Wilber, second-half defense carry Mountain Home past Russellville

Mountain Home 30, Russellville 13

MOUNTAIN HOME — Gus Wilber caught two touchdown passes and intercepted a pass, and Will Rauls returned an interception for a touchdown as Mountain Home pulled away from Russellville 30-13 Friday night at Bomber Stadium.

The Bombers scored 17 unanswered second-half points to win their homecoming game and improve to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the 6A-West. Coach Steve Ary’s defense produced three interceptions and a fumble recovery, keeping the Cyclones scoreless after a four-touchdown first quarter.

Mountain Home opened with a drive from its own 20. Connor Gentry found Wilber to convert third-and-six, and Nazsier Johnson and Saxton Bodenhamer helped move the ball inside the 5. Johnson finished with a two-yard run at the 7:06 mark. The extra point hit an upright, leaving the lead at 6-0.

Russellville answered almost immediately. Sam Callahan broke free for a 61-yard touchdown run, and the successful kick gave the Cyclones a 7-6 lead with 6:49 remaining.

Johnson supplied another first-down run on Mountain Home’s next possession. After a holding penalty put the Bombers behind schedule, Gentry used play-action to find Wilber for a touchdown. Isaac Ballard added the extra point for a 13-7 lead with 4:49 left.

Ballard then prevented a touchdown by knocking Parker Jackson out of bounds on a long kickoff return. Russellville still capitalized, with Asher Swindle finding Madden Parker for a 35-yard touchdown on third down. Mountain Home stopped the two-point run, keeping the score tied at 13 with 3:41 remaining.

Neither team scored in the second quarter. Ballard pinned Russellville at its 1 with a punt, and Colt Thomas later intercepted a pass with 3:52 left. Mountain Home could not convert that takeaway into points, and another promising possession ended with an interception shortly before halftime.

The Bombers held a 253-114 advantage in total offense at the break, according to statistics reported on the broadcast. Johnson had already rushed 13 times for 146 yards.

Mountain Home’s defense immediately created another opportunity after halftime. Ford Coleman recovered a fumble, setting up the offense at Russellville’s 32. Johnson gained five yards, then Gentry found Wilber for his second touchdown. Ballard’s kick made it 20-13 with 10:48 remaining in the third quarter.

A blocked punt gave the Bombers another short field when Bodenhamer secured the ball at the Cyclones’ 13. Gaige Wilson caught a third-down pass before Ballard kicked a field goal for a 23-13 advantage with 8:40 left.

Wilber intercepted a pass early in the fourth quarter, although a holding penalty erased much of his return. Rauls supplied the decisive defensive score on Russellville’s next possession, returning an interception for a touchdown with 7:41 remaining. Ballard’s kick completed the scoring.

The Bombers later stopped fourth-and-two, and Johnson converted third-and-13 with a run on the closing possession. Callahan finished with 110 rushing yards for Russellville, according to the school’s game report.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

Mountain Home — Nazsier Johnson two-yard run (kick unsuccessful). Mountain Home 6, Russellville 0. 7:06.

Russellville — Sam Callahan 61-yard run (kick good). Russellville 7, Mountain Home 6. 6:49.

Mountain Home — Gus Wilber touchdown pass from Connor Gentry (Isaac Ballard kick). Mountain Home 13, Russellville 7. 4:49.

Russellville — Madden Parker 35-yard pass from Asher Swindle (two-point run unsuccessful). Mountain Home 13, Russellville 13. 3:41.

2nd Quarter

No scoring.

3rd Quarter

Mountain Home — Gus Wilber touchdown pass from Connor Gentry (Isaac Ballard kick). Mountain Home 20, Russellville 13. 10:48.

Mountain Home — Isaac Ballard field goal. Mountain Home 23, Russellville 13. 8:40.

4th Quarter

Mountain Home — Will Rauls interception return for a touchdown (Isaac Ballard kick). Mountain Home 30, Russellville 13. 7:41.

Players Who Stood Out

Gus Wilber, Mountain Home — Two touchdown receptions and a fourth-quarter interception; also broke up a later deep pass.

Nazsier Johnson, Mountain Home — Had 146 yards on 13 carries at halftime, including a two-yard touchdown. Converted third-and-13 during the closing possession.\

Will Rauls, Mountain Home — Returned a fourth-quarter interception for the touchdown that extended the lead to 30-13.

Ford Coleman, Mountain Home — Recovered the fumble that set up the go-ahead touchdown and helped stop Russellville on fourth-and-two late in the fourth quarter.

Isaac Ballard, Mountain Home — One field goal and three extra points; also pinned Russellville at its 1 with a punt and made a touchdown-saving tackle on a kickoff return.

Sam Callahan, Russellville — Rushed for 110 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown.