Graham, Tubbs help Heber Springs pull away from Bald Knob
Heber Springs 47, Bald Knob 31
October 9, 2026
BALD KNOB — Tanner Graham scored on a 34-yard reception and a 34-yard interception return, and Lachlan Tubbs added two fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns as Heber Springs defeated Bald Knob 47-31 Friday night.
The Panthers (5-1, 3-0 in 2-4A) scored 27 consecutive points after trailing 25-20 in the third quarter. Bald Knob fell to 3-3 overall and 0-3 in conference.
Bald Knob threatened on its opening possession, but Anderson Jones broke up a third-down pass near the goal line before the Bulldogs missed a field goal. Rylan Smith put Bald Knob ahead with a short touchdown run late in the first quarter.
Spencer Sugg answered with a 42-yard scramble that set up Lane Bradley’s five-yard touchdown run with 11:24 left in the second quarter. Golden Tate’s kick tied it 7-7. Bradley later helped Heber Springs recover from consecutive holding penalties, and Sugg found Graham for a 34-yard touchdown on third down with 8:09 remaining.
Seften Palomares brought Bald Knob within 14-13 on a touchdown run with 3:24 left, but Tubbs blocked the extra point. Tex Isom returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown. Flags initially left the play in doubt, but a facemask penalty against Bald Knob allowed the score to stand. Tate’s extra point missed, leaving Heber Springs ahead 20-13.
Ean Pearrow took a direct snap and scored with 1:47 left in the half. Heber Springs stopped the two-point run to preserve a 20-19 lead.
Bald Knob reclaimed the lead on its opening third-quarter possession. Palomares converted fourth-and-one with a run and later found Smith for a four-yard touchdown with 7:42 remaining. Tubbs blocked another extra point.
Sugg brought the Panthers back, completing first-down passes to Graham and Noah Engholm before converting third down with a determined run to the 1. He scored on the next play with 3:35 left. The two-point attempt failed, but Graham soon intercepted a sideline pass and raced 34 yards for a touchdown. Tate’s kick made it 33-25 with 2:31 remaining.
Isom recovered a fumbled fourth-down snap on the first play of the fourth quarter. Eli Long’s sideline catch converted third-and-long and moved Heber Springs to the 4. Tubbs finished the possession with a one-yard touchdown run at the 8:38 mark.
Oliver Berry broke up a third-down pass on Bald Knob’s next possession, and the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs. Sugg added a first-down run before Tubbs scored from six yards with 3:33 left. Tate’s fifth successful extra point pushed the lead to 47-25.
Keegan Smith scored Bald Knob’s final touchdown on a short run in the closing seconds. The two-point attempt failed, and Owen Norton covered the ensuing kickoff before Sugg knelt to finish the game.
Scoring summary
All scoring plays are named and listed chronologically. Exact clocks and distances are omitted where the broadcast gives conflicting or incomplete information.
Q1 — Bald Knob – Rylan Smith touchdown run (Seften Palomares kick). Bald Knob 7, Heber Springs 0. Late in quarter.
Q2 11:24 — Heber Springs – Lane Bradley 5-yard run (Golden Tate kick). Heber Springs 7, Bald Knob 7.
Q2 8:09 — Heber Springs – Tanner Graham 34-yard pass from Spencer Sugg (Tate kick). Heber Springs 14, Bald Knob 7.
Q2 3:24 — Bald Knob – Seften Palomares touchdown run (kick blocked by Lachlan Tubbs). Heber Springs 14, Bald Knob 13.
Q2 3:08 — Heber Springs – Tex Isom 75-yard kickoff return (kick failed). Heber Springs 20, Bald Knob 13.
Q2 1:47 — Bald Knob – Ean Pearrow touchdown run on a direct snap (two-point run failed). Heber Springs 20, Bald Knob 19.
Q3 7:42 — Bald Knob – Rylan Smith 4-yard pass from Seften Palomares (kick blocked by Lachlan Tubbs). Bald Knob 25, Heber Springs 20.
Q3 3:35 — Heber Springs – Spencer Sugg 1-yard run (two-point attempt failed). Heber Springs 26, Bald Knob 25.
Q3 2:31 — Heber Springs – Tanner Graham 34-yard interception return (Golden Tate kick). Heber Springs 33, Bald Knob 25.
Q4 8:38 — Heber Springs – Lachlan Tubbs 1-yard run (Tate kick). Heber Springs 40, Bald Knob 25.
Q4 3:33 — Heber Springs – Lachlan Tubbs 6-yard run (Tate kick). Heber Springs 47, Bald Knob 25.
Q4 — Bald Knob – Keegan Smith touchdown run (two-point attempt failed). Heber Springs 47, Bald Knob 31. Closing seconds.
Players who stood out
Tanner Graham, Heber Springs — Caught a 34-yard touchdown pass and returned an interception 34 yards for a third-quarter touchdown. Added a third-down catch during the Panthers’ go-ahead drive.
Lachlan Tubbs, Heber Springs — Ran for fourth-quarter touchdowns of 1 and 6 yards and blocked two extra points. Also supplied several tackles and tipped a late pass.
Tex Isom, Heber Springs — Returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown, recovered a fourth-down fumble to open the fourth quarter and chased the quarterback out of bounds for a two-yard loss on the next Bald Knob possession.
Spencer Sugg, Heber Springs — Threw the 34-yard touchdown pass to Graham and scored on a one-yard run. His 42-yard scramble set up Bradley’s touchdown, and his third-and-long completion to Long helped set up Tubbs’ first score.
Rylan Smith, Bald Knob — Scored on a first-quarter run and a four-yard third-quarter reception. His 28-yard catch helped move the Bulldogs into scoring position on their opening second-half possession.
Seften Palomares, Bald Knob — Ran for a second-quarter touchdown, threw the four-yard scoring pass to Smith and converted fourth-and-one during the drive that gave Bald Knob a 25-20 lead.