Rogers, Guyton fuel Blytheville past Pottsville in first-round shootout

Blytheville 42, Pottsville 27

BLYTHEVILLE — A night of explosive plays lifted the Chickasaws past the Apaches, 42–27, in a 4A first‑round playoff at Haley Field. Senior RB/LB Courtney Rogers erupted for touchdown runs of 63, 65 and 72 yards, while senior WR Johmir Guyton hauled in three scoring passes from junior QB Chad Bell (22, 60 and 70 yards) as Blytheville took control with two third‑quarter strikes.

Pottsville kept swinging. Senior slot back Kaegan Jones punched in three rushing touchdowns (7, 9 and 3 yards), and junior QB Cort Johnson muscled across on a 2‑yard sneak in the first quarter. RB/LB Kaleb Stancil churned out chain‑moving gains, including a 30‑yard burst that keyed an early red‑zone trip. The Apaches also found field position with returns from Keaton Ashmore, and WR Noah Metcalf and TE Connor Mitchell made timely grabs to extend drives.

Blytheville’s defense stiffened in the third, setting up Bell’s long connections to Guyton. Yahyr Gonzalez converted two PATs, and the Chickasaws closed it out with clock‑eating runs behind a physical front that featured Izreal Craighead and Curtis Richardson. Pottsville answered late—Jones added two fourth‑quarter scores and Penn Heltonpowered in a two‑point run—but the early lightning from Rogers proved decisive.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter
Blytheville – Courtney Rogers 63 run (Yahyr Gonzalez kick), 7–0 BLY.
Pottsville – Cort Johnson 2 run (kick failed), 7–6 BLY
Blytheville – Johmir Guyton 22 pass from Chad Bell (Gonzalez kick), 14–6 BLY.

2nd Quarter
Pottsville – Kaegan Jones 7 run (two‑point try failed), 14–12 BLY.
Blytheville – Rogers 65 run (kick failed), 20–12 BLY.
Blytheville – Rogers 72 run (two‑point run good), 28–12 BLY.

3rd Quarter
Blytheville – Guyton 60 pass from Bell (two‑point try failed), 34–12 BLY.
Blytheville – Guyton 70 pass from Bell (Tradarius Luster run), 42–12 BLY.

4th Quarter
Pottsville – Jones 9 run (Penn Helton run), 42–20 BLY.
Pottsville – Jones 3 run (kick good), Final 42–27 BLY

Players who stood out

• Courtney Rogers, Blytheville RB/LB — 3 rushing TDs (63, 65, 72), 200+ rushing yards.

• Johmir Guyton, Blytheville WR — 3 TD receptions (22, 60, 70)

• Chad Bell, Blytheville QB — 3 TD passes.

• Kaegan Jones, Pottsville SB/WR — 3 rushing TDs.

• Kaleb Stancil, Pottsville RB/LB — multiple chunk gains, including a 30‑yard burst.