Chicks rout Highland for first win

The Blytheville Chickasaws scored on their first four possessions of the second half to turn a two-point halftime deficit into a 34-14 rout of the Highland Rebels in front of a large homecoming crowd at Haley Field.

Blytheville head coach Greg Ruffin earned his first victory as coach of his alma mater, and the Chicks take momentum into next week’s highly-anticipated clash at crosstown rival Gosnell.

Trailing 8-6 at halftime, the Chicks (1-5, 1-2 3-4A conference) took advantage of good field position and their speed edge the entire second half.

Blytheville secured the onside kick attempt by Highland to open the third quarter and drove 50 yards in six plays. Tru Walker, who caught the onside kick in the middle of the field, capped the drive with a five-yard touchdown run. The score was set up by a big fourth down conversion on a 28-yard pass from Jontavious Johnson to Tim Brown. Tyler Landry booted the PAT to give the Chicks the lead, 13-8, with 9:22 left in the third.

On the ensuing drive, Blytheville’s Travion Anderson hauled in an interception to give it back to the Chicks at the Blytheville 48 midway through the third.

The Chicks used 11 plays to cover the 52 yards, with Walker bulling his way through the middle for an 11-yard touchdown with 1:48 showing in the quarter. Landry’s PAT made it 20-8.

A long kickoff return set the Rebels up at the Blytheville 27, but the Chicks got a four-and-out after Christopher Hatcher sacked the quarterback on fourth down, giving the ball to BHS at its own 33.

Johnson found Levin Reed three times on the drive for gains of 27, 7, and 31 yards to set up a first-and-goal at the 3. Johnson punched it in from a yard out with 10:08 left in the fourth, and Landry’s PAT made it 27-8.

Highland answered on the ensuing drive with a 21-yard touchdown run, though the Chicks denied the two-point conversion to keep it 27-14 with 6:52 to play.

Highland tried to onside kick again up the middle, but Walker caught it and raced 40 yards to the Rebel 10.

Three plays later, Omarrion Russell punched it in from a yard out on a quarterback sneak, and Landry’s PAT made the score 34-14. Blytheville drove to the HHS 10 on the final drive of the game before the clock expired.

Highland opened the game with a 10-play drive that ended with a Tyquon Love interception in the end zone.

The Chicks needed just one play to get on the scoreboard as Brown took the handoff and raced 80 yards for the score. The PAT was no good, but the Chicks led 6-0 with 7:44 left in the first quarter. Highland then fumbled on the next offensive snap and Blytheville took over at the Highland 28. However, the Chicks turned it over on the 11.

The Rebels got on the scoreboard just before halftime on a two-yard quarterback sneak. The two-point conversion gave Highland the edge, 8-6, with 1:19 left in the half.

Highland tried to onside kick, and Blytheville nearly took advantage of the good field position.

Starting at the Rebel 48, the Chicks moved the ball to the Highland 2 with 11 seconds left. Out of timeouts, Ruffin opted for the 20-yard field goal attempt, which was blocked, keeping it a two-point game at halftime.

Brown led the Blytheville rushing attack with 94 yards. The Chicks finished with 292 yards on the ground and 181 through the air for a total of 473.

Highland finished with 302 total yards, with 174 coming on the ground.

The Chicks travel to Gosnell at 7 Friday night. The Pirates (1-4, 1-2 3-4A) dropped a 40-14 decision to Trumann Friday night.