Southside stops Catholic’s two-point try to preserve one-point win

Fort Smith Southside 36, LR Catholic 35

October 16, 2026 | Hooten’s Arkansas Football

Fort Smith Southside stopped a potential winning two-point conversion with 13 seconds remaining to beat LR Catholic 36-35 Friday night at Jim Rowland Stadium.

Phillips Blair had just scored from the 1 to bring Catholic within a point. The Rockets kept their offense on the field, and Blair threw to Hunter Markham, but Southside’s defenders stopped the receiver short of the goal line. The Mavericks recovered the ensuing onside kick to finish a game that changed hands four times after Catholic’s first touchdown.

Michael Nolewajka completed all 13 of his passes for 176 yards and a touchdown. His 7-yard screen pass to Sebastian Luht, followed by another completion to Luht for two points, gave Southside a 36-29 lead with 2:55 remaining.

Luht finished with seven catches for 92 yards. Drale Morris rushed 18 times for 135 yards and two touchdowns, and Terrell Warren added 89 yards and two scores on 13 carries. Southside finished with 399 total yards.

Catholic answered with a final drive built around Blair’s running. He escaped pressure, moved the Rockets inside the 20 and then reached the 1 before scoring his third rushing touchdown. Blair finished with 166 yards on 25 carries and completed 10 of 13 passes for 101 yards and another touchdown.

Southside struck first after Catholic’s opening punt hit an upback. Morris scored on a 32-yard run on the Mavericks’ first offensive play. Catholic responded with a sustained drive, including a fourth-down completion to Hudson Brown behind Markham’s block, before Luke Burdine scored from the 3.

Warren’s 6-yard touchdown restored Southside’s lead, but Charlie Smith blocked the extra point. Catholic later lost a scoring opportunity on a mishandled fourth-down exchange near the goal line, then forced a punt and drove from its own 21. Blair found Benny Blomeley on a 10-yard touchdown pass, and the extra point gave the Rockets a 14-13 lead.

Dallas DeLassus answered with a 36-yard field goal as the first half expired. Southside opened the third quarter with a drive capped by Morris’ 2-yard touchdown, making it 22-14 after a failed extra point.

Blair brought Catholic back with a 7-yard touchdown run on fourth down, then hit Markham for the tying two-point conversion. A recovered onside kick gave the Rockets another possession. Blair finished that drive with a 2-yard run, putting Catholic ahead 29-22 with 1:17 left in the third quarter.

Warren’s 29-yard run cut the margin to one early in the fourth. Southside’s two-point pass failed, but the Mavericks later drove for Luht’s touchdown and conversion.

Blomeley caught six passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. Burdine added 79 rushing yards and a score, plus three catches for 32 yards. Catholic gained 407 yards, eight more than Southside.

Scoring summary

First quarter Southside — Drale Morris 32-yard run (Dallas DeLassus kick). Southside 7, Catholic 0.

First quarter Catholic — Luke Burdine 3-yard run (Warren Kittell kick). Tied 7-7.

First quarter Southside — Terrell Warren 6-yard run (kick blocked by Charlie Smith). Southside 13, Catholic 7.

Second quarter Catholic — Benny Blomeley 10-yard pass from Phillips Blair (Warren Kittell kick). Catholic 14, Southside 13.

Second quarter • 0:00 Southside — Dallas DeLassus 36-yard field goal. Southside 16, Catholic 14.

Third quarter Southside — Drale Morris 2-yard run (kick failed). Southside 22, Catholic 14.

Third quarter Catholic — Phillips Blair 7-yard run (Hunter Markham pass from Blair). Tied 22-22.

Third quarter • 1:17 Catholic — Phillips Blair 2-yard run (Warren Kittell kick). Catholic 29, Southside 22.

Fourth quarter • 10:01 Southside — Terrell Warren 29-yard run (pass failed). Catholic 29, Southside 28.

Fourth quarter • 2:55 Southside — Sebastian Luht 7-yard pass from Michael Nolewajka (Luht pass from Nolewajka). Southside 36, Catholic 29.

Fourth quarter • 0:13 Catholic — Phillips Blair 1-yard run (pass failed). Southside 36, Catholic 35.

Players who stood out

Michael Nolewajka, Southside — 13-of-13 passing for 176 yards and one touchdown; threw the decisive two-point conversion.

Sebastian Luht, Southside — Seven catches for 92 yards, including the 7-yard winning touchdown; caught the two-point conversion.

Drale Morris, Southside — 18 carries, 135 yards and two touchdowns, from 32 and 2 yards.

Terrell Warren, Southside — 13 carries, 89 yards and two touchdowns, from 6 and 29 yards.

Dallas DeLassus, Southside — 36-yard field goal as the first half expired and one extra point.

Phillips Blair, Catholic — 25 carries, 166 yards and three touchdowns; 10-of-13 passing for 101 yards and one touchdown.

Benny Blomeley, Catholic — Six receptions for 101 yards and a 10-yard touchdown.

Luke Burdine, Catholic — 21 carries, 79 yards and a touchdown; three catches for 32 yards.

Hunter Markham, Catholic — Completed his only pass for 40 yards and caught a two-point conversion.

Charlie Smith, Catholic — Blocked a first-quarter extra point.