An already tough evening for Watson Chapel grew tougher as its Senior Night game against Maumelle wore on.
Marshaun Wiley ran for two touchdowns and caught another scoring pass, and Maumelle set the final score before halftime, beating Watson Chapel 42-0 Friday night at Wildcat Stadium.
Tragedy had befallen the Watson Chapel community about 24 hours earlier when Taariq Conner, a former Wildcats wide receiver who graduated in May, died in a car accident. According to media reports, the accident occurred along Interstate 530 near Redfield.
The senior Wildcats honored Conner by locking arms and displaying his No. 3 jersey on their way to the coin toss. A moment of silence was observed in Conner’s memory right before kickoff.
“It was a tough game, and I just come down to the simple fact that we’re young,” Wildcats Coach Steven Heard said. “We’re not yet done cooking, as I call it. When we did our senior walk today and our parents went over there to walk with their seniors, our team didn’t even notice they were gone. We only have 11 seniors. So we have a lot of sophomores who are playing, and I finally got them to the mindset that we’re just progressing every day. We’re just getting better every day. We work together, love each other and care about each other, and everything will work out in the end.”
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A home game next Friday against White Hall will be the Wildcats’ homecoming, with three road games to finish the regular season.
But just after a 35-yard return by senior Jayden Wilkerson — who now wears No. 3 for Watson Chapel — the game was delayed for about 6 minutes due to a malfunctioning dial on the down marker.
Maumelle (4-2, 3-0 in 5A-Central), which has won four in a row, led 21-0 after the first quarter. Wiley, a senior, scored on two 9-yard runs on the Hornets’ first two drives. He finished with 41 yards on just 4 carries and caught 2 passes for 26 yards.
Twenty-two of those yards came on second-quarter touchdown reception to gave the Hornets a 28-0 lead. The Hornets scored on all six of their first-half drives.
Bubba Johnson pulled down a 36-yard scoring pass from Warrior in the first quarter. Warrior, a junior, completed 19 of 28 yards for 221 yards and 3 touchdowns.
“I think Levi Warrior has really stepped up,” Hornets Coach Brian Maupin said. “Coming off that sophomore year and getting those growing pains out the way, he’s not just a guy we’re snapping to. We want him to run the show. He’s an asset that made some plays tonight. Marshaun Wiley had a really big game for us, so it’s just guys who care for each other and want to do things the right way. It’s all about team and I love that.”
Jackson Hampton (13 yards) and Wiley (22 yards) had touchdown passes from Warrior. Hampton ran from 8 yards out to set the final score with 2:20 left before halftime, leaving a running clock for the second half.
Maumelle outgained Watson Chapel 358-70, holding the Wildcats to minus-3 total yards in the first half. Senior Mohammed Qtouf carried nine times for 51 yards to lead the Maumelle ground game.
Malachi Rayford, dealing with injuries, came off the bench in relief of sophomore Jakylinn Battles and drove the Wildcats down to the Hornets 17 before Derious Glover intercepted him at the goal line and returned it 50 yards.
The very next play, Watson Chapel’s Jakoby Muhammad responded with a pick.
Rayford was the Wildcats’ leading rusher with 33 yards on six carries. He and Battles combined to complete 8 of 20 for 36 yards.
The Wildcats did not gain a first down until their final drive of the first half. They earned two first downs, thanks to Maumelle penalties on both occasions.
Remembering Conner
Philander Smith University, where Conner was set to play baseball, announced his death. Kelvin Battles, PSU’s baseball coach, indicated on social media earlier Friday two of his players were involved in a car accident, details of which have been limited as Arkansas State Police have yet to post an official crash summary.
Conner and PSU teammate Caleb Isabel, along with two other students, were involved in the accident, according to the university. Isabel’s condition was not revealed.
Heard recalled last season’s finale against Jacksonville in which Conner picked up a bad exchange on fourth-and-12 and completed a touchdown pass against Jacksonville early in the fourth quarter. Watson Chapel won 19-14.
“Taariq is a phenomenal kid,” Heard said. “He was always accountable, even when he messed up. He didn’t make any excuses. It was always, ‘My bad, coach. I got it. I’ll do better.’ Just for us to get our first conference game (since 2020), he was very pivotal in that.” Heard added that Conner’s baseball skills helped him recover the loose ball and throw the touchdown pass on the run.
In a statement by PSU on Instagram: “As a freshman, Taariq quickly became known for his dedication and positive spirit, as well as his standout skills on the baseball diamond. He had a close circle of friends and, in his short time on campus, had already made an impact as a scholar with infinite promise and potential.
“We ask you to join us in prayer for Taariq’s family, his coaches and teammates, loved ones, and friends. “Please also continue to pray for the recovery of Caleb Isabel, who remains hospitalized, as well as Caleb Winfield and JaTwan Wells — current Philanderians who were also involved in the accident on the evening of Thursday, October 9.”
PSU said counseling services and support are being made available to the campus community.
