord scored two touchdowns and Fabian Torres, quarterback Connor Stacy and Malachi Griffin one each for Bauxite (6-1, 4-0), perfect since the season opener against Covington, Tenn.
No Class 4A team ends the regular season with a more challenging schedule than Bauxite against Robinson, Arkadelphia and Nashville, respectively, with the first and third games on the road. That wrecking crew outscored Fountain Lake 142-34 in consecutive weeks.
Fountain Lake (1-6, 0-4) remains in contention for a playoff spot -- the top five 4A-7 teams advance -- with Malvern, Haskell Harmony Grove and Ashdown left on the schedule. Former Fountain Lake coach J.D. Plumlee this week brings his first Malvern team to Beckham Memorial Stadium, a crucial game for both sides.
Fountain Lake scored bookend touchdowns against Bauxite, Steven DeArmon's 83-yard fumble return in the first 2:40 representing the first of three first-half turnovers collected by the Cobras. But with junior Owen Barthel leaving the game early and sophomore DeArmon shaken up in the second half, the Cobras found themselves weakened offensively while the Miners, once they quit fumbling, took control.
Bauxite matched DeArmon's early score with a one-yard touchdown run by Torres, capping a 54-yard second possession. Garrett McAllister kicked it to 7-6 with 6:43 left in the first quarter, Bauxite then stopping Fountain Lake drives to its 21- and 30-yard lines. The Cobras trailed by 14 the next time they crossed the field, reaching the Bauxite 15 as the half ended.
On third and 11 after Fountain Lake turned the ball over on downs, DeBord broke free for 71 yards, McAllister kicking for 14-6 with 2:39 before the break. Bauxite's Kane Griffin then notched his first of two interceptions and Stacy went the last 24 yards with 1:52 on the clock.
Taking over at its 33 after a defensive stop, Bauxite marched 68 yards for a score, overcoming a personal foul that negated a 59-yard touchdown keeper by Stacy. Torres went for 22 yards on the first play after the penalty, and DeBord scored from the six with 5:26 in the third quarter.
Stacy had yet another TD run called back after Bauxite stopped Fountain Lake at its 39, though Griffin scored from the one for a 32-6 Miner lead.
Junior Chris Waldrop took a pass from classmate Jack Wurz 32 yards for a Fountain Lake offensive touchdown with 1:14 to play. Wurz then passed to Asa Westerman, another junior, for two points.
Bauxite, strangely passing with a secure lead, gave it back to Fountain Lake at its 40 in the final minute but Griffin intercepted Wurz deep downfield. Fortunately, the game ended then before emotions on both sides became further heated.
Sports on 10/19/2019