Mountain Home leaned on Barrett Miller and Brantlee Phillips to storm past Fort Smith Southside 39-21 in a 6A-West opener at Bomber Stadium.
Southside struck first when quarterback Blake Forsgren found Wilson Key from five yards out, then added two more scores through Payton Zimmerman, who showcased his all-state ability with a pair of touchdown grabs. The Mavericks stayed within 25–21 early in the fourth quarter, but Mountain Home answered with back-to-back knockout blows.
Miller, the Bombers’ senior running back, powered for 182 yards on 25 carries and scored twice, including an 80-yard dagger in the closing minutes. He also intercepted a pass in the end zone to halt a Southside rally. Phillips was steady under center, completing 15 of 23 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for a four-yard score.
Carter Adkins hauled in seven receptions for 108 yards, including a 42-yard flea-flicker touchdown that ignited the home crowd. Bryce Kincade added a 33-yard touchdown grab to give the Bombers breathing room. Senior kicker Isaac Ballard nailed a 32-yard field goal and hit all four extra points.
Forsgren finished with two touchdown passes, both to Zimmerman, while Key provided Southside’s opening score. Despite their early execution, the Mavericks couldn’t slow Mountain Home’s second-half surge.
Scoring Summary
2nd Quarter
Southside – Wilson Key 5-yd pass from Blake Forsgren (2-pt good), SS 8–0
Mountain Home – Carter Adkins 42-yd pass from Brantlee Phillips (Phillips run), 8–8
3rd Quarter
Mountain Home – Barrett Miller 1-yd run (Isaac Ballard kick), MH 15–8
Southside – Payton Zimmerman pass from Forsgren (kick good), 15–15
Mountain Home – Phillips 4-yd run (Ballard kick), MH 22–15
Mountain Home – Ballard 32-yd field goal, MH 25–15
4th Quarter
Southside – Zimmerman 33-yd pass from Forsgren (kick failed), MH 25–21
Mountain Home – Bryce Kincade 33-yd pass from Phillips (Ballard kick), MH 32–21
Mountain Home – Miller 80-yd run (Ballard kick), MH 39–21
Players Who Stood Out
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Barrett Miller, RB/FS, Mountain Home – 182 rushing yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
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Brantlee Phillips, QB, Mountain Home – 269 pass yds, 3 total TD
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Carter Adkins, WR/DB, Mountain Home – 7 catches, 108 yds, 42-yd TD
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Bryce Kincade, WR, Mountain Home – 33-yd TD reception
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Payton Zimmerman, WR/DB, Southside – 2 TD receptions
