Bryant’s Goal-Line Stands Secure First Victory
Bryant 14, Little Rock Central 2
Bryant scored on its opening possession of each half, then protected that advantage with a defense that kept Little Rock Central’s offense off the scoreboard in a 14–2 victory Friday at Hornet Stadium.
The Hornets earned their first win, improving to 1–3 overall and 1–0 in the 7A-Central. Central fell to 1–3 and 0–1 despite a defense that produced a safety, intercepted two passes and repeatedly stopped Bryant possessions.
Brandon Johnson supplied the first touchdown, scoring on a 3-yard run with 5:57 remaining in the first quarter. The extra point made it 7–0. Kyler Shelby kept the possession alive with a third-and-19 completion to Chase Slater, who added another first-down catch. Crews Thomason’s reception carried Bryant inside the 5 before Johnson finished the drive.
Lincoln Wicks recovered a Central fumble at the Tigers’ 33 on the ensuing possession, but Central prevented Bryant from extending the lead. Calvyn Colclough sacked Judah Summers on fourth down to end that threat.
Bryant’s defensive front answered with its own drive-ending plays. Jacquez Suggs made consecutive tackles for loss in the second quarter, stopping Kaedyn Dunn on a run and Ray Stewart on a screen pass to force a punt.
Central turned a Bryant fumble into another scoring opportunity, with Ricky Gaston recovering the ball. The Hornets stopped the Tigers on fourth down near the goal line, but their next possession began at their own 2 following a penalty. Central tackled Jamarion Greer in the end zone for a safety, cutting the deficit to 7–2.
The Tigers preserved that margin through halftime. Dunn forced another fumble on a Shelby keeper, and Toiree Enlow-Moore intercepted Summers near Central’s goal line on the final play of the half.
Bryant needed three running plays to score after intermission. Kaleb Leak opened with an 11-yard gain and added another first-down run before Greer broke free for a 41-yard touchdown. The conversion increased the lead to 14–2 with 10:55 left in the third quarter.
Quinterious Waller then forced a Stewart fumble that Chris Bonds recovered. Central again denied Bryant points, with Roy Holmes intercepting Summers at the Tigers’ 6.
Central advanced from there to Bryant’s 10. Stewart converted fourth down with a catch-and-run to the 17, where Aaron Austin prevented a touchdown. Anthony Ellis ended the possession by breaking up a fourth-down pass intended for Chris Ross with 2:13 remaining in the third quarter.
Landon Tableriou recovered another Central fumble in the fourth, but the Tigers mounted one final threat. Stewart’s carries helped move the ball inside the 5. Ellis and Malik Shipp stopped Benjamin Robinson at the 3, and Stewart reached the 1 on third down.
A snap infraction moved Central back to the 6 for fourth-and-goal. Rizer Rue broke up Jeremiah Clark’s end-zone pass with 30 seconds remaining, securing Bryant’s victory and completing another stand without allowing a touchdown.
Scoring Summary
- First quarter: Bryant — Brandon Johnson, 3-yard touchdown run; kick good. Bryant 7–0.
- Second quarter: Little Rock Central — Safety, Jamarion Greer tackled in the end zone. Bryant 7–2.
- Third quarter: Bryant — Jamarion Greer, 41-yard touchdown run; kick good. Bryant 14–2.
- Fourth quarter: No scoring.
Players Who Stood Out
- Jamarion Greer, Bryant: Scored on a 41-yard run with 10:55 left in the third quarter, extending the lead to 14–2.
- Chase Slater, Bryant: Converted third-and-19 with a reception and added another first-down catch on the opening touchdown drive.
- Anthony Ellis, Bryant: Broke up a fourth-down pass at Bryant’s 10 and joined Malik Shipp on a stop at the 3 during Central’s final possession.
- Rizer Rue, Bryant: Broke up Central’s fourth-and-goal pass from the 6 with 30 seconds remaining.
- Calvyn Colclough, Central: Sacked Judah Summers on fourth down after Bryant recovered a fumble at Central’s 33.
- Kaedyn Dunn, Central: Forced a second-quarter fumble on a Kyler Shelby keeper.