Conway Returns Fumble, Punt for Touchdowns in 48-0 Win at Marion
Conway Returns Fumble, Punt for Touchdowns in 48-0 Win at Marion
Conway returned a fumble and a punt for touchdowns during a 20-point second quarter, building a 34-0 halftime lead on its way to a 48-0 victory at Marion on Friday.
Ryder Cook accounted for three touchdowns before halftime. He completed five of nine passes for 67 yards and two scores, adding 41 yards and a touchdown on four carries. Conway finished with 331 yards of offense and improved to 2-1.
Cook found Atraio McJoy on fourth-and-10 for the opening touchdown with 7:10 left in the first quarter. Crosby Kear’s extra point made it 7-0. Cook added a touchdown run with 4:57 remaining, and Kear’s kick extended the lead to 14-0.
Elijah Collum turned a screen pass into a 34-yard gain on second-and-19 during Conway’s next scoring drive. Cook later found Collum for a 1-yard touchdown with 7:15 left in the second quarter. The conversion failed, leaving Conway ahead 20-0. Collum finished with two catches for 35 yards.
Jeremy Gatewood’s hit forced a fumble that sophomore linebacker Jackson Braden recovered and returned for a touchdown. Kear’s kick made it 27-0 with five minutes left before halftime.
Kambrien Blackmon then fielded a punt off the bounce and returned it for a touchdown. The extra point pushed Conway’s lead to 34-0 with 1:59 remaining. Conway’s defense allowed minus-8 rushing yards in the first half and forced punts on Marion’s first three possessions.
Wit Griffin connected with Jeremiah Carey for a 75-yard touchdown on Conway’s opening possession of the third quarter. Carey finished with two catches for 86 yards. Griffin completed three of four passes for 107 yards and one touchdown.
Aaron Haynie recovered another Marion fumble in the third quarter. Jacquez Joshua added a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown and finished with three carries for 49 yards. Kear’s sixth successful extra point completed the scoring.
Scoring summary
| Quarter | Conway scoring play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| First | Atraio McJoy touchdown pass from Ryder Cook; Crosby Kear kick. | 7-0 |
| First | Cook touchdown run; Kear kick. | 14-0 |
| Second | Elijah Collum 1-yard touchdown pass from Cook; conversion failed. | 20-0 |
| Second | Jackson Braden fumble return for a touchdown; Kear kick. | 27-0 |
| Second | Kambrien Blackmon punt return for a touchdown; Kear kick. | 34-0 |
| Third | Jeremiah Carey 75-yard touchdown pass from Wit Griffin; Kear kick. | 41-0 |
| Fourth | Jacquez Joshua touchdown run; Kear kick. | 48-0 |
Players of the game:
- Ryder Cook, Conway: Completed 5 of 9 passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns; rushed four times for 41 yards and another touchdown.
- Jeremiah Carey, Conway: Two catches for 86 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown reception from Wit Griffin.
- Jackson Braden, Conway: Recovered and returned a fumble for a second-quarter touchdown after Jeremy Gatewood’s hit forced the ball loose.
- Kambrien Blackmon, Conway: Returned a punt for a touchdown with 1:59 left in the second quarter, extending Conway’s lead to 34-0 after the extra point.