Devil Dogs Rally Late To Stun Trojans In 5A Thriller

Morrilton 34, Hot Springs 27

Morrilton stormed back from a halftime deficit Friday night to knock off top-seeded Hot Springs 34–27 in a Class 5A quarterfinal at Tommy J. Holt Memorial Field. The Devil Dogs trailed 20–13 at the break before their offense and defense seized control over the final two quarters.

Morrilton struck first when senior receiver Asher Hogan, lined up in the backfield, powered in on a 2‑yard run for a 7–0 lead. Hot Springs answered in the second quarter as junior running back Antwon Berry ripped off a 70‑yard touchdown sprint, and senior quarterback Sedrick Allen added a 6‑yard scoring pass to sophomore receiver Gabe Jaime. Morrilton briefly regained the lead on senior quarterback Maddox Berry’s 6‑yard strike to senior receiver Jamarcus Sandidge before Allen and senior wideout Ja’marcis Morning connected on a stunning 99‑yard touchdown that sent the Trojans to halftime up 20–13.

Berry responded out of the locker room with two third‑quarter touchdown passes, the second coming after senior defensive back Jeremiah Smallwood intercepted Allen near midfield. Those scores flipped the game and gave Morrilton a 26–20 advantage entering the fourth.

Allen, who accounted for three total touchdowns, tied it with a 20‑yard keeper and junior kicker Erick Luna’s extra point pushed Hot Springs ahead 27–26 with about three minutes remaining. Morrilton calmly marched back downfield, and junior quarterback/receiver Champ McNabb finished the drive with a short rushing touchdown, then punched in the two‑point conversion to put the Devil Dogs up seven.

Hot Springs’ high-powered passing attack kept pressure on Morrilton all night, but the Devil Dogs’ front, led by senior linemen Shane Willis and Landon Boyer, produced key stops late. Morrilton advances to the state semifinals at 10–2, while Hot Springs closes a 10–2 season that included an unbeaten run through the 5A South.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter
Morrilton – Asher Hogan 2‑yard run (PAT good), Morrilton 7–0

2nd Quarter
Hot Springs – Antwon Berry 70‑yard run (Erick Luna kick), Tied 7–7
Morrilton – Maddox Berry 6‑yard pass to Jamarcus Sandidge (PAT failed), Morrilton 13–7
Hot Springs – Sedrick Allen 6‑yard pass to Gabe Jaime (Luna kick), Hot Springs 14–13
Hot Springs – Sedrick Allen 99‑yard pass to Ja’marcis Morning (PAT failed), Hot Springs 20–13

3rd Quarter
Morrilton – Maddox Berry touchdown pass (PAT good), Tied 20–20
Morrilton – Maddox Berry touchdown pass (PAT failed), Morrilton 26–20

4th Quarter
Hot Springs – Sedrick Allen 20‑yard run (Luna kick), Hot Springs 27–26
Morrilton – Champ McNabb rushing touchdown (2‑point rush good), Morrilton 34–27

Standout Performers

• Maddox Berry, QB, Morrilton – Three touchdown passes and several key scrambles in the comeback.

• Champ McNabb, QB/WR, Morrilton – Game‑winning rushing touchdown and two‑point conversion in the final minute.

• Jamarcus Sandidge, WR/CB, Morrilton – First-half touchdown grab and multiple drive‑extending catches.

• Sedrick Allen, QB, Hot Springs – Accounted for three touchdowns, including 99‑yard and 6‑yard scoring passes plus a 20‑yard TD run.

• Antwon Berry, RB, Hot Springs – Sparked the Trojans with a 70‑yard touchdown run that ignited their second‑quarter surge.