The Southside Southerners ran for 253 yards and had 387 yards total, but penalties and struggles in the red zone led to a 28-7 season-opening loss to the Pocahontas Redskins.
Pocahontas took the opening kickoff and drove the length of the field and scored the game’s opening touchdown with 8:22 to play in the first quarter. The Southerners, who return one starter from last season’s offensive line, moved the ball well on the opening drive but gave up the ball on downs in Pocahontas territory.
It was the last drive of the night that would not end in the red zone for the Southerners. Pocahontas scored once more in the first and tacked on the 2-point conversion to lead at the end of the first quarter 15-0.
The second quarter would see one score as the Redskins tacked on a touchdown with 4:26 to play in the half to take the lead 22-0 and would lead 28-0 before Colby Harris would score for Southside on a 2-yard touchdown run with 10 minutes left in the game to give the Southerners hope.
The next drive saw a touchdown pass to Blayne Warden called back on a penalty, and the drive would end two plays inside the red zone and seal the Southerners’ hopes of a comeback win.
Colby Harris carried 17 for 86 yards and Chase Duncan went 11-15 for 134 yards to lead the Southerners.
The Southerners open the season 0-1 and will play on the road at Blad Knob next week.
Follow the Southside Southerners through radio coverage from White River Now’s Your FM 99.5 on-air and through the White River Now website or app.
Article by Chris Vines
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