STUTTGART — Stuttgart struck early and never trailed, riding a five-touchdown night from junior quarterback Cain Price to a 49–30 homecoming win over Helena-West Helena Central on Friday at Ned Moseley Stadium. Price ran in two short keepers and threw scoring passes to Jaymarrion Hoard (25 yards), Jeremiah Jackson (23) and a third-quarter shovel to Caiden Sims that went 55 yards, pushing the Ricebirds ahead 49–14 before the mercy-rule clock started.
Stuttgart’s ground game set the tone. Tayquan Hall broke free for a 51-yard touchdown on the second snap of the night and later added a red-zone score in the second quarter. Kicker Dawson McKelvey was steady on extra points as the Birds built advantages of 14–6 after one and 42–14 at halftime.
Helena answered with big plays of its own. Sophomore quarterback KJ Gilcreast powered in for touchdowns of 9 and 2 yards and completed a two-point pass to RJ Eaton; bruising back Kevon Brown scored twice, including a 12-yard fourth-quarter run, while MJ Gibson and Maurice Pippen made key receptions. The Cougars closed to 49–28 late, but Stuttgart’s defense sealed it with a final-play interception.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Stuttgart – Tayquan Hall 51 run (Dawson McKelvey kick), STU 7–0.
Helena – Kevon Brown 1 run (pass failed), STU 7–6.
Stuttgart – Cain Price 1 run (McKelvey kick), STU 14–6.
2nd Quarter
Stuttgart – Jaymarrion Hoard 25 pass from Price (kick blocked), STU 20–6.
Stuttgart – Safety, sack in end zone, STU 22–6.
Stuttgart – Hall short run (McKelvey kick), STU 28–6.
Stuttgart – Price 1 run (McKelvey kick), STU 35–6.
Helena – KJ Gilcreast 9 run (pass to Maurice Pippen), STU 35–14.
Stuttgart – Jackson 23 pass from Price (McKelvey kick), STU 42–14.
3rd Quarter
Stuttgart – Sims 55 shovel pass from Price (McKelvey kick), STU 49–14.
Helena – Gilcreast 2 run (pass to RJ Eaton), STU 49–22.
4th Quarter
Helena – Brown 12 run (Brown run), STU 49–28 (final).
Players who stood out
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Cain Price, QB, Stuttgart — 2 rush TD, 3 pass TD
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Tayquan Hall, RB, Stuttgart — 2 rush TD, long of 51
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KJ Gilcreast, QB, Helena-WHC — 2 rush TD; led passing game
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Kevon Brown, RB, Helena-WHC — 2 rush TD
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Dawson McKelvey, K, Stuttgart — multiple PATs
