MAUMELLE — The Bryant Junior Hornets 9-10 year old team moved to 2-0 on the season with a dominant and balanced performance against the North Little Rock Police Athletic League 41-0 on Saturday at Maumelle High School .
The team is coached by Tim Adams, and assisted by D.J. Miller, Eric Nicholas, Lee Ledbetter and Greg Riggs. Members include Aiden Adams, Hayden Brent, Gavin Burton, Christian Cain, Zach Feimster, Brayden Godwin, Will Hanson, Austin Ledbetter, Trey Miller, Tyler Nicholas, Hart Penfield, Logan Pritchard, Hayden Purdy, Bryce Rankin, Ryan Riggs, Braden Robinson, Cameron Scarlett, Turner Seelinger, and Kory Shelnut.
The scoring got started early and then the defense took over from there. Bryant scored on six of its seven possessions and the defense held the Steelers to negative 28 yards total offense while creating four turnovers.
Austin Ledbetter got the scoring started on the opening drive with a 42 yard TD run on the third play of the game. Ledbetter finished the game with only three carries but amassed 55 yards and also converted an extra point on the day.
Christian Cain then followed with touchdown runs of 3, 10, and 16 yards to continue the scoring barrage. Cain ended up tallying 76 yards on nine carries.
The defense started with constant pressure and never gave up a first down the entire game. Cameron Scarlett led the charge with four tackles, Aiden Adams followed with 3.5 and Brayden Godwins three. Zach Feimster topped off the dominance with every lineman’s dream of an interception late in the game.
The scoring after that was Hayden Brent on a 3-yard run, and Hart Penfield scoring on a 22-yard run.
Bryant outgained the Steelers 221 to -28 and made sure that last year’s loss to them was in the rearview mirror.
When asked how he thought the team was gelling, Coach Miller said, “We are beginning to make progress but we are still a long way from where this team can be.”
If that’s a fact the rest of the Central Arkansas Youth Football league better be put on alert because Saline County is playing more than baseball this fall.
The Junior Hornets come home this weekend for their first of two home games at Bryant High School with a 1:30 p.m., kickoff versus the Jacksonville White Wildhawgs. Also the 5- and 6-year old Bryant team plays at 9:45 a.m.
“Fans are invited to come out and support the boys as they represent Saline County and try and move to 3-0 on the season,” Coach Adams said.
