LR CENTRAL 28, WEST MEMPHIS 20
Little Rock Central running backs only broke one big play, but it was all the Tigers needed in a 28-20 victory Friday night over West Memphis at Quigley-Cox Stadium.
The Tigers were leading 21-14 early in the fourth quarter when senior Malcolm Williams busted through the West Memphis line for a 40-yard touchdown which provided enough cushion the rest 0f the way for the Tigers. The touchdown came just after Central Coach Ellis "Scooter" Register called timeout with his team facing fourth and 1.
"We didn't change the call," Register said. "We just wanted to make sure everybody was on the same page. Malcolm did a great job hitting the hole hard."
West Memphis (2-6, 1-4 7A/6A-East Conference) cut the Tigers' lead to 28-20 by covering 66 yards in eight plays, capped by junior quarterback Kylin Whiting's 1-yard sneak.
West Memphis had a 212-85 advantage on the ground over the Tigers (4-3, 3-1) who got a dazzling first half out from senior quarterback Cooper Westbrook, who completed 15 of 20 passes for 202 yards and 1 touchdown.
Westbrook was only 1 of 7 in the second half for 5 yards.
"We had a big letdown in the passing attack in the second half, but West Memphis is a ballclub that is getting better," said Register. "We've been seeing that on film."
Junior Richard Hayes gave the Tigers an early 7-0 lead with a 1-yard touchdown with 7:17 to play in the first quarter.
West Memphis crept to 7-6 on Stanley Gaines' 78-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. Gaines had a career-high 181 yards on 20 carries.
Westbrook found senior Hayden McCarty for a 12-yard touchdown pass to give Central a 14-6 lead, but Gaines answered back for West Memphis with his second touchdown of the night, a 7-yard score. Gaines also ran for the two-point conversion for a 14-14 tie.
Central regained the lead for good with 38.8 seconds left in the first half on a 4-yard touchdown run by Tyler Fountain.
"We looked like a football team tonight," said West Memphis Coach Billy Elmore. "This was how we want to defend the run. We did a great job of plugging up the middle and also stringing out plays on the edges."
Sports on 10/25/2014