Prime Time Showdown
Hornets hang on, beat Deion and company
BRYANT — Playing before a sold-out crowd at Hornet Stadium, the Bryant Hornets and Trinity Christian Tigers kept fans on the edge of their seats all night Friday.
With the hype surrounding not only two nationally ranked teams squaring off, but also an NFL legend, Hall of Famer and two-time Super Bowl champ on the visiting sidelines, the night was sure to impress.
Boasting a 19-game winning streak coming into the night, the
Bryant Hornets (3-0) led heavy early before finding themselves in a dog fight with Deion Sanders and company from Cedar Falls, Texas.
With crucial defensive stands and big offensive outputs, the Hornets sent the hometown crowd home with something to talk about — a 44-40 win to push their streak to 20 straight and counting.
“They are a good football team,” Buck James said of the opposition. “We played a team right there that has 10 or 12 guys that are going to play on Saturdays and probably three or four of them are going to play on Sundays. For our kids to go out there and compete like that against a team that is playing their fifth football game (this year), I am proud of those guys. I think they did a heck of a job.”
The top prospect for the Tigers is quarterback Shedeur Sanders, son of “Prime Time.” Sanders, coming into the season, was the 14th-ranked quarterback in the nation and has already signed with Florida Atlantic after turning down more than 20 other offers, including Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Florida State and Penn State.
Knowing the matchup would be tough, Bryant started strong and did not let up in the first half.
After forcing an openingseries punt, the Hornets would start their offensive night at the Tigers 34 before using six plays to get on the board first as quarterback — and Arkansas baseball commit — Austin Ledbetter powered in from a yard away to give Bryant the 7-0 lead early with 8:52 to go in the quarter.
Known for quick drives and big plays, though, the Tigers would answer with a 78-yard TD pass from Sanders to receiver Cam’ron Silmon immediately following. A missed point-after attempt would leave the Hornets up one still in the first.
Bryant’s second drive of the night ended badly as Ledbetter through up one of his two interceptions on the night. However, the Hornets defense would hold steady, forcing a turnover on downs on the ensuing series.
Back with the ball at its own 36, Bryant would stay with the running game mostly, turning to speedy back Jamarien Bracey five times on the series before Ledbetter found a wide open Hayden Schrader up the middle for the 13-yard TD strike and a 14-6 Bryant lead.
Back-to-back punts from the Tigers would set the Hornets up for TDS on each of the following drives, including one that started at the Bryant 18.
With a first-and-10 at the Tigers 44, running back Tanner Anderson would get the call, trucking the rest of the way for a big score after it looked as if he was down on the play. Never stopping his feet, Anderson would bust out of the pile before crossing the end zone, giving the Hornets the 21-6 lead with 9:58 left in the half.
Ledbetter would make it 28-6 Bryant on the next drive, finding Xavier Foote on a screen which resulted in a 54-yard TD. Foote would use some heroics on the run after the catch, hitting the Tigers with a stutter step and a hurdle on his way to the end zone.
Trinity, though, would not go down without a fight.
Starting at their own 35 with just over half the second quarter to go, the Tigers would find the end zone on a 31-yard TD heave from Sanders to running back Emari Matthews, cutting the Hornets lead to 28-12 after a failed 2-point attempt with 5:50 to go in the half.
The Tigers then would take advantage of Ledbetter’s second interception, turning the miscue into 7 as Sanders found Silmon again, this time from 13 yards away.
Bryant would fumble for the first time in the game with 31 seconds left in the half, but would keep the Tigers from adding to the momentum, forcing a turnover on downs as time expired in the second quarter. Bryant led 28-19 at the break.
Beginning with the rock and looking to add on, the Hornets would turn the ball over on downs to start the second half, setting the Tigers up at their own 36.
Five flawless plays later and Trinity was within 28-26 with 8:36 left in the third after Sanders found Reilly
Anthony from 34 yards away for the score.
Bryant, though, would send the home crowd into a frenzy on the ensuing kickoff as Anderson flew 82 yards to the Tigers 8. Bryant would need only three plays to make it 35-26 as Ledbetter found Cory Nichols for the score with 7:10 left in the third.
Hornets kicker Brock Funk would make it 38-26 a drive later, hitting a 22-yard field goal with 2:28 to go in the frame.
After forcing a big punt on the Tigers, the Hornets would again fumble, leading to 7 more points for Trinity, this time on a 2-yard run from Matthews with 10:50 to play and the score now 38-34.
The Tigers would take its only lead of the game a series later, following a Bryant punt.
In two plays, Trinity marched 43 yards as Matthews carried the rock the final 23 for the score and a 40-38 lead with 9:31 to go.
Bryant, though, would not be fazed as it embarked on a 10-play drive that went for 75 yards, capped on a 9-yard rumbling, tumbling score from Ledbetter with 4:46 left. Bryant would lead 44-40.
Trinity made it interesting late, getting the ball to Bryant’s 18 before three straight incompletions from Sanders ended the hopes of a comeback.
Following a timeout, Prime Time called for a deep fade route that went deep out of the end zone, giving Bryant the ball back.
The Hornets would return to the field, running six plays, including two in victory formation, for the win.
Ledbetter finished his night completing 17 of 29 passes for 211 yards, three TDS and two interceptions. He would also run six times for 7 yards and a score.
“Austin did a great job throwing the football,” James said.
Anderson showed off his talents, leading all rushers with 20 carries for 144 yards and a score.
“I thought our offensive line created some creases,” James said. “They (Trinity) are a tough defensive front to run against. Tanner did a good job.”
Bracey followed with 72 yards on nine touches.
“I thought Jamarien played well. too,” James added
Foote led the receiving core with a catch for 54 yards and a score. Schrader added five receptions for 52 yards and a score as well.
“I think we have three really good tailbacks and they did a really good job,” James said. “Our offensive line did a good job of blocking and I thought our receivers did a very good job at blocking.
“As talented as those guys (Tigers) are on defense, our guys didn’t get those yards without others blocking.”
For the Tigers, Sanders completed 19 of 34 passes for 361 yards and four scores. He would be sacked twice, finishing with five rushes for 5 yards.
Matthews tallied 82 yards and a score on 19 carries in the Tigers loss.
Receiving, Silmon shined with seven catches for 201 yards and two scores.
Bryant would be outgained 444 to 433, despite running seven more plays in the win.
“Our defense grew up a lot tonight,” James said. “That was the weakest part of our football team because we had the least amount of players returning. They got hammered a little bit, but they showed a lot of character and found a way to get a stop and win the ballgame.”
With the 20th straight win, James said that may be something he looks back on after he retires, but next week is what matters now.
The Hornets stay at home in Week 4 as 7A Central play gets underway and Fort Smith Northside comes to town.
“Our goal is to win a conference championship first and have a chance to play and win a state championship,” James said. “We went through the first phase of the season 3-0. That was a goal of ours. We have a tough schedule and a really good football team coming in here next week. It’s not going to be an easy trip. Everybody is gunning for these guys. They are going to have to answer the bell and it is going to be a challenge each and every Friday night.”
Northside defeated Moore, Oklahoma, 28-14 in Week 3 on the road.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. next Friday, at Hornet Stadium.