CHERRY VALLEY -- Cross County's Anfernee Davis rushed for 330 yards and 4 touchdowns, including a 70-yard run with 1:25 to play, to lift the Thunderbirds to a 36-29 victory over Murfreesboro in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs.
The victory enabled Cross County (10-1) to knock Murfreesboro out of the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
But Friday's victory, unlike last year's 32-18 triumph, was always in doubt.
Murfeesboro (4-7) led 29-28 with 1:46 to play when Tyler Gilbert caught his second touchdown pass from JC Motley, a 35-yard play to give the Rattlers the lead.
Murfreesboro led for 21 seconds.
Cross County (10-1) returned the ensuing kickoff to its 30, and Davis took a handoff and ran untouched down the Cross County sideline to give the Thunderbirds the lead, and the victory.
Davis also scored on touchdown runs of 7, 75 and 49 yards.
Cross County outgained Murfreesboro 417-356, overcoming a 161-yard receiving performance from Gilbert, who scored on a pass of 82 yards from Motley as well as the 35-yard play.
Murfreesboro led 7-0 after driving 61 yards in 10 plays. Cameron Snowden scored on a 3-yard run with 8:26 to play in the first quarter to give the Rattlers the lead.
Cross County came back with Davis' 7-yard run wit 4:54 to play in the first quarter, but the two-point conversion failed and Murfreesboro led 7-6.
Davis scored again for Cross County -- on a 75-yard run down the Thunderbird sideline -- with 2:14 remaining in the first quarter to give it a 12-7 lead after the defense forced Murfreesboro to punt in five plays.
Murfreesboro went into halftime leading 15-12 after Gavin Gardner scored on a 24-yard pass from Motley with four seconds left in the second quarter.
Murfreesboro scored on its first possession of the second half after intercepting Cross County. The Rattlers needed one play for Motley to find Gilbert open down the middle of the field for an 82-yard touchdown reception and a21-12 lead with 9:55 to play in the third quarter.
CrossCcounty countered with Davis' 49-yard run and a two-point conversion to pull within 21-20.
Cross County took a 28-21 lead with 7:29 left in the fourth quarter after a 7-yard run by Marcus Boykin and two-point conversion ended the 10-play drive covering 53 yards.
CONWAY CHRISTIAN 28, DIERKS 8
CONWAY — Jakob Henry threw three touchdown passes to lead Conway Christian (7-4) past Dierks (5-5).
Henry completed 19 of 31 passes for 240 yards. He threw touchdown passes of 30 yards to Jon Mark Wood, and 33 and 25 yards to Seth Smith.
Smith led the Eagles receivers with six catches for 110 yards. He also returned an interception 65 yards for Conway Christian’s first touchdown.
Trendin McKinney rushed for 149 yards and 1 touchdown on 17 carries.
DES ARC 44, WALNUT RIDGE 0
DES ARC — Ontario Conway rushed 9 times for 191 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead Des Arc (10-1) over Walnut Ridge (6-5) in the opening round of the Class 2A playoffs. Conway scored on a 28-yard run and an 80-yard run for the Eagles, who finished with 394 yards in total offense, including 358 yards rushing. Trey Lee, Daylon Conway, Noah Kennedy and Hayden Flud also scored for Des Arc.
ENGLAND 71, UNION CHRISTIAN 12
ENGLAND — Quarterback Brayden Brazeal was 8 of 12 for 120 yards and 3 touchdowns as England (11-0) defeated Union Christian (2-6). Running back Malik Coleman added 11 carries for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns for the Lions. Running backs Zach Montgomery and Simeon Brooks also scored two touchdowns each. B.J. Thompson caught two passes for 50 yards, both for touchdowns.
GURDON 40, QUITMAN 19
GURDON — Jackie Harrell scored four touchdowns as Gurdon (7-4) won its Class 2A playoff games over Quitman (5-6). Harrell rushed for three scores and caught a touchdown pass.
B.J. Brewer added a touchdown reception and Jackson Kirkpatrick ran for a touchdown for Gurdon.
HACKETT 46, CARLISLE 8
HACKETT — Bryce Elmore rushed for 195 yards and three touchdowns to lead Hackett (10-1) past Carlisle (4-7) in the Class 2A playoffs.
Elmore ran 74 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Adriene Lasko ran 54 yards for another Hackett touchdown.
HECTOR 56, PARKERS CHAPEL 14
HECTOR — Quarterback Tanner Gaines passed for three touchdowns and rushed for two more as Hector (11-0) beat Parkers Chapel (3-6).
Gaines completed 18 of 20 passes for 217 yards and rushed for 86 yards.
Jacob Billingsley rushed for 94 yards on 13 carries and scored 3 touchdowns.
JUNCTION CITY 48, JOHNSON CO. WESTSIDE 0
JUNCTION CITY — C.J. Johnson had 6 carries for 100 yards and 1 touchdown as Junction City (7-2) rolled past Johnson County Westside (6-5).
Mason Gorman added two touchdowns on runs of 1 and 18 yards, while David added a 38-yard run and Blake McLellan scored on a 3-yard run.
LAFAYETTE COUNTY 55, STRONG 26
STAMPS — Tre Burks rushed for 203 yards and 3 touchdowns on 22 carries as Lafayette County (8-3) handled Strong (4-7). Derrick Lemay passed for 194 yards and three touchdowns and Cualan Williams caught 3 passes for 105 yards and 2 touchdowns.
MAGNET COVE 43, EARLE 36
EARLE — Magnet Cove (5-6) forced five turnovers in a victory over Earle (8-3). The Bulldogs, which lost to Cross County last week to fall to the No. 2 seed in the 3-2A Conference, had two fumbles and an interception on their first three possessions, which led to the Panthers’ 21-0 lead. Harrison Wade threw two touchdown passes for Magnet Cove. Zach Dunlap added two touchdown runs for the Panthers.
MOUNT IDA 49, SALEM 8
MOUNT IDA — Cody Roberson rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns to help Mount Ida (11-0) beat Salem (4-7). Jesse Lowry added 115 yards rushing and 47 yards receiving and two scores for the Lions. T.J. Wilson passed for one touchdown and scored another on a 54-yard run.
Sports on 11/14/2015