CARLISLE — Deron Ricks and Carlisle’s triple option did their job against England on Friday night.
The Bison (8-1, 6-1 6-2A) churned out 320 yards rushing in a 30-14 victory over the Lions (7-3, 5-2) at Fred C. Hardke Field to share the conference title with Hazen.
“We’re going to run the football and we’re going to try and get 3 yards,” Waymire said. “You’ve got to believe in what we do.”
Ricks, a junior running back, shouldered the bulk of the load, rushing for 145 yards and 2 touchdowns on 18 carries, leaping over the goal line with 59 seconds left to cap his evening.
Running back Justice Bryant added 85 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, while Austin Reed had 51 yards on 11 carries.
It was a good thing the running game was working for Carlisle, because the Bison had several mistakes to overcome.
Two penalties inside the England 10-yard line, including an illegal procedure penalty on Ricks, stalled a drive as the Bison settled for a 30-yard field goal for an 11-0 lead with 9:47 left in the second quarter.
On Carlisle’s next possession, quarterback Chris Hart, who was 0 of 5 passing, was picked off on his second throw by cornerback Josh Fudge, who raced 60 yards to the Carlisle 35-yard line with 3:28 left in the half.
“We just forced one,” Waymire said. “We thought we could get a play-action pass off there, and we give them a big turnover. That was a big swing there.”
Five plays later, quarterback Tyrik Harris bolted around the left end for a 10-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 11-6 with 59 seconds remaining in the first half.
Although his team out gained England 172 yards to 51 and controlled the clock for roughly 18 minutes, Waymire was wary of the Lions.
“They’re big-play people, and we know they’re capable of scoring [quickly],” Waymire said.
But Carlisle kept on doing what it does best.
The Bison kept the ball for five minutes on its first drive of the second half, with running back Josh Mathis capping the 52-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run and a 17-6 lead with 4:19 left in the third quarter.
On England’s ensuing possession, running back Curtis Rogers was stripped off the ball and Carlisle recovered at the Lions’ 38.
Carlisle used 5:49 and 10 plays to make it 23-6 on 7-yard touchdown run from Ricks.
“He’s a load, and he’s done a great job,” Waymire said. “Through 48 minutes, you feel all of that, and it takes a toll on the defense.”
England, which finished with 151 yards of total offense, trimmed the lead to 23-14 when Harris threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Derrell Drayer on the following drive.
England Coach Terry Farmer declined to comment about the game.
DES ARC 20, HAZEN 16
HAZEN - Three players scored touchdowns to lift Des Arc (5-5, 4-3) over 6-2A Conference leader Hazen (7-3, 6-1).
Jaylan Holloway and Trey Warren each had 9-yard touchdown runs for Des Arc.
Tyler Hill scored Des Arc’s other touchdown.
8-2A
JUNCTION CITY 49, NORPHLET 0
JUNCTION CITY - Junction City returned three interceptions for touchdowns, intercepted five passes in all and recovered a fumble in its regular-season finale.
It was the fifth shutout in the last six games for the Dragons (9-1, 8-0 8-2A Conference), who won the 8-2A title.
Norphlet’s Michael Tipton completed his first four passes before De’Onte Rodgers returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown to make it 12-0 in the first quarter. On the next possession, Tipton’s pass was intercepted by Jarkell Brown and returned 60 yards to make it 20-0.
Will Houston then returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown to make it 28-0.
Jaqwis Dancy ran for 200 yards on 10 carries for the Dragons, who had 345 of their 370 yards of total offense in the first half.
Tipton finished 17 of 29 for 119 yards and 5 interceptions for Norphlet (6-4, 5-3).
BEARDEN 22, STRONG 15
STRONG - B.J. Ross’ 1-yard run capped a 14-play, 79-yard drive to put Bearden up by two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter and allowed the Bears (8-2, 7-1 8-2A Conference) finish with a victory in its regular-season finale.
The drive was led without quarterback Javeaz Sledge, who left with an injury, and all of it came on running plays that took up nearly eight minutes.
Jononta Hicks’ 39-yard touchdown pass to Jarvis Nute got Strong (5-5, 4-4) within 22-15 with 24.9 seconds left. Strong recovered the onside kick, but Hicks’ pass on the following play was intercepted by Bearden’s Quintin Wilson.
Sports, Pages 27 on 11/03/2012