Bobcats score 28, but turnovers boost Eagles

By Scott Loftis

SLoftis@cherryroad.com

The Berryville Bobcats had their best offensive performance in a conference game this season on Friday, Oct. 21, but that wasn’t enough to overcome three second-quarter turnovers as Huntsville defeated the visiting Bobcats 49-28.

“You know, we had four turnovers,” Berryville coach Bryan Hutson said, “and a touchdown called back that was a big play, so it’s tough to win when you’ve got four turnovers and a touchdown called back. Not to mention three, maybe four, pass interference penalties.”

Berryville (1-7, 0-5 4A1) led twice in the first quarter and was within six points early in the third, but couldn’t get any closer as Huntsville held on for the win. The Bobcats’ offense was successful early, as Nick Utt’s short touchdown ran capped the game’s first possession and put Berryville up 7-0 with 10:23 left in the first quarter.

After Huntsville answered with a touchdown to tie the score, Berryville faced fourth-and-2 from its own 47. Quarterback Decimus Ruiz passed to Chet Hudgens for what would have been a 53-yard touchdown, but a penalty moved the ball back to the Huntsville 34 and the Bobcats eventually were forced to punt.

After the punt, the Bobcats held Huntsville on three plays and forced the Eagles to kick the ball back to Berryville from their own end zone. Ethan Williams returned the punt 16 yards to the Huntsville 16 and Tun Oo scored from there. Nay Blut’s extra point put Berryville up 14-7 with 3:47 remaining in the first quarter.

But Huntsville responded again, tying the score at 14 with 1:19 remaining in the first quarter.

The second quarter made all the difference as Berryville turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions. Huntsville turned two of the takeaways into touchdowns and added a third score as well to take a 34-14 lead with 43 seconds left in the first half.

The Bobcats took advantage of the remaining time, however, as Oo broke free for a 42-yard run to the Huntsville 14 and Ruiz threw to Williams for a touchdown. Blut’s extra point got Berryville within 34-21 at halftime.

The Bobcats pulled even closer on their first possession of the second half as Ruiz broke free for a long gain on a quarterback keeper to set up a 31-yard touchdown run by Oo. Blut’s extra point trimmed Huntsville’s lead to 34-28 with 9:40 left in the third quarter.

Huntsville responded, however, scoring a touchdown and two-point conversion to make it 42-28 with 7:15 left in the quarter and then tacking on another TD at the end of the quarter.

Oo finished with 230 yards rushing for the Bobcats, whose 28-point output was their most this season except for a 62-0 victory over winless Decatur, which has scored a total of six points in eight games.

“We had 320-something yards rushing and 30 or so passing, but it would have been a lot more if that pass play in the first quarter doesn’t get called back for a block in the back,” Hutson said. “That play was a touchdown, and a couple of turnovers were interceptions where guys were there. We’ve just got to execute. We can’t do that. But I also looked out there one time in the second half when it was a six-point ballgame and we’ve got six sophomores out there on defense. We’ve got six sophomores on offense. We’ve got a bunch of young guys.”

Berryville will travel to Lincoln on Friday. The Wolves (4-4, 2-3) have lost three of their last four games, including a 56-21 loss last Friday at Gentry. But Lincoln has averaged more than 35 points a game this season, and Hutson said the Wolves are dangerous offensively.

“They sling it everywhere,” Hutson said. “We’ve faced a bunch of experienced quarterbacks that can throw it. And they’ve got an experienced ballclub and a quarterback that can throw it around a lot. So another team like that to try to face with a bunch of young kids.”