By JOHNNY RAY LAKE
Special to The Leader
The Charging Wildcats of North Little Rock started the week talking about living up to its potential after blowing a big lead last week against Conway. They ended the week by finally doing so, and it was bad timing for Cabot. North Little Rock capped off their Homecoming festivities Friday night with 48-0 rout of the Panthers.
After a quiet first quarter in which neither offense could get in the end zone, the Wildcats scored at will the rest of the way.
Cabot (1-5) opened the game with an impressive 12-play drive that took them to the Wildcat 22. But on fourth and two, the Panthers were stopped a yard short and turned the ball over on downs. Unfortunately for the Panthers, this would be a reoccurring theme throughout the game as Cabot finished 1 of 8 on fourth down conversions — all with less than 3 yards to convert.
North Little Rock (4-2) was not only stout on fourth down, they also recovered three fumbles by the Panthers. With the Wildcats leading 6-0 in the second quarter, Cabot once again tried to cap another 12-play drive with some points. But on third and two on the Wildcat 40-yard line, Cabot running back Ian Thompson was stripped of the ball and North Little Rock recovered.
On second and six from their own 36-yard line, Wildcat quarterback Kaylon Cooper found fullback Deon Tidwell for a short pass which Tidwell rambled for 63 yards down to the Panther 1-yard line. Cooper took it in from there, and the successful 2-point conversion made it 14-0 North Little Rock with 1:52 remaining in the first half.
After the ensuing kickoff, Cabot once again lost another turnover, this one on first down. Two plays later, Cooper found tight end Cameron Williams for yet another quick score, and with 1:08 left in the first half, the Wildcats had a commanding 21 point lead.
Cabot kicked off to the Wildcats to open the second half, and the Panther’s Zach Launius tried to get Cabot back in the game by making an impressive strip of the Wildcat return man, giving the Panthers a first down on the Wildcat 25-yard line. But three plays later, on fourth down, Cabot quarterback Zach Craig was intercepted on the Wildcat 7-yard line. North Little Rock then drove 93 yards in 12 plays to make it 28-0 with 6:10 left in the third quarter.
North Little Rock scored on the final three possessions, evoking the mercy rule with 20 seconds left in the third quarter. For the Panthers, their final three drives of the game ended when they failed to convert three fourth down conversions.
Wildcat quarterback Kaylon Cooper was an offensive threat with both his arms and legs, as he was virtually unstoppable the final three quarters of play. Cooper ended the night with 77 yards rushing, and finished an impressive 13 of 16 passing for 243 yards. His four touchdowns included one rushing and three passing.
North Little Rock finished with 536 offensive yards, while holding the Panthers to 216 total yards. For the Wildcats, quarterback Cooper and running back Kendall Williams both had 77 rushing yards to lead the team. North Little Rock ended with 293 yards on the ground.
Deon Tidwell had 121 of the Wildcats 243 passing yards, with two going for scores. The Wildcats travel across town to face Little Rock Catholic next week.
For the Panthers, quarterback Craig had 38 of the Panthers 109 yards rushing, and he added another 77 yards through the air. The Panthers hope to celebrate their homecoming next week as they face off against the Little Rock Central.
