Graham, Bullington spark Heber Springs’ homecoming victory
Heber Springs 35, Haskell Harmony Grove 7
HEBER SPRINGS — Tanner Graham scored twice and intercepted a pass, while Titus Bullington returned an interception for a touchdown on the final play of the first half as Heber Springs defeated Haskell Harmony Grove 35-7 Friday night.
The Panthers intercepted four passes and built a 28-0 halftime lead in their homecoming victory. Spencer Sugg threw two 37-yard touchdown passes, and Lane Bradley added a 54-yard scoring run in the third quarter.
Heber Springs improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in 4A-2 play. Harmony Grove fell to 1-4 and 1-1.
Bradley provided the Panthers’ first takeaway, diving to intercept a tipped pass near his own 31 in the opening quarter. Heber Springs did not score on that possession, but Golden Tate recovered a low snap and got away a punt that rolled to the Cardinals’ 2.
The defense kept Harmony Grove backed up, with Matthew Ragland helping stop an inside run near the goal line. After the Cardinals punted, Sugg completed passes to Josiah Riggs and Noah Engholm to move Heber Springs into scoring position. Graham finished the drive with a four-yard counter with 3:59 left in the quarter. Tate’s kick made it 7-0.
Bullington broke up a fourth-down pass early in the second quarter. Another exchange of possessions left Harmony Grove punting from deep in its own territory, and Aiden Isom’s return gave the Panthers the ball at the Cardinals’ 37.
Sugg needed one play to capitalize. He found Graham open downfield for a 37-yard touchdown with 8:10 remaining, pushing the lead to 14-0.
Riggs intercepted a deep pass on Harmony Grove’s next possession and returned it into Cardinal territory. Lachlan Tubbs caught a 13-yard pass before Tucker Blaylock’s tackle for a five-yard loss pushed Heber Springs backward. Sugg answered by hitting Eli Long down the left sideline for another 37-yard touchdown with 4:19 left.
The half ended with another defensive strike. With Harmony Grove facing third-and-10, Bullington jumped Cash Potter’s pass, beat the last defender and returned it for a touchdown as time expired. Tate’s fourth extra point sent the Panthers to the locker room ahead 28-0.
Graham intercepted Potter early in the third quarter, and Bradley soon broke free down the right sideline for his 54-yard touchdown. Tate converted again to make it 35-0 with nine minutes remaining.
Lane Beaty answered on Harmony Grove’s next possession with an 80-yard touchdown run. Jonah Russell’s extra point made it 35-7 with 8:22 left.
The Cardinals later threatened after interceptions by Luke Ammons and Jackson Estes. Estes’ return gave Harmony Grove the ball inside the 10, but Bullington made three consecutive tackles, including a stop for a loss. Heber Springs then forced a fourth-down turnover early in the fourth quarter.
Luke Turney added a late sack as the Panthers preserved the four-touchdown margin. Graham and Bullington shared the broadcast’s player-of-the-game honors, while Tate finished five-for-five on extra points.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Heber Springs — Tanner Graham four-yard run (Golden Tate kick), Heber Springs 7, Haskell Harmony Grove 0. 3:59.
2nd Quarter
Heber Springs — Tanner Graham 37-yard pass from Spencer Sugg (Tate kick), Heber Springs 14, Haskell Harmony Grove 0. 8:10.
Heber Springs — Eli Long 37-yard pass from Spencer Sugg (Tate kick), Heber Springs 21, Haskell Harmony Grove 0. 4:19.
Heber Springs — Titus Bullington interception return (Tate kick), Heber Springs 28, Haskell Harmony Grove 0. 0:00.
3rd Quarter
Heber Springs — Lane Bradley 54-yard run (Tate kick), Heber Springs 35, Haskell Harmony Grove 0. 9:00.
Haskell Harmony Grove — Lane Beaty 80-yard run (Jonah Russell kick), Heber Springs 35, Haskell Harmony Grove 7. 8:22.
Players Who Stood Out
Tanner Graham, Heber Springs — Four-yard touchdown run, 37-yard touchdown reception and a third-quarter interception. Shared the broadcast’s player-of-the-game honor.
Titus Bullington, Heber Springs — Interception-return touchdown on the first half’s final play, an early second-quarter fourth-down pass breakup and three straight goal-line tackles late in the third quarter.
Spencer Sugg, Heber Springs — Threw 37-yard touchdown passes to Graham and Eli Long.
Lane Bradley, Heber Springs — Intercepted a tipped first-quarter pass and scored on a 54-yard third-quarter run.
Josiah Riggs, Heber Springs — Interception and return into Harmony Grove territory set up the touchdown pass to Long; also caught a first-down pass on the opening scoring drive.
Golden Tate, Heber Springs — Five extra points and a first-quarter punt downed at the Cardinals’ 2 after he recovered a low snap.
Luke Turney, Heber Springs — Sacked Cash Potter late in the fourth quarter.
Lane Beaty, Haskell Harmony Grove — Scored the Cardinals’ touchdown on an 80-yard run.
Luke Ammons and Jackson Estes, Haskell Harmony Grove — Each intercepted a third-quarter pass; Estes returned his interception inside the Heber Springs 10.