Little Rock Catholic showed its resiliency and in the process spoiled North Little Rock's first game in its new stadium.
Senior running back Lance Harville-Thomas scored on a 7-yard touchdown run in overtime, and the Rockets held off the Charging Wildcats 32-25 on Friday night at Charging Wildcat Stadium.
North Little Rock was playing its first game in its $7.5 million stadium that is part of the North Little Rock School District's $245 capital improvement project. It also was Jamie Mitchell's first game as Charging Wildcats head coach after taking over for Brad Bolding in the offseason.
North Little Rock junior Alex Day ran for 181 yards, but it wasn't enough against the Rockets.
"We got down, but we picked up in the second half," Catholic Coach John Fogleman said. "It looked like we might be tired and dead, but we started playing with a little bit of a hunger."
Day ran 51 yards for a game-tying touchdown that tied the score at 25-25 with 1:56 left.
North Little Rock won the toss to start overtime and went on defense, but Harville-Thomas scored from 7 yards out to put the Rockets ahead 32-25.
The Charging Wildcats gave the ball to Day on their first play in overtime, but he fumbled and senior Drake Enderlin recovered it for the Rockets to end the game.
""You feel for the kid that it has to end like that," Fogleman said. "What a great game. What a high school environment."
It was a tough way for the Charging Wildcats to end their first game in their new stadium, Mitchell said.
"We didn't make the plays when we needed to make them," Mitchell said.
Harville-Thomas rushed for 106 yards and 1 touchdown, a 25-yard run in the third quarter, on 24 carries. He also returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.
Senior quarterback Andre Sale completed 15 of 25 passes for 164 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception for Catholic.
North Little Rock senior quarterback Corvasea Cooney added 50 rushing yards on 10 carries and completed 2 of 9 passes for 37 yards. Junior running back Wynton Ruth rushed for 46 yards and 1 touchdown, a 6-yarder, on 9 carries. Sophomore wide receiver David Chapple scored on a 6-yard run in the first quarter.
North Little Rock sophomore kicker Savannah Melton made a 24-yard field goal, and Little Rock Catholic's Christopher Elser kicked a 30-yard field goal.
Sports on 09/05/2015