BRYANT -- Rainfall throughout the Bryant Hornets' 27-0 victory over the Cabot Panthers at Hornet Stadium on Friday night limited both teams' offensive potential, but it had no apparent effect on the winning team's dominance.
"With this weather, we had trouble holding on to it some, but Bryant is good and they're big," Cabot Coach Mike Malham said. "They've got a good group, and they just whupped us."
Hard, driving rain subsided to a drizzle shortly after halftime, but enough damage was done to allow Bryant Coach Buck James to turn to his reserves.
To start, Bryant (7-1, 5-0 7A-Central) and Cabot (3-5, 1-4) were held to punts on their first possessions, but senior running back Latavian Scott's 49-yard run put Bryant at the Cabot 8 midway through the first quarter. Scott scored three plays later on a 4-yard run to give Bryant a 7-0 lead.
Scott rushed for 112 yards on 17 carries in the first half but watched the second from the sideline. For the game, Bryant had 378 yards offense. It held Cabot to 152 yards.
"Our offense sputtered a bit because of the wet ball and weather, but when you play a Mike Malham team and you have a chance to win 27-0, you've done a heck of a job," James said. "Their kids are tough and physical, so I thought our kids did a good job."
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Cabot drove to the Bryant 37 after Scott's touchdown but was stopped on downs at the 38. Bryant responded with a 15-play, 62-yard drive completed by junior Grayson Scoles' 29-yard field goal to take a 10-0 lead with 8:58 left in the second quarter.
A 31-yard field goal by Scoles gave Bryant a 13-0 lead with 3:31 left that endured through halftime.
Cabot's previous three 7A-Central losses came by a total of 14 points.
"We've played close but no cigar," Malham said. "But tonight, I don't know that we were ever in it."
Junior running back Ahmad Adams scored on a 12-yard run to open the second-half scoring and give Bryant a 20-0 lead with 2:51 left in the third quarter.
A 49-yard fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Bryant reserve sophomore quarterback Austin Ledbetter to sophomore receiver Jake Meadors completed the scoring late.
Bryant has won its five conference games by an average of 28.0 points but lost to 7A-West Fayetteville 36-35 on Sept. 14. It is scheduled to play at North Little Rock, ranked No. 1, next Friday.
"We're OK, but the jury's out on if we're up there with the best teams in the state," James said. "We have to prove ourselves."
"Bryant has a good chance to go the distance," Malham said. "It's going to be pretty interesting how they do against North Little Rock next week. It should be a hell of a game."
Sports on 10/20/2018