Ashdown 44, De Queen 43

Shooter Johnson threw six touchdown passes, but Ashdown still needed a stop at the goal line to finish off De Queen. The Panthers denied Hunter Dinkins on a two-point attempt with 1:06 remaining Friday, preserving a 44–43 victory at Leopard Stadium.

Johnson completed 18 of 23 passes for 400 yards. Bryson French caught seven passes for 247 yards and five touchdowns, including two fourth-quarter scores that erased a nine-point deficit and helped Ashdown earn its first victory. Johnson completed passes to five receivers before halftime, including Hudson Hillis, who caught two for 14 yards.

Ashdown opened with a 76-yard touchdown drive. Facing fourth-and-long, Johnson found Tyler Smith over the middle for a 40-yard score. Logan Erwin ran for the two-point conversion.

Luke Gill and Ethan Warner stopped De Queen’s next possession with a third-down sack. After a three-yard punt, Cale Cleghorn made a 10-yard catch in traffic, and French caught a 34-yard touchdown pass for a 14–0 lead.

De Queen answered on fourth down when Keegan McCoy hit John Maturino for a 21-yard touchdown. The Leopards recovered the ensuing onside kick, and Landen Wise’s 20-yard touchdown run tied the game 14–14. Wise carried 19 times for 107 yards before halftime. Cayden White secured the next onside kick for Ashdown.

Johnson and French connected for a 46-yard touchdown with 2:26 left in the half. Erwin’s second two-point run made it 22–14. Smith also contributed a 29-yard reception on that possession.

Sam Scroggins and Mario Lewis combined to sack McCoy on De Queen’s final possession of the half. The Leopards eventually reached the Ashdown 8, but an illegal forward pass erased a touchdown. A missed 30-yard field-goal attempt left the Panthers ahead by eight.

De Queen stopped Ashdown on fourth down to open the third quarter, then tied the game on Wise’s seven-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion. French answered with a 58-yard touchdown catch, but Wise followed a 36-yard run with a three-yard touchdown. The extra point put De Queen ahead 29–28.

A second successful onside kick gave the Leopards another possession. Luis Sotelo finished the drive with a touchdown run, and a two-point pass extended the lead to 37–28 with 9:03 remaining.

French took Johnson’s next touchdown pass 79 yards, and Smith caught the conversion to cut the deficit to one. Ashdown then recovered an onside kick. Cordae Baker’s 24-yard run and Cleghorn’s 13-yard reception helped position French for a 12-yard touchdown catch with 6:40 left. French also caught the conversion for a 44–37 lead.

De Queen’s final drive included McCoy’s 12-yard keeper on third down and Wise’s 17-yard run on fourth-and-three. Dinkins scored from two yards out with 1:06 left, bringing the Leopards within one. Ashdown stopped his next carry on the conversion attempt.

The Panthers secured the ensuing kickoff, and Baker gained 11 yards for a first down that allowed Ashdown to run out the clock.

Scoring Summary

First quarter

• 3:16 — Ashdown: Tyler Smith, 40-yard pass from Shooter Johnson. Logan Erwin two-point run. Ashdown 8–0.
• 0:14 — Ashdown: Bryson French, 34-yard pass from Johnson. Two-point run failed. Ashdown 14–0.

Second quarter

• 9:12 — De Queen: John Maturino, 21-yard pass from Keegan McCoy. Kick good. Ashdown 14–7.
• 3:31 — De Queen: Landen Wise, 20-yard run. Kick good. Tied 14–14.
• 2:26 — Ashdown: French, 46-yard pass from Johnson. Erwin two-point run. Ashdown 22–14.

Third quarter

• 1:06 — De Queen: Wise, seven-yard run. Two-point conversion good. Tied 22–22.
• 0:49 — Ashdown: French, 58-yard pass from Johnson. Two-point run failed. Ashdown 28–22.
• 0:21 — De Queen: Wise, three-yard run. Kick good. De Queen 29–28.

Fourth quarter

• 9:03 — De Queen: Luis Sotelo, touchdown run. Two-point pass good. De Queen 37–28.
• 8:22 — Ashdown: French, 79-yard pass from Johnson. Smith caught Johnson’s two-point pass. De Queen 37–36.
• 6:40 — Ashdown: French, 12-yard pass from Johnson. French caught Johnson’s two-point pass. Ashdown 44–37.
• 1:06 — De Queen: Hunter Dinkins, two-yard run. Two-point run failed. Ashdown 44–43.

Players Who Stood Out

• Bryson French, Ashdown: Seven receptions for 247 yards and five touchdowns. Caught the winning 12-yard touchdown and the ensuing two-point conversion.
• Shooter Johnson, Ashdown: Completed 18 of 23 passes for 400 yards and six touchdowns. Also completed both fourth-quarter two-point passes.
• Landen Wise, De Queen: Three rushing touchdowns, covering 20, seven and three yards. Had 107 yards on 19 carries before halftime and converted fourth-and-three with a 17-yard run on the final scoring drive.
• Cordae Baker, Ashdown: Ran 24 yards on the winning touchdown drive and gained 11 yards for the first down that allowed the Panthers to run out the clock.
• Tyler Smith, Ashdown: Caught a 40-yard touchdown on fourth down, added a 29-yard reception on another scoring drive and caught a fourth-quarter two-point conversion.
• Keegan McCoy, De Queen: Threw a 21-yard touchdown to Maturino on fourth down and gained 12 yards on a third-down keeper during the final touchdown drive.
• Logan Erwin, Ashdown: Scored two first-half two-point conversions, accounting for four points in the one-point victory.