By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Panthers again totaled a bunch yards, but again failed to come away with a win. The Panthers fell 42-20 to Springdale Har-Ber on Friday in Springdale. The game turned late in the first quarter with Har-Ber leading 7-0 and Cabot driving deep into Wildcat territory.
Cabot drove inside the Har-Ber 10-yard line, but disaster struck. An option pitch went awry and was loose on the ground. A Wildcat defender scooped it up and took 87 yards the other way for the touchdown, turning a near tie into a two-score Har-Ber lead.
Cabot struggled offensively on its next two drives, turning it over once more and punting.
Har-Ber scored on both possession and took a 28-0 lead early in the second period.
The two teams traded touchdowns from that point on. Cabot finally got on the board when halfback Weston Conard carried it in from five yards out to make it 28-7 with 5:22 left in the half.
After another Har-Ber score, fullback Ian Thompson plunged in from 1 yard out with 5:37 left in the third period.
Thompson scored again with 8:37 left in the fourth quarter to set the final margin.
The Panthers racked up 358 total yards and totaled 24 first downs. Conard led the Panthers’ rushing attack with 128 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.
The Panthers, 1-2, open conference play next week at home against Conway. The Wampus Cats are 2-1 overall, and most recently beat Rogers Heritage 38-13 on Friday.
