By JOHNNY RAY LAKE
Special to The Leader
MOUNTAIN HOME – The Bombers kept pace with Cabot for one quarter, but then the Panthers ran away with the win, defeating the Bombers in Mountain Home Friday night 52-18.
Mountain Home marched 80 yards on fourteen plays ending with a 3-yard touchdown run up the middle by senior quarterback Zane Walker. The extra point gave the Bombers a 7-0 lead.
Cabot’s first possession of the game stalled on the Bomber’s 47-yard line. On the ensuing possession, Panther defensive end Lino Garcia recovered a Bomber fumble on the 18-yard line. Cabot running back Kolton Eads needed only one carry to get in the end zone, scoring from 18-yards out. The extra point tied the game with 1:12 remaining in the first period.
Mountain Home enjoyed great field position after the ensuing kickoff as Dakota Sutterfield returned it 38 yards to the Bomber 45-yard line. The Bombers drive stalled at the Panther 17-yard line, and on fourth down Jose Hernandez made a 34-yard field goal to put the Bombers up 10-7 with 8:07 remaining in the first half.
But any momentum Mountain Home had ended on the ensuing kickoff. Jalen Hemphill fielded the kick on his own 14-yard line and outraced the Bombers special teams 86 yards for the touchdown. With 7:49 remaining in the firs half, Cabot led 14-10.
The Panther defense played stout on the next drive, including a 10-yard sack, and the Bombers were forced to punt. Cabot scored in six plays and 68-yards, capped by an 18-yard touchdown run by Hemphill with 2:49 left in the half.
Miscues by the Bombers derailed them with less than two minutes left in the second quarter. A false start penalty on first down pushed the Bombers back, and they were forced to punt four plays later.
Cabot would then have a 35-yard touchdown by Hemphill called back due to a holding call, and then a fumble on third and 20 that was recovered by Cabot seemed to have pinned the Panthers deep in their own territory. But penalties by both teams on the play, including a late hit by the Bombers, gave the Panthers a fourth down and 19 yards to go at midfield.
Eads then gave the Panthers a fresh set of downs by rushing 28-yards down to the Bomber 22-yard line. But Cabot still had to settle for a field goal.
Junior Christian Underwood made a 44-yard field goal with three seconds left in the first half to give Cabot a 21-10 lead at intermission.
Mountain Home got the ball first and had chance early in the third quarter to get back in the game, but a fumbled snap and two penalties led to a bad series and another punt.
Kolton Eads would then take over the game. On first and ten from his own 20-yard line, Eads plowed through several defenders and outraced the Bomber secondary for an 80-yard touchdown run. After the successful extra point, Cabot led 31-10 with 9:07 remaining in the third quarter.
The Bombers gambled on their next possession and went for it on fourth down from their own 42-yard line. Cabot smothered the Bombers for no gain, and took over deep in Bomber territory. The Panthers would need only eight plays to score, ending with a 5-yard touchdown run by Eads with 4:53 remaining that made it 38-10.
Once again the Bombers were forced to punt. On third and three from their own 35-yard line, Eads ran through arm tackles and sprinted 65-yards to another long touchdown run. The extra point gave the Panthers a 45-10 lead with 2:55 remaining in the third quarter.
With the clock now running continually, the Bombers tried to hurry up their offense via the passing game. But on fourth down, Walker was intercepted by Kale Eddington at midfield. The Panthers needed only seven plays to put more points on the board, this time by Bryan Hill, who scored from 13 yards out. With the extra point, Cabot would lead 52-10 with 9:10 remaining in the contest.
The Bombers went on a 14 play, 71-yard drive to end the game. The Bombers threw up a Hail Mary from 28-yards out that was deflected by the Panthers defense secondary but somehow caught in the end zone by Bomber wide receiver Marcus May with 54 seconds left in the game. Walker ran in the two-point conversion to set the final margin.
Cabot ran the ball forty times for 413 yards, while attempting only two passes. Eads led the Panthers with 283 yards on only 16 carries, and touchdowns of 18, 5, 80, and 65 yards. Jason Schrunk contributed 40 yards, and Hemphill added 36 yards on five carries, including the 18-yard touchdown run.
Hemphill also had the kickoff return for a touchdown from 86-yards out. The Panthers also had one turnover and seven penalties; three of which were kickoffs that went out of bounds.
Mountain Home was held to 111 yards rushing on 44 attempts. Quarterback Zane Walker led the Bombers with 68 yards on 25 carries, and also added 105 passing yards. The Bombers had two turnovers, and also committed seven penalties.
With the win, the Panthers are 5-3 for the season, while the Bombers have lost 29 consecutive games.
