Blocked punts key Bryant win
Martin Couch Sports editor

BLOCKED AARON PREWITT/BRYANT JOURNALISM PHOTO Bryant's Raylen Cantrell blocks a Conway punt in the third quarter. Cantrell recovered the ball to set up a touchdown pass from Logan Parker to Taylor Masters. The top-ranked Hornets remained unbeaten with a 17-6 win over the Wampus Cats.

The number one ranked Bryant Hornets can't afford to struggle in the first half against the Cabot Panthers this week at home.

The Hornets (6-0-1) are coming off a 17-6 hard-fought victory at Conway, while at the same time, Cabot defeated Little Rock Central 9-6.

"Cabot will be tough defensively," said Bryant head coach Paul Calley. "They're going to try to control the football and keep our offense off the field. They out-weigh us by 100 pounds on the line, so it's going to take an exceptional effort to beat them."

Calley noted that the defensive play of all the 7A-Central teams has improved this season.

"They all can play defense," he said. "North Little Rock has nine starters returning from a state semifinal team last year on defense and they nearly beat Cabot."

PICK AARON PREWITT/BRYANT JOURNALISM PHOTO Bryant's Dijon Benton intercepts a Conway pass to save a potential touchdown during 7A-Central Conference action in Conway.

The Bryant offense will be tested again, but a come-from-behind win at Conway last week was controlled by the Hornets defense.

"We turned the ball over on our first possession, which was the third time in as many trips up there," Calley said.

Bryant turned the ball over this time on its first play from scrimmage, just like the teams of 2003 and 2005, the coach said.

"We were glad to hold them to a field goal," Calley added.

A field goal lifted the Wampus Cats to a 3-0 lead, then an interception on the Hornets next possession ended the first quarter.

Conway threatend to score again, but Bryant's Dijon Benton intercepted a pass in the end zone to halt them. Another interception led to a Conway field goal to make it 6-0 at halftime.

After an inspiring halftime speech, Bryant took the ball down field enough for Austin Bradley to kick a field goal to get the Hornets on the board. On the first possession by the Wampus Cats, a blocked Conway punt was recovered by Adam Harris at the Wampus Cat 11.

Three plays later, Logan Parker passed to Taylor Masters for a touchdown and Bradley kicked the extra point for a 10-6 lead.

Raylen Cantrell blocked another Conway punt in the third quartter and the ball was again recovered on the Wampus Cat 11 yard line.

This time, Parker passed to Masters for a 13-yard touchdown and a 17-6 lead.

"Those two blocked punts kept us in the ball game," Calley said. "Conway always plays us a hard game."

Scoring by quarters
Hornets - 0	0	17	0	-17
Wampus Cats - 3	3	0	0	- 6

Scoring summary 1st 9:56 Conway - Riner 22-yard field goal 2nd 6:30 Conway - Riner 32-yard field goal 3rd 10:19 Bryant - Bradley 34-yard field gaol 3rd 8:07 Bryant - Parker 12-yard pass to Masters (Bradley kick) 3rd 6:30 Bryant - Parker 13-yard pass to Masters (Bradley kick)