LEXA - Weston Phillips scored on a six-yard keeper with about 20 seconds left in the game and Mason Johnson then made an interception to seal the win as the Rison Junior Wildcats opened 8-3A conference play with a thrilling 42-36 victory over the Barton Junior Bears.
While Barton’s varsity team is playing eight-man football this season, the Junior Bears are remaining in 11-man and are still members of the 8-3A junior high conference.
Rison Coach Zach Branch said it was a back-and-forth affair the entire game with Barton taking a two-score lead at one point before the Junior ‘Cats scored late in the first half to cut it to a four-point difference at the break.
The Junior Bears went on top 8-0 in the first quarter before Rison answered in the second on a five-yard touchdown run by Johnson. The two-point attempt was no good leaving the Junior Bears with an 8-6 lead.
Barton came back with another TD and two-point conversion to make it a two-score game at 16-6, but Trent Pickett responded with a 42-yard touchdown burst to close it to 16-12. Again, the two-pointer was no good for Rison.
The Junior Bears answered with another score and conversion to push their lead back to two-scores at 24-12 with about 1:20 left in the first half.
Phillips then hit three consecutive passes for 52 yards to put the Junior ‘Cats in the end zone before time expired. His first completion went to Pickett for 18 yards, the second to Johnson for 16 yards and the third one went to Isaiah Robinson for an 18-yard TD. This time Johnson added the two-pointer for Rison to make it 24-20 at halftime.
The Junior ‘Cats took their first lead of the game on their opening series of the third quarter when Phillips scored on a five-yard quarterback keeper. Pickett’s conversion run made it 28-24 Rison.
As was the case for the entire game, Barton came back with another touchdown to regain the lead, 30-28. The conversion attempt failed.
Again, the Junior Wildcats responded, this time with an eight-yard score by Bryan…