BAUXITE 41, JOE T. ROBINSON 35
BAUXITE -- Daryl Patton got his signature victory with the Bauxite Miners against one of the top teams in Class 4A on Friday night.
Senior quarterback Seth McDowell scored from one yard out with 12 seconds to play and the Miners held off No. 2 Joe T. Robinson 41-35 on a rainy night at The Pit.
Bauxite (8-0), the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's No. 6 team in Class 4A, improved to 5-0 in the 7-4A Conference and leads Robinson (6-2, 5-1) by one game. The Miners finish the regular season at Arkadelphia on Friday and at home against Nashville on Nov. 2.
Two years ago, the Miners were 0-10. This year, they're on the verge of winning their first conference championship since 2007.
"They've gone through the troubles of two years ago. They get it," said Patton, who is in his third season at Bauxite after leading Fayetteville to four state championships. "No situation is too big. We made some mistakes tonight to hurt ourselves, but our kids overcame the adversity.
"I'm so excited for the Bauxite community, the school and the administration. This was a big win for us."
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Senior running back Dawson Dabbs rushed for 265 yards and 2 touchdowns on 30 carries for Bauxite. McDowell accounted for 93 yards, including 41 rushing, and 4 touchdowns (2 passing, 2 rushing).
Bauxite rushed for 370 yards and finished with 422 overall. The Miners held Robinson to 177 yards and allowed 1 pass of 11 yards.
The Miners trailed 35-34 with 2:30 left when Senators sophomore running back Hunter Smith fumbled and senior linebacker Eason Sandage recovered at the Senators 29.
Then, the Miners turned to its Dead-T offense and went to work against the Senators.
Dabbs ran 11 yards on third-and-six for a first down to the Senators 14. On the next play, Dabbs went up to the middle and fell at the 1 with 1:30 left, in part to preserve time, Patton said.
The Miners ran three more plays, culminating with McDowell's one-yard dive to the right to make it 41-35. Senior Turner Southard's extra-point attempt was wide left, leaving the deficit at six points.
With 12 seconds left and no timeouts at its 49, Robinson had one last opportunity.
Senior quarterback Greyson Tackett scrambled, eluding several defenders. But his pass fell incomplete with no time remaining, as Bauxite students and fans rushed the field.
Robinson senior Mekel Kentle, who finished with 147 yards and 4 touchdowns on 16 carries, scored from 18 yards out to give the Senators a 35-27 lead with 7:08 left.
Dabbs' 4-yard run and senior Elijah Cruz' two-point conversion helped Bauxite tie the game at 35-35 with 4:04 remaining.
For Bauxite, senior tight end Zack Lasage caught two touchdown passes of 30 and 7 yards, both in the second half.
Robinson senior defensive end Zach Williams, who has orally committed to the University of Arkansas, had a 40-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Senators Coach Todd Eskola was disappointed in his team's effort Friday.
"We didn't play very well," Eskola said. "Hat's off to them. They played a heck of a ballgame. They came off the ball all night. They took care of the ball in the second half.
"Quite frankly, we didn't play very good at all. That begins with me and funnels down through our coaches and players. We have to do a better job.
"We have to rebound and come back and get ready for Ashdown next week."
Sports on 10/20/2018