HARMONY GROVE - A controversial call on third-and-30 allowed Harmony Grove to convert and the Junior Hornets went on to score late before holding off the Rison Junior Wildcats, 36-22, in a non-conference game last Thursday at Harmony Grove.
Rison, now 1-1, was down by as many as 18 in the first half before battling back to make it a 30-22 game with 5:55 left in the fourth quarter on Weston Phillips’ touchdown and Mason Johnson’s two-point conversion.
It looked as though the Junior ‘Cats were going to have an opportunity to possibly put together a late drive to tie the game when they had the Junior Hornets backed up facing a third-and-30. Rison Coach Zach Bryant said it looked as though the Junior Wildcats had come up with a stop but Rison was called for a penalty that gave Harmony Grove a first down. The Junior Hornets went on to score with 1:51 left to make it a two-score game again at 36-22.
Rison mishandled the ensuing kickoff and Harmony Grove ran out the clock.
The Junior Hornets, who were coming off a shutout “mercy rule” win over Junction City, took an 8-0 lead late in the first quarter before Rison’s Isaiah Robinson scored on a 14-yard run with about 3 minutes left in the second to make it 8-6.
Harmony Grove was able to answer with 1:08 left before halftime and another two-pointer made it 16-6.
Rison’s Trent Pickett had a nice 18-yard return on the ensuing kickoff but the Junior Wildcats fumbled it away and the Junior Hornets scooped it up and returned it for a touchdown to extend the lead to 24-6.
Robinson returned the kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown and Bryant Branch ran in the two-pointer to make it 24-14.
The Junior Hornets followed with a TD at the 6:53 mark of the third to make it 30-14 after the point-after kick was no good.
That set up Phillips’ touchdown run in the fourth quarter to close it to 30-22.
Pickett had an outstanding game on special teams with kickoff returns of 22, 42 and 81 yards. He also ran for 26 yards on seven carries.
Phillips finished…