Another Heartbreaker for 'Cats as Owls Win in Double OT

  • JOHNSON FORCES FUMBLE - While Rison has had trouble with ball security over the past few games, the Wildcats still came up with a few turnovers of their own. Here, Camden Johnson (2) knocks the ball loose from McGehee quarterback Ja’Quis Hughes after Rison teammate Jaquis Rauls came in to assist on the tackle. The Wildcats’ Tanner Collins came up with the fumble recovery. (Photo by Chris Phillips)
    JOHNSON FORCES FUMBLE - While Rison has had trouble with ball security over the past few games, the Wildcats still came up with a few turnovers of their own. Here, Camden Johnson (2) knocks the ball loose from McGehee quarterback Ja’Quis Hughes after Rison teammate Jaquis Rauls came in to assist on the tackle. The Wildcats’ Tanner Collins came up with the fumble recovery. (Photo by Chris Phillips)
  • FLETCHER TIES GAME - Rison running back Kyson Fletcher (8) breaks free from a would-be McGehee tackler to score a two-point conversion following Jaquis Rauls’ 22-yard touchdown run to tie the game 8-8. (Photo by Chris Phillips)
    FLETCHER TIES GAME - Rison running back Kyson Fletcher (8) breaks free from a would-be McGehee tackler to score a two-point conversion following Jaquis Rauls’ 22-yard touchdown run to tie the game 8-8. (Photo by Chris Phillips)
    RISON - The Rison Wildcats suffered another heartbreaking loss Friday night at George Walker Field of Champions, falling to the McGehee Owls in double overtime, 30-24.Rison fell to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in 8-3A conference play with the loss while McGehee improved to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in conference league play.It was just another chapter in what has been a horror novel for the Wildcats so far this season.After coming back to tie the game, 16-16, and send it into overtime, Rison matched McGehee's touchdown and two-point conversion in the first OT before fumbling it away on the first play of the second overtime. The Owls punched it in to win the game."I think it's just a mind thing," Wildcat Coach Chris Vereen said about the rash of turnovers over the past few games. "After about mid-season, we probably do more ball handling skills in practice than just about any school in Arkansas."You've got to keep working," he said. "It is what it is." The 'Cats had three fumbles against the Owls, losing two. Over the past four games - Joe T. Robinson, Palestine-Wheatley, Dumas and McGehee - Rison has had a combined 12 fumbles losing seven of them. They have also had four interceptions over that span for 11 turnovers overall.The Wildcats' final offensive possessions against Robinson and Dumas ended in turnovers as they were driving for possible game-winning scores.Rison opened the game against McGehee with a promising 10--play, 60-yard drive before a fumbled handoff at the 8-yard line ended the drive with 6:10 left in the first quarter. The Wildcats' defense stood strong, though, stopping the Owls on fourth down late in the period to regain possession at their own 46.After a quick three-and-out, Rison punter Dalton Lee pinned McGehee deep with a 51-yard punt downed at the Owls' 2. Rison's defense forced another punt early in the second quarter, which was partially blocked, giving the Wildcats great field position at the McG...

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