St. Frances Scores Twice on Fumble Returns, Tops Bryant 40-7
St. Frances Academy 40, Bryant 7
St. Frances Academy returned two fumbles for touchdowns and got two touchdown passes from Justin Merriman in a 40-7 victory over Bryant on Friday in the Patriot Bowl at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Sa’Nir Brooks scored on a 9-yard run with 11:13 remaining in the first quarter. Merriman’s 40-yard completion to Samir Edwards set up the touchdown on the third play from scrimmage.
Jayden Travers recovered a Bryant fumble, setting up a 28-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead. Bryant’s Chris Bonds stopped Merriman on fourth-and-2 during the next St. Frances possession.
Tyrone Elee returned a fumbled punt snap for a touchdown with 3:55 left in the first quarter, extending the lead to 17-0.
St. Frances added a 42-yard field goal before Merriman found Kentae Davis for a 22-yard touchdown on fourth-and-4 with 6:13 remaining in the second quarter. The extra point made it 27-0.
Bryant reached the St. Frances 1-yard line late in the half after Chase Slater caught an 18-yard pass during the possession. Malik Shipp’s punt return to the St. Frances 20 started that possession. St. Frances blocked Bryant’s 21-yard field-goal attempt with four seconds remaining.
James Branch returned a fumble for a touchdown on Bryant’s first offensive play of the third quarter. After another Bryant fumble, Merriman threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Jefferson. The conversion failed, leaving St. Frances ahead 40-0 with 11:12 remaining in the quarter.
Judah Summers connected with Slater for a 21-yard touchdown on fourth-and-10 with six minutes left in the third quarter. The extra point completed the scoring.
Slater caught five passes, including a reception that moved Bryant to the St. Frances 21 earlier on the touchdown drive. Summers also completed a 40-yard pass to Quinton Sykes in the second quarter. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.
Scoring summary — St. Frances’ score listed first:
| Quarter | Time left | Scoring play | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 11:13 | St. Frances — Sa’Nir Brooks 9-yard touchdown run; kick good. | 7-0 |
| First | 9:33 | St. Frances — 28-yard field goal. | 10-0 |
| First | 3:55 | St. Frances — Tyrone Elee fumble return for a touchdown on a punt attempt; kick good. | 17-0 |
| Second | Early | St. Frances — 42-yard field goal. | 20-0 |
| Second | 6:13 | St. Frances — Kentae Davis 22-yard touchdown pass from Justin Merriman; kick good. | 27-0 |
| Third | 11:45 | St. Frances — James Branch fumble return for a touchdown; kick good. | 34-0 |
| Third | 11:12 | St. Frances — Brandon Jefferson 33-yard touchdown pass from Merriman; conversion failed. | 40-0 |
| Third | 6:00 | Bryant — Chase Slater 21-yard touchdown pass from Judah Summers; kick good. | 40-7 |
| Fourth | — | No scoring. | 40-7 |
Players of the game:
- Justin Merriman, St. Frances: Threw two touchdown passes — 22 yards to Kentae Davis and 33 yards to Brandon Jefferson. His 40-yard completion to Samir Edwards set up the opening touchdown.
- Tyrone Elee, St. Frances: Recovered a loose punt snap and returned it for a first-quarter touchdown, extending the lead to 17-0 after the extra point.
- James Branch, St. Frances: Returned a fumble for a touchdown on Bryant’s first offensive snap of the second half, 15 seconds into the third quarter.
- Chase Slater, Bryant: Caught five passes, including an 18-yard reception that produced first-and-goal before halftime and a 21-yard touchdown on fourth-and-10.
- Judah Summers, Bryant: Threw Bryant’s 21-yard touchdown pass to Slater and completed a 40-yard pass to Quinton Sykes in the second quarter.
- Chris Bonds, Bryant: Stopped Merriman’s quarterback keeper on fourth-and-2 in the first quarter, giving Bryant possession at its 36-yard line.