An otherwise perfect White Hall homecoming was spoiled by an altercation on the Watson Chapel sideline Friday night.
White Hall coach Daryl Patton said he was disappointed the game, a 42-12 Bulldog victory, ended that way.
“I don’t care which team started it, who was at fault; there’s no place for that in interscholastic athletics,” Patton said. “On behalf of White Hall, I’m embarrassed. That’s not what we want to have.”
The fight occurred with 2:32 remaining in the fourth quarter after White Hall intercepted a deep Watson Chapel pass. There had been a few minor incidents of pushing and shoving throughout the game, but nothing serious until that moment. The officials allowed the clock, which was running due to the sportsmanship rule, to expire while sorting things out with the coaches.
Until that moment, the White Hall (2-5, 2-2 in 5A-South) homecoming crowd had been treated with a great performance by the Bulldogs.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Junior quarterback Wyatt Golden completed 15 of 25 passes for 207 yards and four touchdowns. Two receivers, sophomore Kel McEntire and senior Chris Joe, combined for 10 catches and three touchdowns.
Patton said McEntire, who finished with 100 receiving yards and two scores, has a bright future.
“As a sophomore, he’s one of the best I’ve ever coached,” Patton said. “And that’s high praise. He’s smart. He’s intelligent. He can play about three or four different positions. Never complains. Comes to work every day, works hard. He’s got really good hands.”
White Hall led 21-6 at halftime but used the third quarter to put Watson Chapel (1-5, 0-4) away. The Bulldogs started the third quarter with the ball and drove down the field. Golden connected with senior running back Kylon Davis for a 6-yard touchdown, then found McEntire on the 2-point conversion.
Watson Chapel returned the kickoff across midfield but fumbled. White Hall sophomore Aiden Bitely recovered it, and the Bulldogs chewed clock before Golden found Joe for a 2-yard touchdown.
The Wildcats’ first offensive play of the second half came with 2:40 remaining in the quarter, and their drive lasted just 1:02 before they punted. White Hall took over and scored on the first play of the fourth quarter, an 11-yard Golden pass to McEntire, to trigger the running clock with a 42-6 lead.
The Bulldogs possessed the ball for 10:50 in the third quarter.
Patton said he was proud of his players’ effort in the second half.
“Our offensive line woke up and started blocking,” Patton said. “First half, we didn’t block real well in the run, so we were pretty much predominantly pass. Second half, we ran the ball, established that, and then I thought our passing game picked up, too.”
Watson Chapel got its points from a pair of big plays.
Senior Kameron Hobbs broke free for a 62-yard run in the second quarter. Although the Bulldogs tackled him short of the goal line, it set him up to score on a 1-yard run two plays later, cutting Watson Chapel’s deficit at the time to 15-6.
With the game out of reach in the fourth quarter, senior Kassius Hollins threw a 45-yard pass downfield for senior Jabaree Smith, who made the touchdown catch for the final scoring play of the night.
Homecoming queen Mary Claire Colclasure stands with her father Patrick Colclasure (left) and her brother Will Colclasure (right) before the White Hal Football game at Bulldog Stadium on Friday night. (Special to the Commercial/William Harvey)
Watson Chapel junior Malachi Rayford runs with the ball against White Hall. (Special to the Commercial/William Harvey)