RUSSELLVILLE — The Bryant Blue Hornets eighth grade team of Bethel Middle School continued its unbeaten season on Thursday night with a 21-12 win over the Russellville Whirlwinds at Cyclone Stadium.
Randy Thomas threw for a touchdown and ran for another while Tyler O’Neal rushed for a TD in the victory.
“I was proud of the entire team, to be able to go on the road and grind out a win against a good football team,” stated Bethel coach Shane Clancy. “The team played hard for four quarters and was able to get the victory.”
O’Neal’s short TD run and Thomas’ scoring strike to Josh Robinson gave the Hornets a 14-6 lead at the half.
In the third quarter, Thomas capped off a drive with an 11-yard touchdown run. Martin Ramirez added the extra point to make it 21-6.
Russellville cut the lead with 4:43 left in the game but the Hornets’ Logan Burton stopped a run on a two-point conversion try to keep it a two-score lead.
On the ensuing onside kick, Will McEntire and Hunter Pruitt were there to recover for Bethel.
The Hornets ate up over three minutes of the remaining time with a drive from their own 40 to the Russellville 14 with O’Neal and the offensive line powering for most of the yardage. On a fourth-and-7 at the Whirlwinds’ 46, Thomas completed a pass for 9 yards to Sebastian Dunn to keep the drive alive.
O’Neal followed with runs of 13 and 9 yards before a fumble cost Bryant Blue possession.
Russellville drove to the Bryant 39 but, on a first down there, Michael Chatman sacked the quarterback as the game came to a conclusion.
Now 5-0 on the season, the Hornets are scheduled to travel to play Cabot South in their next outing on Thursday, Oct. 23.
