Sophomore tailback Kendel Givens ran 12 times for 143 yards and 3 touchdowns in unbeaten Little Rock Christian's 48-41 victory over Harrison in a Class 5A nonconference game Friday night at Warrior Field.
The Warriors (3-0) never trailed, but needed a recovered onside kick by standout junior utility back Justice Hill with 54 seconds remaining in the game to finally subdue the Goblins (2-1).
Little Rock Christian amassed 505 total yards on 62 plays despite playing without starting senior tailback Ladarius Burnes (ankle injury),
Senior quarterback Jackson Bowersock completed 23 of 29 passes for 284 yards and 3 touchdowns and ran 9 times for 52 yards.
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Hill, from the Wildcat formation, ran for a 5-yard touchdown and a 48-28 lead with two minutes remaining in the third quarter. Hill also caught a 36-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter and helped the Warriors extend a 28-21 halftime lead with a long interception return to the Goblins' 27 to open the second half.
Two plays later, Bowersock completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Chris Hightower with 9:36 remaining in the third quarter.
"We've got a lot of offensive weapons," first-year Little Rock Christian Coach Eric Cohu said. "That was probably our best night, top to bottom, offensively. That was the most fluid offensive night we've had."
Harrison was led by senior quarterback Noah Ditmanson, who completed 19 of 33 passes for 271 yards and 3 touchdowns and ran for 2 more scores.
Sophomore tailback Gabe Huskey added 148 rushing yards and a touchdown on 28 carries. Huskey also caught a 13-yard touchdown pass on fourth and 7 with 5:41 remaining in the third quarter to pull the Goblins within 34-28.
But the Warriors needed only three plays to respond. Givens scored his third touchdown on a 56-yard run with 4:43 remaining in the third quarter.
Givens also ran 60 yards for a touchdown on the game's second play from scrimmage and a 2-yard run gave the Warriors a 14-0 lead with 7:27 left in the first quarter.
Huskey's 4-yard touchdown run on the final play of the third quarter trimmed the deficit to 48-35. It was 48-41 after Ditmanson ran 2 yards for a touchdown with 55 seconds remaining.
"First of all, hats off to Harrison, competing and fighting until the very end," Cohu said. "Kept making plays to stay in the game and were a very relentless competitor. They did a good job."
Sports on 09/16/2017