Hall throws six TD passes as LR Christian overwhelms Northside

LR Christian 65, FS Northside 7

LITTLE ROCK — Haden Hall threw six first-half touchdown passes, and Ryan Mullen supplied two interceptions and a 60-yard free-kick return for a touchdown as LR Christian defeated Fort Smith Northside 65-7 Friday night.

Hall completed 7 of 9 passes for 150 yards with one interception. Ridge Bowman caught three passes for 82 yards, all for touchdowns, while Mann Pickens caught two touchdown passes for 43 yards. Cooper Wilkerson added a 20-yard scoring reception. The Warriors improved to 5-3 overall and 4-1 in the 7A-Central; Northside fell to 2-6 and 0-5.

LR Christian seized an early short field when a bad Northside punt snap brought Jack Moore into the backfield. Moore reached the punter, and Gideon Carlisle recovered the loose ball and returned it to the 1. After a mishandled snap pushed the Warriors back, Hall found Bowman for the opening touchdown with 8:04 left in the first quarter.

The Warriors led 7-0 after one quarter, then scored 44 points in the second. Hall connected with Bowman on a 39-yard touchdown pass with 8:28 remaining. The defense followed by collapsing the pocket for a safety at 7:41, with Nick Harp, DJ Williams and Moore among the defenders involved.

Mullen then gathered the free kick at his own 40 and raced 60 yards for a touchdown. Eric Cucos added the extra point, giving LR Christian a 23-0 lead with 7:32 left in the half.

Mullen also helped set up the next two touchdowns with interceptions. His first return reached the Northside 15, and Hall eventually found Pickens for a 16-yard score at 5:40. Luke McDonald pressured the quarterback on Mullen’s second interception. Hall followed by faking a handoff, rolling right and throwing to Pickens for another touchdown with 4:31 remaining.

Hall continued the surge with a 20-yard scoring pass to Wilkerson at 2:52. Bowman caught his third touchdown with 1:53 left, and the successful extra point sent the Warriors toward halftime with a 51-0 lead.

Grayson Raines took over at quarterback after halftime and added a 6-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Northside broke through in the fourth when Keelan Mendoza caught a slant and completed a 44-yard touchdown reception with 10:38 remaining. The successful kick made it 58-7.

Maddox Gulley supplied the final touchdown on a short fourth-quarter run, and Cucos’ extra point completed the scoring. Gulley finished with 27 yards on seven carries. LR Christian scored nine touchdowns, with its defense adding the safety to a night shaped by short fields, takeaways and Hall’s efficient passing.

Scoring summary

First quarter

8:04 — LR Christian: Ridge Bowman pass from Haden Hall (kick good). LR Christian 7-0.

Second quarter

8:28 — LR Christian: Ridge Bowman 39-yard pass from Haden Hall (kick good). LR Christian 14-0.

7:32 — LR Christian: Ryan Mullen 60-yard free-kick return (kick good). LR Christian 23-0.

5:40 — LR Christian: Mann Pickens 16-yard pass from Haden Hall (kick good). LR Christian 30-0.

4:31 — LR Christian: Mann Pickens pass from Haden Hall (kick good). LR Christian 37-0.

2:52 — LR Christian: Cooper Wilkerson 20-yard pass from Haden Hall (kick good). LR Christian 44-0.

1:53 — LR Christian: Ridge Bowman pass from Haden Hall (kick good). LR Christian 51-0.

Third quarter

LR Christian: Grayson Raines 6-yard run (kick good). LR Christian 58-0.

Fourth quarter

10:38 — FS Northside: Keelan Mendoza 44-yard reception (kick good). LR Christian 58-7.

LR Christian: Maddox Gulley run (kick good). LR Christian 65-7.

Players who stood out

Haden Hall, LR Christian — 7-of-9 passing, 150 yards, six touchdowns and one interception.

Ridge Bowman, LR Christian — Three catches, 82 yards and three touchdowns.

Mann Pickens, LR Christian — Two catches, 43 yards and two touchdowns.

Ryan Mullen, LR Christian — Two interceptions and a 60-yard free-kick return touchdown.

Cooper Wilkerson, LR Christian — A 20-yard touchdown reception.

Grayson Raines, LR Christian — A 6-yard touchdown run.

Maddox Gulley, LR Christian — Seven carries, 27 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown.

Gideon Carlisle and Jack Moore, LR Christian — Carlisle recovered a loose punt snap and returned it to the 1 after Moore reached the punter.

Nick Harp, DJ Williams and Jack Moore, LR Christian — Involved in the pressure that produced a second-quarter safety.

Luke McDonald, LR Christian — Quarterback pressure helped produce Mullen’s second interception.

Keelan Mendoza, FS Northside — A 44-yard touchdown reception.