Perrin catches three TD passes as Nashville holds off Fouke
Nashville 48, Fouke 25
NASHVILLE – DJ Jefferson threw five touchdown passes, including three to Bryce Perrin, as Nashville answered a third-quarter challenge from Fouke and won 48-25 Friday night at Scrapper Stadium.
The Scrappers led 28-7 at halftime, but the Panthers scored twice to get within nine points. Nashville responded with touchdowns on consecutive possessions, including a 96-yard catch-and-run by Perrin, to regain control of its homecoming game.
Fouke created an immediate opportunity by recovering the opening onside kick at Nashville’s 48. Cody Heflin found Bryce Graves for a 42-yard touchdown pass with 11:05 remaining in the first quarter, giving the Panthers a 7-0 lead.
Nashville answered on its first possession. Jakhari Starr supplied consecutive first-down runs before Jacoby Hopson turned the left corner for a 21-yard touchdown with 9:48 left. Mack Arnold directed most of that drive after replacing Jefferson, who returned for the Scrappers’ next possession.
Starr helped set up another score with two more long runs, and Jefferson threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Perrin for a 14-7 lead. Nashville then drove 99 yards, with Hopson making a long reception before catching another pass for a touchdown with 3:23 remaining in the quarter.
Fouke’s power running game produced scoring opportunities in the second quarter, but Blake Moody recovered a fumble to halt one drive, and a mishandled field-goal snap ended another. Skyler Ramsire added an interception before Jailyn Staggers knocked the ball from Heflin and Milik Gilliam recovered at Fouke’s 20. Two plays later, Jefferson found Staggers in the end zone. The extra point made it 28-7 with 47 seconds left in the half.
The Panthers opened the second half with a sustained touchdown drive. Heflin escaped pressure to convert third-and-13, and a long reception moved Fouke near the goal line. Heflin scored on a short sneak with 6:54 left in the third quarter, but Bo Dean blocked the extra point.
Fouke stopped Nashville on fourth down and struck again. Graves broke outside for a touchdown run with 4:41 remaining, cutting the deficit to 28-19 after the two-point run failed. Starr answered 45 seconds later, cutting back through the defense for a touchdown. Nashville’s two-point pass was incomplete.
After forcing a punt, Nashville was backed up near its goal line. Perrin gathered a short pass, hurdled a defender and raced down the sideline for the 96-yard touchdown. The extra point extended the lead to 41-19 with 1:45 left in the third.
Graves caught his second touchdown pass from Heflin with 9:45 remaining in the fourth quarter. Dean blocked another extra point, and Nashville answered with Perrin’s third touchdown reception, making it 48-25 with 7:08 left.
Staggers forced another fumble late, with Dean recovering. Perrin added a third-down conversion on the ground before Nashville knelt out the victory.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Fouke – Bryce Graves 42-yard touchdown pass from Cody Heflin (kick good), Fouke 7, Nashville 0. 11:05.
Nashville – Jacoby Hopson 21-yard touchdown run (kick good), Nashville 7, Fouke 7. 9:48.
Nashville – Bryce Perrin three-yard touchdown pass from DJ Jefferson (kick good), Nashville 14, Fouke 7. 5:55.
Nashville – Jacoby Hopson touchdown pass from DJ Jefferson (kick good), Nashville 21, Fouke 7. 3:23.
2nd Quarter
Nashville – Jailyn Staggers touchdown pass from DJ Jefferson (kick good), Nashville 28, Fouke 7. 0:47.
3rd Quarter
Fouke – Cody Heflin short touchdown run (kick blocked by Bo Dean), Nashville 28, Fouke 13. 6:54.
Fouke – Bryce Graves touchdown run (two-point run unsuccessful), Nashville 28, Fouke 19. 4:41.
Nashville – Jakhari Starr touchdown run (two-point pass incomplete), Nashville 34, Fouke 19. 3:56.
Nashville – Bryce Perrin 96-yard touchdown pass from DJ Jefferson (kick good), Nashville 41, Fouke 19. 1:45.
4th Quarter
Fouke – Bryce Graves touchdown pass from Cody Heflin (kick blocked by Bo Dean), Nashville 41, Fouke 25. 9:45.
Nashville – Bryce Perrin touchdown pass from DJ Jefferson (kick good), Nashville 48, Fouke 25. 7:08.
Players Who Stood Out
Bryce Perrin, Nashville – Caught three touchdown passes, including a 96-yard catch-and-run late in the third quarter. Secured two second-half onside kicks and added a third-down rushing conversion on Nashville’s final possession.
DJ Jefferson, Nashville, quarterback – Threw five touchdown passes: three to Perrin, one to Jacoby Hopson and one to Jailyn Staggers. His first-down scramble helped set up Nashville’s touchdown response after Fouke closed within nine points.
Jacoby Hopson, Nashville – Scored on a 21-yard run and a touchdown reception in the first quarter. Added a long catch during Nashville’s 99-yard touchdown drive.
Jakhari Starr, Nashville, running back – Supplied consecutive first-down runs on Nashville’s opening touchdown drive and two more long runs on its next scoring possession. His third-quarter touchdown run pushed the lead to 34-19.
Jailyn Staggers, Nashville – Forced a second-quarter fumble, then caught a touchdown pass two plays later. Forced another fumble late in the fourth quarter that Bo Dean recovered.
Bo Dean, Nashville – Blocked two extra points and recovered a fourth-quarter fumble. Stopped a third-down run short of the marker before Nashville forced a turnover on downs with 5:22 remaining.
Bryce Graves, Fouke – Scored three touchdowns, catching a 42-yard pass on the opening possession and another touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. His third-quarter touchdown run cut Nashville’s lead to 28-19.
Cody Heflin, Fouke, quarterback – Threw two touchdown passes to Graves and scored on a third-quarter sneak. His scrambling converted third-and-13 on Fouke’s first second-half scoring drive and third-and-10 during its final touchdown drive.