HELENA-WEST HELENA — J’Kenzyze Miller took the opening kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown for Watson Chapel, but the Wildcats couldn’t keep the momentum as they fell to the Helena-West Helena Central Cougars 50-14 at Cad Polk Stadium.
After Miller’s kickoff return brought the sparse group of Wildcat faithful to their feet, quarterback Malachi Rayford waltzed in for the two-point conversion to put Watson Chapel up 8-0 with 11:50 to go in the opening quarter. That would be the highlight of the game for the Wildcats (0-1).
The Cougars (1-0) immediately fired back with a 64-yard drive that took six plays. Keveahn Brown capped it off with a 30-yard romp into the end zone with 10:19 remaining to cut the score to 8-6 after a failed two-point conversion.
On the ensuing possession, the Wildcats stalled near midfield and were forced to punt. A bad snap was picked up by the Cougars for the scoop and score to give Central a lead it would never relinquish. After the failed two-point conversion it was 12-8.
Facing third down on the next possession, Rayford dropped back to pass and was picked off by Central’s Zamarion McKinney, who helped the Cougars set up shop at their own 42-yard line. Facing fourth-and-1 at the Wildcat 28-yard line, K. J. Gilcreast dropped back to pass and found M. J. Gipson at the 3-yard line. Brown plunged into the end zone on the next play and got the call for the two-point conversion to make it 20-8 with 8:41 remaining in the second quarter.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
As the Watson Chapel band made its entrance after a late arrival, another bad snap on a punt gave the Cougars the ball at the Wildcat 5-yard line. On the next play, Brown got the call again and rammed the ball across the goal line with 8:14 remaining in the first half. The try for two failed and the hometown faithful sensed a blowout in the making with the score 26-8.
But the Wildcats were determined not to go gently into the Delta night, taking the next possession 55 yards on seven plays. Rayford hit Jaklyn Battles for a pass to the Central 3-yard line. On third-and-goal, Trendell Willis found the end zone with 3:30 remaining. The two-point try was unsuccessful, leaving the score 26-14 in favor of the Cougars but Chapel had hope and some momentum.
That momentum would be short-lived as Central quickly went 53 yards on four plays. Jerimiah Willis scored on a 6-yard run. Gilcreast called his own number for the two-point conversion to push the lead to 34-14 at the intermission.
Chapel got another special teams gift when Central fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half, getting the ball in excellent field position at the 20. The next three plays netted minus-20 yards and the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs.
On the next play, Gilcreast hit Maurice Pippen on a slant to reach the 19 and then Anthony Brown would score two plays later. Another failed two-point conversion left Central cruising with a 42-14 lead with 9:15 remaining in the third.
Things got sloppy after that with the two teams exchanging turnovers and Central unable to capitalize on two red-zone opportunities. The mercy rule took effect on the first play of the final stanza when Willis scored on a 7-yard run and ran in the two-point conversion to push the final score to 50-14.
Next for Watson Chapel is its home opener against Crossett next Friday. while Central visits Earle.