Sheridan seized an early lead and answered every Catholic surge to win 51–36
Sheridan 51, Catholic 36
LITTLE ROCK — Sheridan seized an early lead and answered every Catholic surge to win 51–36 at War Memorial Stadium in a 6A East shootout. Hooten’s
The Yellowjackets raced to a 23–7 first‑quarter cushion with two Zay Stephens touchdown runs and a late strike from sophomore quarterback Easton Barksdale, then leaned on passing to stay in front. Barksdale finished 26‑for‑43 for 381 yards and four touchdowns, distributing to Hunter Socia (8 catches, 167 yards, TD), Walker Shields (8, 100, TD) and junior Dylan Smith, who added two scoring grabs. Stephens, a junior running back, carried 25 times for 130 yards and two scores, while senior Eli Turner provided a dagger late. MaxPreps.com
Catholic battled back behind junior quarterback Phillips Blair, who piled up 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 29 keepers and threw three scoring passes. Senior two‑way standout Hayden Roaf turned four receptions into three touchdowns, repeatedly finding space up the seam and in the red zone. Junior Hunter Markham supplied conversion points with a tough two‑point run on a bobbled PAT and a late toss on a designed sprint‑out. MaxPreps.com+1
The Rockets defense produced a key second‑quarter stop: senior safety Aiden Gaiser forced a fumble that corner Walter Menefee recovered to end a red‑zone threat. Catholic climbed within 37–28 early in the fourth after an onside recovery and another Roaf score, but Sheridan responded with Barksdale‑to‑Smith and a Turner plunge to close it out. Hooten’s
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter Sheridan – Zay Stephens run (Andrew Mitchell kick), SHER 7–0. Catholic – Phillips Blair 5 run (Linkoln Perez kick), 7–7. Sheridan – Stephens run (2‑pt good), SHER 15–7. Sheridan – Walker Shields pass from Easton Barksdale (2‑pt good), SHER 23–7. Hooten’s
2nd Quarter Catholic – Blair run (2‑pt no good), SHER 23–13. Sheridan – Dylan Smith pass from Barksdale (Mitchell kick), SHER 30–13. Hooten’s
3rd Quarter Catholic – Hayden Roaf pass from Blair (Perez kick), SHER 30–20. Sheridan – Socia 40 pass from Barksdale (Mitchell kick), SHER 37–20. MaxPreps.com
4th Quarter Catholic – Roaf pass from Blair (Markham 2‑pt run), SHER 37–28. Sheridan – Smith pass from Barksdale (kick no good), SHER 43–28. Sheridan – Turner run (2‑pt good), SHER 51–28. Catholic – Roaf pass from Blair (Blair to Markham pass), Final 51–36. Hooten’s
Standouts (4–5):
Easton Barksdale, QB, Sheridan — 381 yards, 4 TD passing. MaxPreps.com
Zay Stephens, RB, Sheridan — 25 rushes, 130 yards, 2 TD. MaxPreps.com
Hunter Socia, WR, Sheridan — 8–167–1 receiving. MaxPreps.com
Phillips Blair, QB, Catholic — 194 rush yards, 2 rush TD; 3 TD passes. MaxPreps.com
Hayden Roaf, DB/WR, Catholic — 4–60–3 receiving.