Latham, Barnett turn fourth quarter into Rivercrest comeback
Rivercrest 33, Palestine-Wheatley 15
October 16, 2026 | Hooten’s Arkansas Football |
Lexx Latham scored three rushing touchdowns, and Luke Barnett returned a fumble for a touchdown as Rivercrest scored 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points to defeat Palestine-Wheatley 33-15 Friday night.
The Colts entered the fourth quarter trailing 15-12 and facing fourth-and-nine. Jayden Ralph scrambled 12 yards to the Patriots’ 7, keeping alive the possession that changed the game. Latham scored on the next play, and Ralph found Lathan Bolden for the 2-point conversion and a 20-15 lead with 11:45 remaining.
Barnett extended the advantage less than three minutes later. He scooped up a loose ball and carried it 10 yards into the end zone with 9:18 left. A penalty erased Rivercrest’s initial successful conversion attempt, and the ensuing pass failed, leaving the Colts ahead 26-15.
Rivercrest still needed another defensive stand. Ashton Harris supplied the field position with a 46-yard punt that pinned Palestine-Wheatley at its 5 with just over four minutes remaining. Barnett then stopped a fourth-and-one attempt, giving the Colts possession at the Patriots’ 10 with 2:33 left.
Latham gained 7 yards, and Bolden scored from the 3 with 1:50 remaining. The extra point completed the scoring. Barnett and Bolden each finished with 18 tackles, according to the Rivercrest broadcast’s final defensive tally.
The Colts had needed fourth-down conversions from the beginning. Their opening 11-play, 70-yard touchdown drive included a 36-yard completion from Ralph to T.J. Hayes on fourth-and-long. Latham finished the possession with a 14-yard touchdown run at the 6:46 mark of the first quarter. Rivercrest failed on its conversion attempt but led 6-0.
Latham added a 4-yard touchdown run with 10:40 left in the second quarter, and another failed conversion left the margin at 12-0. Palestine-Wheatley answered through Adron Cooper, who scored from the 2 and added the conversion run to cut the deficit to 12-8 with 8:13 remaining before halftime.
The Patriots threatened again in the third quarter. Barnett stopped Cooper without a gain on third-and-goal from the 5, and Rivercrest forced an incompletion on fourth down. The stop protected a four-point lead, but only temporarily.
Slade Parker intercepted Ralph on Rivercrest’s next possession, putting Palestine-Wheatley back near midfield. Cooper broke loose for a 53-yard touchdown, and the extra point gave the Patriots their first lead, 15-12, with 4:13 left in the third quarter.
Rivercrest answered with Ralph’s fourth-down scramble, Latham’s third touchdown and the defensive finish that carried the Colts to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the 3A-3.
Scoring summary
First quarter • 6:46 Rivercrest — Lexx Latham 14-yard run (run failed). Rivercrest 6, Palestine-Wheatley 0.
Second quarter • 10:40 Rivercrest — Lexx Latham 4-yard run (conversion failed). Rivercrest 12, Palestine-Wheatley 0.
Second quarter • 8:13 Palestine-Wheatley — Adron Cooper 2-yard run (Cooper run). Rivercrest 12, Palestine-Wheatley 8.
Third quarter • 4:13 Palestine-Wheatley — Adron Cooper 53-yard run (kick good). Palestine-Wheatley 15, Rivercrest 12.
Fourth quarter • 11:45 Rivercrest — Lexx Latham 7-yard run (Lathan Bolden pass from Jayden Ralph). Rivercrest 20, Palestine-Wheatley 15.
Fourth quarter • 9:18 Rivercrest — Luke Barnett 10-yard fumble return (pass failed). Rivercrest 26, Palestine-Wheatley 15.
Fourth quarter • 1:50 Rivercrest — Lathan Bolden 3-yard run (kick good). Rivercrest 33, Palestine-Wheatley 15.
Players who stood out
Lexx Latham, Rivercrest — Three rushing touchdowns covering 14, 4 and 7 yards.
Luke Barnett, Rivercrest — 10-yard fumble-return touchdown; 18 tackles in the broadcast’s final tally; key fourth-and-one stop late in the fourth quarter.
Lathan Bolden, Rivercrest — 18 tackles in the broadcast’s final tally, 3-yard rushing touchdown and 2-point reception.
Jayden Ralph, Rivercrest — 12-yard fourth-and-nine scramble set up the go-ahead touchdown; 36-yard fourth-down completion to T.J. Hayes on the opening scoring drive.
Adron Cooper, Palestine-Wheatley — Rushing touchdowns of 2 and 53 yards and a 2-point run.