By KELLY FENTON
Leader sports editor
Beebe head coach John Shannon thinks that just maybe his Badgers have put the 41-14 Homecoming loss to Monticello two weeks ago behind them.
The Badgers appeared to, anyway, after playing what Shannon called their best game of the season in shutting down Mills 31-6 on Friday night at “Bro” Erwin Stadium.
“Yeah, I think it was the best on both sides of ball all year,” said Shannon, whose Badgers scored the first four times they had the ball and improved to 6-2 overall, 4-1 in the 5A-Southeast. “We had our best week of practice and the kids were really focused.”
Sammy Williams led the offensive assault with 134 yards on 29 carries. His 12-yard touchdown run put the Badgers up 7-0 with 2:59 left in the opening period.
The Beebe defense, which allowed a sometimes high-powered Mills offense only 59 total yards, had its only letdown of the game on the ensuing Comet possession. Mills’ score narrowed the lead to 7-6 four seconds into the second period, but Victor
Howell blocked the extra point to preserve the lead.
Williams scored from 13 yards with 5:14 left in the half, and Brandon Pursell scored from 10 yards out with 33 seconds remaining as Beebe took a 21-6 lead into the locker room.
With 6:10 left in the third, quarterback Roger Glaude scored from four yards, and Glaude added a 21-yard field goal in the final period to set the final margin.
In addition to Williams’ total, Pursell added 61 yards on 12 carries. Luke Gardner had 43 on 10 and Glaude carried eight times for 35 yards.
“Our dive play worked as well as it has all season,” Shannon said of the success Gardner and Pursell enjoyed. “The option worked early and really loosened things up.”
As for that Monticello fiasco, Shannon said it may be time to put it to rest.
“We played 3 ½ good quarters last week and four good quarters this week,” he said. “I think we got that bad taste out of our mouth. But it’s no easier next week.”
Beebe travels to White Hall for a 7 p.m. kickoff.