STRONG — Defending Class 2A state champion Strong scored two touchdowns in the final six minutes Friday night, with Jononta Hicks scoring one touchdown and setting up the other with an interception, to lead the Bulldogs to a 28-21 victory over Parkers Chapel in an 8-2A Conference game.
Hicks, a 5-11, 215-pound senior, scored on a 71-yard quarterback keeper to put Strong ahead for the first time. The Bulldogs added a two-point conversion to make it 22-14.
Then, Hicks stood up on defense. Standing in the middle of the field at his safety position, with Parkers Chapel facing a fourth-and-6 from the 49 with 3:05 left to play, Hicks intercepted a pass from Parkers Chapel quarterback John Tyson and returned it to the Parkers Chapel 16.
On the first play following the interception, Jamarian Ford, who rushed for 131 yards, ran 16 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion was no good, leaving the score 28-14 with 2:44 left to play.
Parkers Chapel (2-4, 1-4) bounced right back to score when Tyson completed a 54-yard touchdown pass to Kirk Havens.
Caleh Wall added the extra point to make it 28-21 with 2:01 remaining.
Parkers Chapel recovered the onside kick and moved to the Strong 36 after Philip Hay ran 14 yards, but that was as close as the Trojans would get.
Hay, an Arkansas State oral commitment, finished the game with 194 yards and two touchdowns.
Sports, Pages 29 on 10/06/2012