By JOHNNY RAY LAKE
Special to The Leader
MOUNTAIN HOME – The Cabot Panthers wasted little time in putting points on the scoreboard as they scored on their first two offensive touches, defeating the Bombers in Mountain Home Friday night 35-0 to remain undefeated.
The Panthers started their first offensive series on their own 38, and on the first play from scrimmage, senior running back Zachary Launius broke several tackles and rumbled 68 yards for the touchdown. The extra point was good and Cabot had a 7-0 lead just 27 seconds into the game.
After holding the Bombers to three and out, the Panthers returned the punt to the Bomber 44-yard line. On only their second offensive play, senior running back Preston Jones ran through the Bomber defense for a 44-yard touchdown. The extra point gave Cabot a 14-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.
The Bombers started their second offensive series with a 12-yard completion from senior quarterback Drake Walker to Josh Newton. After three consecutive incompletion pass attempts, Mountain Home was once again forced to punt. On third and 11 from midfield, Kimbrell ran a perfect play action pass and found a wide-open Jacob Ferguson down the right sideline for a 50-yard touchdown pass. After the extra point, the Bombers found themselves quickly down 21-0 with 7:34 remaining in the first quarter.
The Bombers tried again to get something going against the stingy Panther defense on the next series, but Jacob Ferguson showed his catching ability once again – this time on defense – as he intercepted Walker and returned the ball to the Cabot 30-yard line.
A holding penalty by the Panthers on the return backed the offense to begin its fourth offensive series on the Panther 40-yard line.
This time the Panthers took over five minutes off the clock to once again score through the air, this time Kimbrell finding Launius for a 4-yard score. The extra point gave the Panthers a 28-0 lead with 2:07 remaining in the first quarter.
The Bombers tried to sustain a drive going into the second quarter, but a 10-yard sack by linebacker Brandon Allinder forced the Bombers into a third and 24 from their own 17-yard line.
After an incompletion, Mountain Home was forced again to punt from deep in their own territory, and Cabot started their next series with good field position on the Bomber 43-yard line.
Four plays later, Kimbrell passed for his third touchdown of the game, once again to Ferguson for his second receiving touchdown of the half. The Panthers would then take a 35-0 lead into halftime.
With the clock running nonstop in the second half, neither team could get their offense in sync.
Mountain Home drove into Panther territory to start the second half. But on fourth and 7 from the Panther 48-yard line, the Bombers were forced to once again punt.
Cabot would begin their first drive of the second half on their own 23-yard line. On third down from their 40-yard line, the Bombers would force their only turnover of the contest with the recovery of a fumble.
Starting with their best field position of the game on the Panther 40-yard line, the Bombers drove down to the Panther 13.
With the Bombers threatening to score, Patrick Neyhart had a timely sack of Walker for an 8-yard loss on third and 4 yards to go. And on fourth down, Walker’s pass was incomplete, giving Cabot the ball on their own 21-yard line.
Cabot would drive to the Mountain Home 46-yard line before being forced to punt.
The Bombers would take over on their own 10-yard line, but could only get to the 41-yard line before time expired.
Cabot would hold Mountain Home to just 107 total net yards in preserving the shutout. Walker completed only 10 of 25 passes for 59 yards, and the Bombers’ ground game managed just 62 yards. Walker was sacked three times for a loss of 28 yards.
The Panthers had 329 total yards for the game, with Kimbrell completing all four of his pass attempts for 72 yards and three touchdown passes. Jacob Ferguson caught three passes for 67 yards and two scores.
Launius led the Panther rushing attack with seven carries for 119-yards and a score. Kolton Eads had 49 rushing yards, and Cabot used seven different runners to accumulate 257 yards rushing for the game.
The Panthers (6-0, 3-0) host Little Rock Central next week.
