Bryant freshman pound Conway Blue Wampus Kittens
MARTIN COUCH Sports editor

PUNT RETURN KEVIN NAGLE PHOTO Above, Bryant's Caleb Thomas returns a punt for a touchdown.

After losing to Lake Hamilton the week before for their first loss of the season, the Bryant Hornet freshman team rebounded with a convincing 31-16 victory over Conway Blue at Hornets Stadium.

The Hornets took the initial lead of the game on a 35- yard field goal by Jace Denker for a 3-0 lead with 2:29 to play in the first quarter.

Defensive stops held Conway to three downs twice in the first quarter and allowed the Bryant offense to post more points as the second period began.

On the last play of the first quarter, runningback Jacob Powell broke loose for a 22-yard run to the Conway 30. Four plays later, Powell got a first down and set up a 16-yard pass from quarterback Dylan Cross to Sawyer Nichols. Denker's extra point made it 10-0 Hornets with 5:07 left before halftime.

Conway managed to get an offensive drive going, but Bryant's Jonathan Parks came up with an interception after a Hornet penalty had moved Conway to midfield. On the first play from scrimmage after the pick, Cross pitched to Powell, who threw to Nichols for a 66-yard fleafl icker touchdown. Denker added the extra point for a 17-0 lead with 1:46 remaining in the first half.

The Hornets opened the second half with the ball and moved to midfield before punting. Conway was stopped on three downs and punted.

Bryant's punt returner, Caleb Thomas fielded the ball at the Conway 46 and returned it down the left side of the field for a touchdown. Denker added the extra point kick to make it 24-0 Hornets with 1:48 to play in the third quarter.

Conway struck back with a 73-yard touchdown run and a 2-point conversion to make it 24-8 with 1:06 left in the period.

Bryant's final score came on another punt return for a touchdown. This time, Powel received the Conway punt at midfield and returned it through the middle of the defense to paydirt. Denker's kick with 4:23 to play in the game made it a 31-8 game.

Conway fumbled and Tyler Potts fell on the ball for Bryant. Two plays later, the Hornets fumbled it back to Conway and the Wampus Kittens scored with 1:20 to go.