Malvern goal-line stand preserves victory over Ashdown

Malvern 28, Ashdown 24

October 9 2026

MALVERN — Malvern turned away Ashdown after the Panthers reached the 5-yard line late in the fourth quarter, preserving a 28-24 homecoming victory Friday in a matchup of teams unbeaten in 7-4A play.

Aaron Pinkston threw two touchdown passes, Wesley Morley broke a 65-yard scoring run and the Leopards made all four extra-point kicks. Ashdown scored four touchdowns but failed on each of its four two-point attempts. Malvern improved to 4-2 overall and 3-0 in conference play; Ashdown fell to 3-3 and 2-1.

Both defenses forced early punts before Malvern recovered a muffed punt at the Ashdown 21. Morley’s 18-yard run set up Brad Saling, who scored from the 2 with 6:10 left in the first quarter. The extra point made it 7-0.

Ashdown answered when Shooter Johnson bought time rolling right and found Bryson French for a 76-yard touchdown. The two-point pass intended for Tyler Smith was incomplete, leaving Malvern ahead 7-6 through the first quarter.

An interception by Tyrese Osborne gave Malvern another short field at the Ashdown 27. Pinkston finished that possession with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Tyriq Jacobs with 9:58 left in the second quarter. The kick extended the lead to 14-6.

Johnson and French connected for consecutive 19-yard gains, the second a touchdown with 8:41 remaining. Another failed two-point pass kept Ashdown behind 14-12. Malvern struck back just 21 seconds later when Morley broke free for his 65-yard touchdown. Allen Cervantes added the extra point.

A long punt return by Jeremiah Jimerson put the Leopards at the Ashdown 28. After a tackle for loss, Pinkston found Osborne for a 31-yard touchdown with 5:47 left before halftime. Cervantes’ kick made it 28-12, and Malvern’s defense protected that lead through the break.

Ashdown rallied in a third quarter marked by turnovers. After the Panthers lost a fumble near the Malvern goal line, Braden Erwin immediately recovered a Leopards fumble at the 3. Cordae Baker scored on the next play with 8:19 remaining. The two-point pass failed, leaving the deficit at 10.

The Panthers recovered two more Malvern fumbles in the quarter, including a second by Erwin, but did not score on either ensuing possession. After forcing a punt, Ashdown converted fourth-and-five when Johnson hit Ahmari Spencer, who raced 36 yards for a touchdown with nine seconds left in the third. The conversion failed again.

Ashdown’s final possession reached first-and-goal at the Malvern 5 with 4:51 left, helped by French’s 21-yard reception and an earlier fourth-down keeper by Johnson. The Leopards held, pushing the Panthers backward and recording a fourth-down sack to take over at their own 21 with 3:08 remaining.

Malvern ran out the remaining time, getting a 22-yard gain from Saling, a 10-yard first-down run by Jimerson and another 22-yard keeper by Pinkston before kneeling out the victory.

Malvern visits Fouke next Friday, Oct. 16. Ashdown hosts Nashville.

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

Malvern — Brad Saling 2-yard run (Kick good), 7-0. 6:10 remaining.

Ashdown — Shooter Johnson 76-yard touchdown pass to Bryson French (Two-point pass to Tyler Smith incomplete), 7-6.

Second Quarter

Malvern — Aaron Pinkston 9-yard touchdown pass to Tyriq Jacobs (Kick good), 14-6. 9:58 remaining.

Ashdown — Shooter Johnson 19-yard touchdown pass to Bryson French (Two-point pass failed), 14-12. 8:41 remaining.

Malvern — Wesley Morley 65-yard run (Allen Cervantes kick good), 21-12. 8:20 remaining.

Malvern — Aaron Pinkston 31-yard touchdown pass to Tyrese Osborne (Allen Cervantes kick good), 28-12. 5:47 remaining.

Third Quarter

Ashdown — Cordae Baker 3-yard run (Two-point pass failed), 28-18. 8:19 remaining.

Ashdown — Shooter Johnson 36-yard touchdown pass to Ahmari Spencer on fourth-and-five (Two-point pass failed), 28-24. 0:09 remaining.

Players Who Stood Out

Aaron Pinkston, Malvern — 2 TD passes: 9 yards to Tyriq Jacobs and 31 to Tyrese Osborne; 22-yard keeper helped seal final possession

Wesley Morley, Malvern — 65-yard rushing TD; 18-yard run set up the opening score

Brad Saling, Malvern — 2-yard rushing TD; late 22-yard run helped run out the clock

Tyrese Osborne, Malvern — 31-yard TD reception; first-quarter interception (No. 3 identified in replay and matched to roster)

Tyriq Jacobs, Malvern — 9-yard TD reception

Jeremiah Jimerson, Malvern — Long punt return set up final Malvern TD; 10-yard first-down run late in final possession

Allen Cervantes, Malvern — Named kicker on the third and fourth successful PATs; Malvern made all four PATs

Shooter Johnson, Ashdown — 3 TD passes: 76 and 19 yards to Bryson French and 36 to Ahmari Spencer; fourth-down keeper extended final drive

Bryson French, Ashdown — 2 TD receptions (76 and 19 yards); three key fourth-quarter catches. Conflicting final broadcast totals withheld

Ahmari Spencer, Ashdown — 36-yard TD reception on fourth-and-five with 0:09 left in third quarter

Cordae Baker, Ashdown — 3-yard rushing TD

Braden Erwin, Ashdown — 2 third-quarter fumble recoveries; several key tackles and fourth-quarter pass breakup

Luke Gill, Ashdown — Multiple pressures and tackles; named broadcast defensive player of game, without verified full-game tackle total