PB Dollarway Bests Helena-West Helena in Season Opener

PINE BLUFF –  A controversial call on an onside kick late in the fourth quarter preserved a 34-19 victory for the PB Dollarway Cardinals at Cardinal Stadium.

Helena-West Helena took the opening drive down to the Cardinal 13 on 12 plays, but the drive stalled .  However, three plays later, the Cougar defense put Helena-West Helena on the board with a safety, and Central had a 2-0 lead.

On the ensuing possession after the free kick, the Cougars drove the ball down to the Cardinal 5-yard line on seven plays.  However, once again the drive stalled and Sagar Patel kicked a 26-yard field goal to put Helena-West Helena up 5-0 with 2:35 to go in the first quarter.

Then, Dollarway got its first break.  On 3rd and 18, quarterback Joshua Liddell hit Kabian Ento for a 73-yard touchdown reception.  The try for two failed and Dollarway led 6-5.

On the second play of the ensuing possession, the Cougars fumbled and Dollarway recovered.  However, the Cougars recovered a fumble on the ensuing play, only to fumble it to Dollarway again two plays later.

Then, Liddell hit Ento again for a 35-yard touchdown pass.  The try for two was no good and the Cardinals led 12-5 with 10:07 in the second quarter.

After forcing a punt, the Cardinals went 50 yards on 8 plays.  Keyshawn Williams scored on an 8-yard touchdown run and ran in the two point conversion as well to push Dollarway’s lead to 20-5.

After another Cougar drive stalled and Helena-West Helena was forced to punt, Liddell took the opening play of the ensuing possession 68-yard for a touchdown with 1:01 to go in the half.  The two-point conversion try failed and the Cardinals led 26-5.

Helena-West Helena got a break on the final possession of the half.  The Cougars went 63 yards on four plays.  Curly Brewer hit Malik Arnett on a 28-yard scoring pass to make it 26-11 at the half.

After a scoreless third quarter, Helena -West Helena had a 14-play, 73-yard drive on its first possession of the fourth quarter.  Brewer scored on a 1-yard run with 4:41 remaining.  Brewer hit Sandy Wright for the 2-point conversion to cut the lead to 26-19.

The ensuing onside kick bounced off a Dollarway player and was recovered by the Cougars.  However, the officials had a long discussion and just decided to have a rekick.

Dollarway recovered the second onside kick and then Liddell scored on the next play on a 50-yard run. Liddell hit Ento for the two–point conversion to make the final 34-19.