Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Nov. 9, 2024 – Nettleton eclipsed Wynne in both the scoreboard and the conference rankings after a 35-7 win on Friday broke a tie for third place in the 5A East Conference.
The Nettleton Raiders and the Wynne Yellowjackets came into the game with identical conference records of 4-2, and matching overall records to boot (6-3).
The first snap of the ball for the Raiders resulted in a 71-yard touchdown.
Junior running back Xavier Harrell took a carry to the right, then slipped away from a defender in the backfield and cut back to his left, running down the sideline to score. With a 7-0 lead, Nettleton pinned Wynne inside their own 20-yard line.
The Yellowjackets began their attack with consecutive run plays. As they approached the 50-yard line, a tackle from Ke’shuan Washington caused a failed attempt on 4th and 3rd, returning the ball to the Raiders.
Nettleton used this momentum to string together a pair of first downs. However, the drive would soon end when a delay of game set up a 3rd and long, which they were unable to convert.
The Yellowjackets started their next drive on their own 28 and commanded a rush-exclusive touchdown drive through several consecutive short runs. With just over eight minutes left in the first half, Wynne had tied the game.
A run from quarterback Siler Holbrook put the Yellowjackets in the red zone. The team attempted a rush up the middle from the 10-yard line, but the ball was dislodged and prevented the Yellowjackets from taking a lead late into the first half.
A two-yard rush touchdown from Cam Austin would see Nettleton regain the lead 14-7 just before halftime.
In the third quarter, Adririan Blackburn scored Nettleton’s third touchdown. The play from Nettleton’s special teams group was followed up by a stop near their own 20-yard line, when the defense fumbled, putting an end to another Wynne drive.
Senior quarterback Maddox Hampton linked up with Jordan Simmons for a touchdown on the very next play, making it 28-7 Nettleton with nine minutes, 54 seconds left to play.
Senior running back Cam Austin was called on during the final drive to put the game away for the Raiders.
Austin ended a drive, burning over six minutes of game clock with a two-yard touchdown run. The Raiders would kneel on their next possession, defeating conference rivals 35-7.
“It meant a lot to me, actually. You know, I waited my turn and put the work in all year and God blessed me,” Austin said when asked how it meant to put the game away for his team.