Iverson’s late interception preserves Star City’s win over DeWitt

Star City 28, DeWitt 22

STAR CITY — Amarion Iverson intercepted a pass with 1:16 remaining to end DeWitt’s final scoring threat and preserve Star City’s 28-22 victory Friday night.

The Bulldogs reclaimed the lead on an eight-yard touchdown pass with 9:04 left, then stopped two DeWitt possessions in Star City territory. Star City improved to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in conference. DeWitt fell to 1-4 and 0-2 despite erasing a 20-8 halftime deficit.

Star City scored one minute into the game, finishing a short field with an eight-yard run out of its Wildcat formation. The extra point made it 7-0. Xa Cox’s long kickoff return gave DeWitt the ball at the Bulldogs’ 32, and Cane Fisher’s run carried the Dragons to the 3. DeWitt reached the 1 before losing a fumble.

Fisher put DeWitt on the scoreboard moments later, tackling the ball carrier in the end zone after a high Star City snap. Kaiden Golden later recovered a fumble to set up another DeWitt opportunity. Rodney Ross finished that possession with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Marshaun Bowers, who caught the ball over a defender. The failed two-point attempt left the Dragons ahead 8-7.

Star City regained the lead on a four-yard quarterback run and extended it to 20-8 on a one-yard run with 9:42 left in the second quarter. The Bulldogs also recovered another DeWitt fumble near their goal line and ended the Dragons’ final first-half possession with a fourth-down sack.

DeWitt struck early in the third quarter when Ross found Bowers for a 48-yard touchdown. Golden ran for the two-point conversion, cutting the deficit to 20-16. Fisher and Rae Frye supplied tackles behind the line on Star City’s next possession, which ended with an incomplete fourth-down pass.

Bowers added two long receptions on the ensuing DeWitt drive. Kaden Pippinger finished it with a 13-yard reverse, taking a handoff from Landyn Graham and benefiting from Bowers’ block. Golden was stopped on the two-point attempt, but DeWitt led 22-20 with 5:50 left in the third quarter.

A holding penalty erased a Star City kickoff-return touchdown, leaving the Bulldogs at their 29. Jamarian Spencer converted fourth-and-three and fourth-and-one on direct snaps to keep the ensuing drive moving. Star City completed the 71-yard march with its eight-yard touchdown pass and added a two-point run for a 28-22 lead.

Frye’s 31-yard reception moved DeWitt to the Star City 29 on its next possession, but the Bulldogs forced a turnover on downs. Garin Yarbrough then stopped a fourth-down run to give the Dragons another chance with 3:15 left.

Golden converted fourth-and-short near midfield, and Bowers’ sideline catch moved DeWitt to the Bulldogs’ 20. After a short completion to Graham, Ross threw toward the end zone from the 18. Iverson intercepted the pass, and Star City ran out the remaining time.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

DeWitt — Cane Fisher tackle in the end zone for a safety, Star City 7, DeWitt 2.

DeWitt — Marshaun Bowers 32-yard touchdown pass from Rodney Ross (two-point run failed), DeWitt 8, Star City 7.

3rd Quarter

DeWitt — Marshaun Bowers 48-yard touchdown pass from Rodney Ross (Kaiden Golden two-point run), Star City 20, DeWitt 16.

DeWitt — Kaden Pippinger 13-yard touchdown run on a reverse (two-point run failed), DeWitt 22, Star City 20. 5:50.

Players Who Stood Out

Amarion Iverson, Star City — Intercepted Rodney Ross’s pass with 1:16 remaining after DeWitt reached the Bulldogs’ 18, allowing Star City to run out the clock.

Jamarian Spencer, Star City — Converted fourth-and-three and fourth-and-one on direct snaps during the 71-yard fourth-quarter scoring drive that regained the lead.

Marshaun Bowers, DeWitt — Caught touchdown passes of 32 and 48 yards, added two long receptions on the go-ahead third-quarter drive and supplied a block on Pippinger’s touchdown reverse. His late sideline catch moved DeWitt to the Star City 20.

Rodney Ross, DeWitt — Threw both touchdown passes to Bowers and connected with Frye for a 31-yard gain in the fourth quarter. Led the final drive to the Star City 18 before Iverson’s interception.

Kaden Pippinger, DeWitt — Scored on a 13-yard reverse to give the Dragons a 22-20 lead with 5:50 left in the third quarter.

Cane Fisher, DeWitt — Made the tackle for a first-quarter safety and stopped a runner behind the line during the third-quarter defensive stand that preceded DeWitt’s go-ahead touchdown. Added a first-quarter run to the Star City 3.

Kaiden Golden, DeWitt — Recovered a first-quarter fumble, ran for the two-point conversion after Bowers’ second touchdown and converted fourth-and-short on the final possession.

Garin Yarbrough, DeWitt — Stopped Star City’s fourth-down counter run short of the first down, returning possession to the Dragons with 3:15 remaining.

Rae Frye, DeWitt — Made a tackle for loss on Star City’s first third-quarter possession and caught a 31-yard pass on DeWitt’s first possession after the Bulldogs retook the lead.