Turnovers, ground game propel Har-Ber past Northside in rainy rout

Har-Ber 43, Northside 10

FORT SMITH — In a cold, rain-soaked 7A West matchup, Har-Ber used special teams and defense to seize early control and never let go, beating Fort Smith Northside 43-10 on Friday at Mayo-Thompson Stadium. The Wildcats’ first punt was downed at the 1; on the next snap a bad exchange on a wildcat look was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. Minutes later, quarterback Brice Owens kept around left end for a short score, staking Har-Ber to a 13-0 lead that proved plenty for a stingy defense.

Owens later ripped a 66-yard scoring sprint, while running back Reed McAllister powered the second-half surge with touchdown runs of roughly 10, 4 and 36 yards behind an offensive line that controlled the trenches after halftime. Receiver Brody Roland-Reynolds added a 30-yard field goal and converted four PATs, and his kickoffs and pooches repeatedly tilted field position.

Northside answered with Nicholas King’s 35-yard field goal in the second quarter and an 11-yard touchdown by tailback Warren Bijou in the fourth. Quarterback Drew Jackson connected with receivers Jayden Charles and Keelan Mendoza to move the chains, and defensive end Elijah Rogers was active in run support. Har-Ber’s defense, though, set the tone: receiver Kinnon Doss nabbed a second-half interception with a long return, and linemen Will White and Jacob Elliott registered timely stops in the backfield, with linebacker Cameron Bisbee and safety Grayson Daspit chipping in tackles.

Scoring Summary
1st Quarter Har-Ber – Team fumble recovery in end zone (Brody Roland-Reynolds kick), 7-0.
1st Quarter Har-Ber – Brice Owens short run (kick blocked), 13-0.
2nd Quarter Northside – Nicholas King 35-yd FG, 13-3.
3rd Quarter Har-Ber – Reed McAllister ~10-yd run (Roland-Reynolds kick), 20-3.
3rd Quarter Har-Ber – Owens 66-yd run (Roland-Reynolds kick), 27-3.
3rd Quarter Har-Ber – McAllister 4-yd run (Roland-Reynolds kick), 34-3.
4th Quarter Northside – Bijou 11-yd run (King kick), 34-10.
4th Quarter Har-Ber – McAllister 36-yd run (kick failed), 40-10.
4th Quarter Har-Ber – Roland-Reynolds 30-yd FG, 43-10.

Players who stood out

• Brice Owens, QB (Har-Ber) — 2 rushing TDs, including a 66-yarder.

• Reed McAllister, RB (Har-Ber) — 3 rushing TDs (36, ~10, 4 yards).

• Kinnon Doss, WR (Har-Ber) — 1 interception and long return.

• Warren Bijou, RB (Northside) — 11-yard TD run; tough yards all night.

• Drew Jackson, QB (Northside) — Kept drives alive through the air.