Miles, Shockley lead Searcy past West Memphis

Searcy 38, West Memphis 0

WEST MEMPHIS — Jacob Miles threw four touchdown passes, DeAndre Shockley scored twice and Searcy’s defense kept West Memphis off the scoreboard in a 38-0 road victory Friday night.

The Lions scored 21 points in the second quarter to build a 31-0 halftime lead and improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Jackson Smith caught two of Miles’ touchdown passes, Will Manning added a scoring reception and Micah Linderman supplied a field goal and five extra points.

Searcy established its running game on the opening possession. Miles kept for a first down, and Shockley broke into the secondary to move the ball to the West Memphis 22. The Blue Devils held near the goal line, stopping a third-down keeper, but Linderman converted the opportunity into a 3-0 lead with 8:08 left in the first quarter.

The Lions reached the end zone on their next scoring drive. Bryson Thompson caught a pass near the goal line to put Searcy at the 2. With players crowded behind Miles, the quarterback handed to Shockley, who found an opening for the touchdown. Linderman’s kick made it 10-0 with 4:21 remaining.

Shockley helped Searcy extend the lead early in the second quarter. He broke a run to the West Memphis 26, and a completion to Smith moved the ball to the 21. Miles then threw right to Shockley, who maneuvered through the defense for his second touchdown. The extra point pushed the margin to 17-0 with 10:49 left in the half.

Searcy continued to control field position. Wyatt Woodle led the pressure that brought quarterback Andrew Clay down behind the line, and the Lions later forced an incomplete fourth-down pass near midfield.

The offense capitalized on that stop. Facing fourth-and-four at the West Memphis 45, Miles found Manning along the left side for a touchdown and a 24-0 advantage. Following another Blue Devils punt, Miles connected with an open Smith on the first play of Searcy’s next possession. Smith reached the end zone, and Linderman’s kick made it 31-0 with 1:56 before halftime.

West Memphis held Searcy scoreless in the third quarter. Brayden Bass intercepted a pass intended for Smith during that stretch, but the Blue Devils could not turn the takeaway into points.

Searcy added its final touchdown in the fourth quarter. Thompson extended the possession with a diving catch on third-and-eight, then contributed another reception and a run that moved the Lions inside the 20. Miles finished the drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Smith, and Linderman completed the scoring with 10 minutes remaining.

Coach Zak Clark’s Lions return home to face Jonesboro next week. West Memphis fell to 1-4.

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

Searcy — Micah Linderman field goal. Searcy 3, West Memphis 0. 8:08.

Searcy — DeAndre Shockley 2-yard run (Linderman kick). Searcy 10, West Memphis 0. 4:21.

Second Quarter

Searcy — Shockley 21-yard pass from Jacob Miles (Linderman kick). Searcy 17, West Memphis 0. 10:49.

Searcy — Will Manning 45-yard pass from Miles (Linderman kick). Searcy 24, West Memphis 0.

Searcy — Jackson Smith pass from Miles (Linderman kick). Searcy 31, West Memphis 0. 1:56.

Fourth Quarter

Searcy — Smith 12-yard pass from Miles (Linderman kick). Searcy 38, West Memphis 0. 10:00.

Players Who Stood Out

Jacob Miles, Searcy — Four touchdown passes, including two to Jackson Smith and one each to DeAndre Shockley and Will Manning.

DeAndre Shockley, Searcy — A 2-yard rushing touchdown and a 21-yard touchdown reception; supplied gains that helped set up Searcy’s opening scores.

Jackson Smith, Searcy — Two touchdown receptions, the second from 12 yards.

Micah Linderman, Searcy — One field goal and five extra points for eight points; named the broadcast’s player of the game.

Bryson Thompson, Searcy — A catch to the 2 set up the first touchdown; his diving third-down reception extended the final scoring drive.

Brayden Bass, West Memphis — Third-quarter interception.