By John R. Schirmer
News-Leader staff
MENA – After playing in 2 of their longest games of the season, the Nashville Scrappers posted one of their shortest Friday night, defeating Mena 42-7 in a contest lasting less than 2 hours.
The Scrappers (8-0, 5-0) scored 35 points in the first half to put the mercy rule into effect, ensuring that the clock ran throughout the second half. Previous wins over Ashdown and Joe T. Robinson topped 3 hours each.
Nashville ran 45 plays on offense, with 49 for Mena.
“Our guys played well,” Coach Mike Volarvich said. “The defense held them scoreless until almost the end. In the first half, we only gave up 65 yards on 33 plays. We gave up 20 yards rushing on 24 carries in the first half.”
Mena had 175 total yards for the game.
“It’s good to get up there and bring home a conference win. Mena had won 3 conference games in a row. They’ve been playing pretty good football.”
The Bearcats lost to Ashdown by 1 point and defeated Malvern by 23 in recent games.
Ty Pettway opened the scoring for the Scrappers on a 38-yard pass reception from Tyler Hanson on the second play of the game. Jose Hernandez kicked the first of 6 PATs to put Nashville up 7-0.
Later in the quarter, Darius Hopkins scored on a 4-yard run.
Hopkins added 2 touchdowns in the second quarter on runs of 20 yards and 1 yard.
Zach Jamison caught a 48-yard TD pass from Hanson to wrap up the first-half scoring.
Nashville’s final TD of the night came in the fourth quarter on a 63-yard pass from Jake Moorer to CJ Spencer.
The Bearcats scored late on a 24-yard pass.
Hanson completed 12 of 17 passes for 256 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Moorer was 1 for 1 for 63 yards and a TD.
Pettway was the leading receiver for Nashville with 5 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.
Jamison had 4 receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Spencer caught the ball twice for 72 yards and a TD. Hopkins made 1 catch for 27 yards, and Dominick Kight had 1 reception for 8 yards.
Hopkins was the leading rusher with 14 carries for 109 yards and 3 TDs.
TK Hopkins was next with 9 carries for 26 yards. Kight, Hanson and Jamison had 1 carry each for 7, 5 and 3 yards, respectively.
“I’m glad we were able to spread the ball around,” Volarvich said. “We had 5 guys who carried the ball [in addition to QB Hanson], and 5 who had receptions. Spencer and Jamison had touchdown catches. Those were big plays for them.”
The Scrappers had 34 snaps in the first half and 11 in the second with the mercy rule in effect.
“Our younger guys got some reps. Jake made some good throws to CJ. The second team offensive line protected him well.”
Nashville put up 469 yards total offense, including 319 passing and 150 rushing.
The Scrappers recorded 12 first downs, converting on 4 of 7 third downs and 2 of 2 fourth downs.
Nashville was penalized 6 times for 45 yards. Mena had 6 penalties for 59 yards.
Defensively, Hunter White had 9 solo tackles and assists and a tackle for a loss. “He’s been very consistent on defense. He also forced a fumble and recovered a fumble,” Volarvich said.
Kailus Hughes had 9 total tackles and an interception. “This was one of the better games for him.”
Jordan White had 6 tackles and a TFL. Austin Gibbs had 8 tackles and 2 TFLs. Michael Bevill had 6 tackles, Garrett Gordon 7, Xavier Nunally 5 and an interception, Dennis Scott 2, Davion Holmes 4, Shun Childress 3, Jordan Summers 3, Kalob Carpenter 1, Dalton Smead 1 and Mace Green 1.
