A fourth-quarter rally allowed Pine Bluff High School to deny its cross-county rival a playoff spot Thursday night.
The Zebras defeated White Hall 24-16 at Simmons Bank Field to conclude the season.
White Hall (3-7, 3-4 in 5A-Central) needed a win and a Beebe loss to secure its first playoff appearance since 2021. The Bulldogs got the help they needed with Beebe losing 31-22 to Searcy, but Pine Bluff’s fourth quarter heroics sent the Bulldogs home, giving Beebe the final spot.
Pine Bluff (3-7, 3-4) trailed 16-12 entering the final quarter of the season. Zebra senior quarterback Davonte Wallace threw a deep shot downfield for senior Kayvon Stringer, who caught the pass and ran into the end zone for a 42-yard go-ahead touchdown, making it 18-12.
White Hall had to punt after three plays, and a mishandled snap gave Pine Bluff the ball at the Bulldogs’ 14-yard line. Three plays later, Wallace found junior Kevin Pope in the end zone for a 9-yard score, extending the advantage to 24-18.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Bulldogs drove to the Pine Bluff 14-yard line before Stringer intercepted a pass. White Hall forced a punt and got another chance, but junior Mario Jones intercepted another pass on fourth down, again on a play from the Zebras’ 14. With 1:52 remaining in the game, Pine Bluff was able to run the clock out.
Wallace completed 7 of 16 passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back D’Juan Hayes rushed 25 times for 68 yards.
For White Hall, quarterback Wyatt Golden completed 24 of 48 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown. Senior receiver Chris Joe caught eight passes for 100 yards.
Both teams scored touchdowns on their opening drives, and the game was tied at 6 entering the second quarter.
On the first play of the second, White Hall fumbled a bad snap. After both teams struggled to scoop the ball, Pine Bluff senior Marshon Jordan finally chased it down at the White Hall 4-yard line. Two plays later, Jason Jones took a jet sweep for a 3-yard touchdown, giving the Zebras a 12-6 lead after White Hall blocked the extra point.
The Bulldogs later regained the lead following a 31-yard field goal by Reece Thornton and a 2-yard touchdown run by Kylon Davis, the latter coming after a Pine Bluff fumble. The 16-12 White Hall lead stood at halftime.
White Hall’s loss means no Jefferson County team will participate in the playoffs this year. Pine Bluff’s win means the Zebras have beaten both county rivals each year under Coach Micheal Williams.
