Price, Byers power Ricebirds past Chickasaws in playoff rout

Stuttgart 51, Blytheville 12

STUTTGART — Stuttgart turned a close home playoff test into a runaway, rolling past Blytheville 51-12 at Ned Moseley Stadium to reach the 4A quarterfinals.

Junior quarterback Cain Price accounted for five touchdowns, throwing four scoring passes and adding a 1‑yard keeper as the Ricebirds broke open a 30-12 halftime lead. Price threw for more than 200 yards, repeatedly hurting the Chickasaws on rollout throws and scramble drills.

Receiver/defensive back Keaton Byers delivered a three-way gem. He hauled in a 52‑yard touchdown bomb, returned a punt around 65 yards for another score, then took a backward lateral and fired a long touchdown to fellow receiver Caiden Sims on a trick play that pushed the margin to 44-12.

Sims finished with two touchdown grabs, while receiver Jeremiah Jackson caught the game’s opening score and tight end Beau Barnes added a short fourth‑quarter touchdown. Kicker Dawson McKelvey went 6-of-7 on PATs and drilled a 35‑yard field goal on the final play of the half.

Blytheville star running back Courtney Rogers kept the Chickasaws in it early, pounding in touchdown runs of 5 and 16 yards and grinding out over 150 rushing yards against a stacked box. Quarterback Chad Bell connected deep with receivers Trevon Lewis and Johmir Guyton to extend drives.

Stuttgart’s defense, however, swung control with three takeaways. Linebacker Knox Hillman’s long fumble return set up the first score, while defensive backs Kipton Carey and Jordan Minor grabbed interceptions to stop Blytheville marches and send the Ricebirds into the next round.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter Stuttgart – Jeremiah Jackson 9-yard pass from Cain Price (Dawson McKelvey kick), Stuttgart 7-0
2nd Quarter Blytheville – Courtney Rogers 5-yard run (Yahyr Gonzalez kick blocked), Stuttgart 7-6
2nd Quarter Stuttgart – Caiden Sims 21-yard pass from Cain Price (Dawson McKelvey kick), Stuttgart 14-6
2nd Quarter Stuttgart – Keaton Byers 52-yard pass from Cain Price (Dawson McKelvey kick), Stuttgart 21-6
2nd Quarter Stuttgart – Keaton Byers 65-yard punt return (kick blocked), Stuttgart 27-6
2nd Quarter Blytheville – Courtney Rogers 16-yard run (two-point pass failed), Stuttgart 27-12
2nd Quarter Stuttgart – Dawson McKelvey 35-yard field goal (kick good), Stuttgart 30-12
3rd Quarter Stuttgart – Cain Price 1-yard run (Dawson McKelvey kick), Stuttgart 37-12
3rd Quarter Stuttgart – Caiden Sims 40-yard pass from Keaton Byers (Dawson McKelvey kick), Stuttgart 44-12
4th Quarter Stuttgart – Beau Barnes 3-yard pass from Cain Price (Dawson McKelvey kick), Stuttgart 51-12

Players who stood out

• Cain Price, Stuttgart QB – four TD passes, one rushing TD, 200+ passing yards

• Keaton Byers, Stuttgart WR/DB – 52-yard TD catch, 65-yard punt-return TD, 40-yard TD pass

• Caiden Sims, Stuttgart WR – two touchdown receptions

• Courtney Rogers, Blytheville RB/LB – two rushing TDs, 150+ rushing yards

• Chad Bell, Blytheville QB – multiple deep completions to Lewis and Guyton