Berry’s Five Touchdowns Lift Morrilton Past Alma, 35–28
Morrilton 35, Alma 28
MORRILTON — Morrilton used a pitch‑and‑catch clinic from senior quarterback Maddox Berry to outlast Alma, 35–28, on homecoming night. Berry threw five touchdown passes to four targets and finished 22‑of‑27 for 284 yards, answering every Airedale surge decisively. The win was the Devil Dogs’ first conference victory; Alma dropped to 0‑2 in league play.
Jamarcus Sandidge (WR/CB) was Berry’s security blanket with 11 catches for 81 yards and two scores, while Champ McNabb (WR) stretched the field with seven grabs for 122 yards and a TD. Dante Cox (WR) added a 45‑yard strike, and Maddox Jones (WR) opened the scoring with a 5‑yard grab. Brelan Criswell (RB) carried 16 times for 104 yards to close it out.
Alma, rotating quarterbacks Chase Parker and Jay Lemieux, countered with splash plays. Parker hit Dylan Jackson(WR) for 35 yards late in the half and later found Samuel Schlegel (WR) for a 49‑yard score; Schlegel also powered in from two yards in the Wildcat. Dallas Perkins (RB) kept the Airedales alive with a 20‑yard TD in the fourth, and Daniel Rodriguez was perfect on PATs.
Morrilton’s defense made timely stands. Rysheed Criswell (OLB/SS) logged nine tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss, Jeremiah Smallwood (FS) snared an interception, and Dominick McCoy (DB) recovered a fumble. With 1:51 left, the Devil Dogs stoned a fourth‑and‑three at their 17 before kneeling out the win.
Scoring Summary
2nd Quarter
Morrilton – Maddox Jones 5 pass from Maddox Berry (Aaron Echalaz kick), Morrilton 7–0.
Morrilton – Jamarcus Sandidge 31 pass from Berry (Echalaz kick), Morrilton 14–0.
Alma – Samuel Schlegel 2 run (Daniel Rodriguez kick), Morrilton 14–7.
Morrilton – Sandidge 29 pass from Berry (Echalaz kick), Morrilton 21–7.
Alma – Dylan Jackson 35 pass from Chase Parker (Rodriguez kick), Morrilton 21–14.
3rd Quarter
Morrilton – Dante Cox 45 pass from Berry (Echalaz kick), Morrilton 28–14.
Alma – Schlegel 49 pass from Parker (Rodriguez kick), Morrilton 28–21.
Morrilton – Champ McNabb 28 pass from Berry (Echalaz kick), Morrilton 35–21.
4th Quarter
Alma – Dallas Perkins 20 run (Rodriguez kick), Morrilton 35–28.
Standouts
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Maddox Berry (QB, Morrilton): 22–of–27, 284 yards, 5 TD.
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Champ McNabb (WR, Morrilton): 7 receptions, 122 yards, TD.
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Jamarcus Sandidge (WR/CB, Morrilton): 11 receptions, 81 yards, 2 TD.
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Brelan Criswell (RB, Morrilton): 16 rushes, 104 yards.
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Samuel Schlegel (WR, Alma): TD catch (49) and 2‑yard rushing TD.