Senior utility back Dashaire Ford-Burton ran for a touchdown and threw a go-ahead touchdown pass on a trick play late in the third quarter as Maumelle beat White Hall 21-14 in 5A-Central action on a windy Friday night at Bobby Tiner Stadium in Maumelle.
Maumelle never trailed, snapping a 14-14 tie when Ford-Burton, usually a wide receiver, pulled up on a sweep right and completed a 41-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Keyonte Sykes with 2:42 remaining in the third quarter.
Sykes, at safety, sealed the victory with an interception near the White Hall 40 with 1:12 remaining in the game.
Maumelle (3-2, 1-1) was playing for the first time in a month after its three previously scheduled conference games were declared no contests (covid-19).
"I knew our guys would be ready, as far as effort, and everything," Hornets Coach Kirk Horton said. "We've really turned a lot of things around with team culture the last couple of years and these guys were just ready to be back around each other."
White Hall (4-4, 2-3) was led by senior utility back/cornerback Kam Robinson, who ran for a touchdown and returned an interception for a touchdown. The Bulldogs generated only 150 total yards, including 40 rushing. Junior quarterback Matthew Martinez completed 11 of 19 passes for 110 yards. Maumelle finished with 215 total yards.
The Hornets led 14-7 at halftime.
Maumelle's second possession of the game ended when Ford-Burton -- at quarterback -- took a direct snap and ran 3 yards around left end for a fourth-and-goal touchdown with 2:16 remaining in the first quarter.
White Hall made it 7-7 following Robinson's 5-yard interception return for a touchdown with 8:50 remaining in the second quarter.
Maumelle regained the lead, 14-7, on its next possession. Senior tailback Jordan Scott capped the drive with an 18-yard run with 7:21 remaining in the first half.
Trailing 14-7, White Hall's tying touchdown was set up by senior Jacobrien Eichleberger's blocked punt and recovery at the Maumelle 5 with 5:17 remaining in the third quarter. Robinson swept right end for the touchdown seven seconds later.
The Hornets followed with a 6-play, 65-yard drive, capped by Ford-Burton's touchdown pass, on their next possession.
"When you're off for a while, like coming into the first game of the year, when you're off three weeks, you think some weird mistakes might happen," Horton said. "We had a punt blocked, which led to seven points. If you can survive that kind of adversity when you've been off for a while, you like your chances when you've got a team as talented as ours."