The Batesville Pioneers blanked the Paragould Rams 35-0 to spoil the Ram’s Homecoming and extend the Batesville winning streak over Paragould to 28 years in a row.
Batesville’s first score came on a Holden Hutchins three-yard run. After the Rams were offside on the extra point attempt, the Pioneers decided to try for two and Jarrett Greeson bulled his way into the end zone to make the score 8-0.
After a Paragould punt, Batesville’s second score of the first quarter came on a Troy Stapleton three-yard run. The Pioneers missed the extra point, making the score 14-0.
The first quarter would end with Hutchins batting a Paragould pass into the air and Isaiah Garcia intercepting the deflected pass and rumbling 65 yards to the Paragould one-yard line.
Rhett McDonald would score on a one-yard run on the first play of the second quarter, and Aldo Gallardo hit the extra point to make the score 21-0.
On the Pioneers’ next possession, Gabe Witt took a pitch to the left side and raced 69 yards untouched in front of the Pioneer bench for a touchdown. Gallardo’s extra point made the score 28-0.
Batesville’s final score of the night came when McDonald ran it in from 3 yards out with 3:14 to go before the half, and Gallardo hit the extra point to make the score 35-0, which is how the half would end. Because of the 35-point lead, the clock ran continuously in the second half under the Sportsmanship Timing rule, and neither team would score.
The Pioneers improved to 4-1 on the season and 2-0 in 5A East play. The Pioneers will be back at Pioneer Stadium next Friday to take on the Forrest City Mustangs in Batesville’s Homecoming Game.
Follow the Batesville Pioneers through radio coverage from White River Now’s 93 KZLE on-air and through the White River Now website or app.
Article by Ronald Richardson
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