NORTH LITTLE ROCK — It wasn't as easy as the stat sheet said it was, but North Little Rock is the champions of the 7A/6A East Conference with a 42-14 victory over Little Rock Central.
The Charging Wildcats (9-1, 7-0 7A/6A Central) led 7-0 at the half thanks to a 3-yard rollout pass from quarterback Payton Holmes to running back Rodney Bryson with 2:54 left in the first quarter. North Little Rock led the Tigers (4-6, 3-4) 264 to 73 in total yards through the first three quarters.
In the second half, Central trimmed the deficit to one when Logan Moragne took the opening kickoff of the third quarter 98-yards up the sideline for the score.
Following a controversial touchdown catch by A.J. Tucker for the Tigers — Tucker appeared to bobble the ball while falling out of bounds in the back of the endzone, regained control and hauled it in for the score — Fabian Lewis took a double-reverse on the kickoff 90 yards for the touchdown to make it 28-14 and essentially put the game away.
North Little Rock had two players finish with 100-plus yards rushing. Altee Tenpenny capped the game with 159 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and Juan day ran the ball 17 times for 113 yards. The Charging Wildcats finished with 381 yards on the ground.
The win gives North Little Rock at least a share of their second conference title in a row. They split the 7A/6A Central title with Bryant and Conway last season.
Read more about this game in tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.