McGarity, Bitely Power Rison Past DeWitt in Season Opener
Rison 48, DeWitt 20
DEWITT — Rison rushed for 338 yards and six touchdowns through Logan McGarity and Aidan Bitely, turning a halftime lead into a 48-20 season-opening victory over DeWitt on Friday.
McGarity, Rison’s sophomore quarterback, carried 15 times for 215 yards and four touchdowns. Bitely added 123 yards and two scores on 12 attempts.
Rison struck first when McGarity kept the ball for a 43-yard touchdown. Bitely followed with a 69-yard scoring run, and the successful conversion gave the Wildcats a 14-0 first-quarter lead.
DeWitt answered through its new spread attack. Quarterback Kaden Pippinger scored on a 4-yard scramble, then connected with Layden Burns for a 39-yard touchdown. DeWitt’s first scoring drive included Cox’s catch to the Rison 7, setting up Pippinger’s scramble and the Dragons’ first points that night. Gaspar Lemus made both extra points, pulling the Dragons even at 14.
Kyson Walker’s second-quarter touchdown run restored Rison’s advantage, and Bitely’s kick sent the Wildcats to halftime ahead 21-14.
Rison separated in the third quarter. A strip-sack ended DeWitt’s opening possession after halftime, and McGarity scored on the next play from 50 yards. An interception on DeWitt’s following series gave Rison possession at the Dragons’ 28, and McGarity finished that drive with a 3-yard sneak before a two-point run made it 35-14.
The Dragons responded with a 7-yard touchdown run by Weston Lay behind Jack Noble’s lead block. The extra point was blocked, leaving the score 35-20.
McGarity answered again with a 3-yard touchdown keeper, and Bitely’s extra point made it 42-20 entering the fourth quarter. Bitely supplied Rison’s final touchdown run before McGarity’s kick missed.
Burns led DeWitt’s receivers with three catches for 67 yards and one touchdown. Xa Cox, Camron Mitchell and Kaiden Golden each made seven tackles. Rison’s defense forced four turnovers: two interceptions and two recovered fumbles.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Rison – Logan McGarity 43-yard run (kick blocked), Rison 6-0
Rison – Aidan Bitely 69-yard run (2-point conversion good), Rison 14-0
DeWitt – Kaden Pippinger 4-yard run (Gaspar Lemus kick), Rison 14-7
2nd Quarter
DeWitt – Layden Burns 39-yard pass from Kaden Pippinger (Gaspar Lemus kick), 14-14
Rison – Kyson Walker touchdown run (Aidan Bitely kick), Rison 21-14
3rd Quarter
Rison – Logan McGarity 50-yard run (bad snap on kick), Rison 27-14
Rison – Logan McGarity 3-yard run (2-point run good), Rison 35-14
DeWitt – Weston Lay 7-yard run (kick blocked), Rison 35-20
Rison – Logan McGarity 3-yard run (Aidan Bitely kick), Rison 42-20
4th Quarter
Rison – Aidan Bitely touchdown run (Logan McGarity kick no good), Rison 48-20
Players of the Game
- Logan McGarity, Rison QB: 15 carries, 215 yards and four touchdowns, including scoring runs of 43 and 50 yards.
- Aidan Bitely, Rison: 12 carries, 123 yards and two touchdowns, including a 69-yard score.
- Kaden Pippinger, DeWitt QB: One 4-yard rushing touchdown and one 39-yard touchdown pass.
- Layden Burns, DeWitt WR: Three receptions for 67 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown.
- Xa Cox, DeWitt DB: Seven tackles and a reception that reached the Rison 7-yard line.