BAUXITE -- Bauxite backup quarterback Hunter Davis threw to wide receiver Damon Irvin, who leaped over a defender to haul in a 26-yard touchdown with 1.6 seconds remaining that gave the Miners a 53-49 win over Malvern in a thrilling 7-4A Conference opener at The Pit.
"We took a chance when we were playing for a field goal, but it was a great pass by Hunter and Damon went up for it with one-on-one coverage and made the play," Bauxite Coach Daryl Patton said. "It was a big win."
Bauxite had trailed the entire game, falling behind as much as 35-18 early in the second half, but the last touchdown pass on third-and-20 put the Miners ahead for the first time. On the ensuing kickoff, Malvern lateraled the ball twice to get it in the hands of Demias Jimerson, who ran through the Miners but lost his footing at the Bauxite 37, ending the game.
"These guys don't quit," Patton said. "They were 0-10 last year. They were young pups and didn't know, but they worked hard and believed everything we said as coaches. This is a gritty bunch. Malvern is a great ball team. They are going to win a lot of games and that Jimerson, I don't want to see him again. Our kids just refused to quit. At halftime, nobody panicked and they said that they would get it done. The offense played exceptional tonight and they dug in at the end to get the win."
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Jordan Hart scored his fourth touchdown of the game to make it a 49-38 Malvern lead with 2:54 left. After Bauxite scored on quarterback Seth McDowell's 1-yard sneak with 1:13 to go, Dawson Dabbs ran in the 2-point conversion to cut Malvern's lead to 49-44.
An onside kickoff followed and was eventually ruled Bauxite's ball after a five-minute deliberation by the officials after signaling Malvern's ball. As Malvern Coach Mike Scarborough was at midfield trying to get an explanation, Emmanuel Hervey was eventually credited with recovering the onside kick for Bauxite.
"It was very controversial," Patton said. "We had the ball and you can't let it go on forever. Malvern was fighting and scratching for it, but we had the ball at the bottom of the pile."
Malvern opened the game by blocking a Bauxite punt attempt, scoring six plays later on a 5-yard run from Hart for a 7-0 lead. Bauxite answered immediately when Dabbs broke free for a 64-yard touchdown to tie the game 7-7. Jimerson passed to Darion Weaver for a 43-yard gain on Malvern's next possession and two plays later, Hart scored on a 3-yard run for a 14-7 lead.
Bauxite put together a 15-play drive that resulted in a 23-yard field goal from Matthew Babazanges with 10:34 to play in the second quarter to make it 14-10. Nine plays later, Hart scored on a 1-yard plunge for a 21-10 Malvern lead. Bauxite came back on Dabbs' 35-yard touchdown run and he added the 2-point conversion to cut the Leopards lead to 21-18 with 3:40 to go before halftime.
Jimerson broke free for a 36-yard run and two plays later, he scored from 13 yards out to put Malvern ahead 28-18 by halftime. Jimerson added a 22-yard touchdown run on Malvern's first possession of the third quarter for a 35-18 lead.
Bauxite closed the gap to 35-24 on a 17-yard touchdown run from McDowell. After a Malvern punt, Dabbs broke free for a 64-yard touchdown run and Bauxite added a 2-point conversion to trail 35-32 on the last play of the third quarter.
Jimerson opened the fourth period by returning Bauxite's kick off 79 yards for a touchdown to put Malvern up 42-32. Two 15-yard penalties on Malvern allowed Bauxite to get a 7-yard touchdown run from Eason Sandage with 10:03 remaining to cut the lead to 42-38.
Dabbs led Bauxite with 242 yards on 19 carries, while Malvern was led by Jimerson with 141 yards on 14 rushes.
Sports on 09/23/2017