High-flying Van Buren takes it on the chin

One week after Northside took it on the chin, the Grizzlies administered a dose of reality of their own to a high-flying Van Buren squad. The Grizzlies scored two touchdowns in each of the first two quarters in building a 27-0 lead while intercepting three passes. Northside was able to bounce back from last week’s loss to Greenwood by handing the Pointers their first defeat, 44-6, Friday in the Grizzlies’ home opener at Mayo-Thompson Stadium. Northside (2-1) converted two of those first-half interceptions into touchdowns, including the Grizzlies’ first score. One play after linebacker Stetson Van Matre picked off a pass at the Van Buren 16 and returned it to the 7, Grizzly quarterback Drey Norwood swept around the right side on a keeper for the touchdown. Dagon Moore’s PAT made it 7-0 midway through the first quarter. Norwood then scored his second TD of the opening quarter on the Grizzlies’ next series, an eight-play 51-yard drive. He had a 2-yard keeper one play after Tyheen Prosise took it 35 yards on a third-down end around. A try for two failed, keeping the Grizzlies’ lead at 13-0. Midway through the second quarter, the Grizzlies advanced to the Pointer 15, where they faced a third-and-long. Norwood rolled to his right and spotted Jackson King in the end zone. King, who scored three TDs in the Grizzlies’ playoff win against Van Buren a year ago, made a diving catch in the end zone. Moore’s PAT extended the lead to 20-0 with more than five minutes left in the opening half. Then, the Grizzlies extended their lead on another interception, this one by Montay Parks as he followed through on a deflected pass. That set up a 3-yard TD run by sophomore tailback Seth Fields, which made it 27-0 with 2:31 left in the half. The Pointers (2-1) made a late drive deep into Northside territory, but the Grizzlies got their third pick of the opening half when Kaleb Fisher intercepted a pass in front of his goal line. Northside then took a knee to end the half up 27-0. Van Buren took the second-half kickoff and marched down to the Northside 1 due in large part to a 60-yard run from tailback Brayden Rivas, but the Grizzlies’ defense rose to the occasion, stopping the Pointers on downs. Northside continued to build the lead in the third quarter, a 24-yard field goal from Slate Stanton which was set up by Parks’ second interception on the night, and Fields’ second rushing TD, covering 38 yards. The Grizzlies’ defense forced six turnovers, including five interceptions. Prosise was the leading rusher with 96 yards on four carries. He also returned the opening kickoff 71 yards. Fields rushed for 60 yards and Norwood added 42 yards. Norwood also threw for 74 yards, with King catching four passes for 65 yards. However, late in the third quarter, King suffered a head injury, and was carted off the field on a stretcher as a precautionary measure. With Northside off next week, King may be able to come back in time for the team’s 7A-Central opener Sept. 27 against Bryant. Rivas finished with 72 yards on seven carries for the Pointers, who finally got on the board with 56 seconds left on an 11-yard TD run from Connor Brady. Northside got its last TD seconds later when Walker Catsavis broke free on a 65-yard run.

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Van Buren High School Athletics

HIGH-FLYING VAN BUREN TAKES IT ON THE CHIN

BUCK RINGGOLD

Times Record | 9/14/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Jamie Mitchell