Watson Chapel won a conference game for the first time since 2020, and the Wildcats have a whole offseason to build on it.
Senior Jabaree Smith caught an improbable touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter and sealed the game with an interception on Jacksonville’s last drive to help the Wildcats escape with a 19-14 win Thursday night at Wildcat Stadium.
Senior Kameron Hobbs rushed for two touchdowns, including a go-ahead 12-yard carry with 8:25 left. The Wildcat defense needed only to force three-and-out, and after a penalty-filled series on Watson Chapel’s next possession, stop the Titans’ attempt at a game-winning 2-minute drill with Smith’s pick.
“I know I had to bounce back because I dropped the first pick in the first half,” Smith said. “It was just a bounce-back. I told my guys I was going to bounce back.”
The victory ended a 30-game slide in conference play for the Wildcats (2-7, 1-6 in 5A-Central), who welcomed Steven Heard to the helm in May. That left the program without a chance to have a full offseason, but the Wildcats overcame that to end a 20-game overall losing streak at Crossett in September and win multiple games in a season for the first time in four years.
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“It’s phenomenal for these kids,” said Heard, the third head coach in that span for the Wildcats. “The last four years, these kids have been through a lot. I’m glad they can end this on the right note and give the underclassmen some momentum going into the offseason.”
Kassius Hollins, one of 16 seniors on Watson Chapel’s roster, completed 10 of 16 passes for 149 yards with 2 interceptions. With the Wildcats down 14-7, Hollins needed an emotional pick-me-up at halftime and relied on other playmakers for the comeback.
“At halftime, I had my head down,” Hollins said. “Coach came in and talked to me. We came back out, I had my head back up and I got everybody else’s head back up.”
Heard said the message to his quarterback was to believe in himself.
Senior wideout Taariq Conner picked up a bad exchange on fourth-and-12 early in the fourth and threw on the run to Smith for a 20-yard TD completion with 11:48 left in the game.
“I had a corner route and I played inside and (the defender) was there,” Smith said. “I got physical with him, I tossed him off of me, and I made the play. I made a big play.”
A high snap in extra-point formation kept Jacksonville (1-9, 0-7 in 5A-Central) ahead, 14-13.
Jacksonville capitalized on two of three Wildcat turnovers, thanks to a 2-yard Isaiah Morris touchdown run following a muffed punt in the first quarter and 31-yard touchdown run by Mason Ball with 4:24 left before halftime. Ball rushed 30 times for 118 yards.
Jacksonville blew a chance to go up by two touchdowns, as a bad snap from the Watson Chapel 5 resulted in a 15-yard loss before time expired.
Hobbs’ first touchdown run was from 5 yards out on the opening series. He finished with 15 carries for 75 yards.
A 19-yard field goal on the Titans’ first drive of the second half was short, but an interception by DeGeorge Hudson put Jacksonville back in good field position at the Wildcats’ 15. Senior Brannon Dycus led the Wildcats’ defensive charge, recording a sack for an 11-yard loss on fourth down.
Jacksonville’s Marion Ball completed 12 of 17 passes for 81 yards.
