BLYTHEVILLE -- West Memphis withstood a sudden Blytheville rally and outlasted the Chicks 35-25.
The Blue Devils (2-0) led 28-13 with 8:56 to play in the fourth quarter before Blytheville scored two quick touchdowns to make it a 28-25 game with 6:07 to play.
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But West Memphis salted the game away on a 10-play, 51-yard drive that took 5:21 off the clock.
Senior Devonte Dean, who rushed for 113 yards on 22 carries, scored the clinching touchdown on a 1-yard run.
West Memphis Coach Billy Elmore said Blytheville's rally put the Blue Devils' character to test.
"We made just enough mistakes to keep them in the game, and they're a good ballclub," Elmore said.
West Memphis led 14-13 at halftime thanks to a 27-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Amaurius Stinnett to Joshua Hinton in the first quarter and an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by senior Rayshaad Hall.
West Memphis got a lift early in the third quarter when sophomore Desmond Howard returned a punt 30 yards to the Blytheville 25- yard line.
Dean scored the first of his two touchdowns three plays later, this one from 16 yards out for a 21-13 Blue Devils lead.
The Blue Devils extended their lead to 28-13 on a 3-yard touchdown by Martavious Thomas with 8:56 to play. Thomas rushed for 51 yards.
Blytheville (1-1) rallied behind quarterback Desmond Moore, who completed 14 of 29 passes for 184 yards.
Moore hit Corey Weatherspoon for a 15-yard touchdown to make it 28-19. He later connected with Rashon Amerson for a 41-yard touchdown pass with 6:07 to cut the Chicks deficit to 28-25.
Blytheville's onside kick was recovered by West Memphis' Joseph Eulls. The Blue Devils put the game away on Dean's second touchdown.
Sports on 09/10/2016