McNabb’s Two Touchdown Catches Lift Morrilton Past Harding Academy
Morrilton 14, Harding Academy 6
SEARCY — Champ McNabb caught 11 passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns, and Brayden Gray intercepted two passes as Morrilton defeated Harding Academy 14-6 Friday at Harding University.
Maddox Turnipseed threw both touchdowns as the Devil Dogs improved to 3-0. He completed seven of nine passes for 63 yards, according to the broadcast’s statistics.
Harding Academy’s James McGalliard recovered a fumble on Morrilton’s opening possession. Tanner Simmons then sacked Turnipseed on fourth down during the next series.
Gray answered with a diving first-quarter interception. Giovanni Santos stopped a fourth-and-one keeper from Morrilton’s 6 with 4:32 remaining in the second quarter, helping preserve a scoreless first half.
Morrilton recovered a fumble at Harding Academy’s 18 on the first snap after halftime. Turnipseed finished the five-play possession with a 13-yard touchdown pass to McNabb on third-and-goal. Joel Lopez’s kick made it 7-0 with 10:12 remaining.
Ryan Ross capped Harding Academy’s 10-play, 57-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal. Morrilton remained ahead 7-6 after the extra-point attempt went wide left with 4:06 left in the third.
The Devil Dogs answered with a 12-play, 66-yard drive. On fourth-and-four, McNabb caught Turnipseed’s 5-yard touchdown pass while keeping a foot inside the sideline. Lopez’s kick made it 14-6 with 9:42 remaining.
Morrilton stopped Harding Academy on fourth down with 6:46 left. Gray’s second interception ended the Wildcats’ final possession, giving the Devil Dogs the ball at their 40 with 2:03 remaining.
Caleb Hays gained nine yards, then converted second-and-one before Morrilton finished with kneeldowns.
Santos recorded eight tackles, two for loss, and a pass breakup. He averaged 39.3 yards on three punts, placing two inside the 20.
Morrilton finished with 207 total yards to Harding Academy’s 203. The Devil Dogs converted seven of 14 third downs and limited Harding Academy to three of 13.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
No scoring, 0-0.
2nd Quarter
No scoring, 0-0 at halftime.
3rd Quarter
Morrilton – Champ McNabb 13-yard pass from Maddox Turnipseed on third-and-goal (Joel Lopez kick), 10:12, Morrilton 7-0.
Harding Academy – Ryan Ross 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal (kick failed), 4:06, Morrilton 7-6.
4th Quarter
Morrilton – Champ McNabb 5-yard pass from Maddox Turnipseed on fourth-and-four (Joel Lopez kick), 9:42, Morrilton 14-6.
Players Who Stood Out
Champ McNabb, Morrilton receiver: 11 catches for 83 yards and two touchdowns; 26-yard punt return. Scored on a 13-yard reception on third-and-goal and a 5-yard reception on fourth-and-four. Finished with 109 all-purpose yards.
Brayden Gray, Morrilton: Two interceptions and four tackles. Made a diving interception in the first quarter. His second interception came on fourth-and-eight during Harding Academy’s final possession; he returned it to Morrilton’s 40 with 2:03 remaining.
Giovanni Santos, Morrilton safety/punter: Eight tackles, two tackles for loss and one pass breakup. Stopped a fourth-and-one quarterback keeper from Morrilton’s 6 before halftime. Averaged 39.3 yards on three punts, with two inside the 20 and a long of 44.
Maddox Turnipseed, Morrilton quarterback: Completed seven of nine passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns. Both touchdown passes went to McNabb, including the fourth-down completion that extended the lead to 14-6.
Ryan Ross, Harding Academy running back/linebacker: Scored on a 1-yard run on fourth-and-goal with 4:06 remaining in the third quarter, completing a 10-play, 57-yard drive. Added an 18-yard first-quarter run.