McGehee Surprises Rison, 32-26, in 8-3A Action

McGehee took advantage of three Rison turnovers, including one that was returned for a touchdown, as the Owls handed the Wildcats their first 8-3A setback of the season, 32-26, Friday night at McGehee. The Owls had a 28-yard touchdown pass on the openings series before the ‘Cats answered with a three-yard TD run by Aidan Biteley, who also picked up a fumbled two-point conversion attempt and passed it to Kyson Fletcher to give Rison its only lead of the game, 8-6, with 4:50 left in the first quarter. McGehee intercepted a bobbled handoff in the Wildcat backfield and returned it 28 yards for a score to go back on top 12-8. The Owls turned back Rison at the McGehee 1 on the Wildcats’ next series and the Owls hit a 70-yard pass on the next snap to spark a 98-yard scoring drive to put McGehee up by two scores, 18-8. Rison freshman Payne Prescott pulled down a 36-yard touchdown pass from Logan McGarity with 14 seconds cut the Owls’ lead to 24-20 at the break. It stayed a one-score game until 3:15 left in the fourth when the Owls scored on a one-yard run to extend their lead to 32-20. Bitely took a fourth-down snap 42 yards into the end zone on Rison’s next possession to make 32-26 with 1:02 left. McGehee recovered the ensuing onside attempt and ran out the clock. Rison fell to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in 8-3A conference play. McGehee improved to 2-3 overall and 2-1 in league action.