Brayden Morse | Sports EditorJONESBORO, Ark. – The Southside Southerners spoiled the Brookland Bearcats’ homecoming in shutout fashion with an impressive rushing attack on Friday night at Jordan’s Stadium.
 tries to get through Brookland’s Barrett Cunningham (18) during first half action on Friday, October 6, 2023.</p><p> ” data-medium-file=”https://deltanewsservice.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/photo_001.jpg?w=200″ data-large-file=”https://deltanewsservice.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/photo_001.jpg?w=683″ width=”683″ height=”1024″ src=”https://deltanewsservice.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/photo_001.jpg?w=683″ alt ><figcaption>Southside’s Savion Hall (11) tries to get through Brookland’s Barrett Cunningham (18) during first half action on Friday, October 6, 2023.</figcaption></figure></div><p>The long runs were established from the get-go, as Southside wide receiver Seth Case ran for 41 yards on a motion play to put the Southerners in a redzone opportunity on their first drive of the game. </p><p>Running back Gabriel Witt finished the drive with a goal-line touchdown midway through the first quarter. </p><p>Brookland head coach Mark Hindsley addressed Southside’s ability to run the ball on their offensive line. </p><p>“It’s hard to stop them. When their offensive line blocks until the whistle and they do the things they do up front, that is why they had success,” Hindsley said. </p><p>As Brookland geared up for kickoff, Southside recovered the ball in Bearcat territory. Case scored a 31-yard rushing touchdown, giving the Southerners a 14-0 lead early in the first half.</p><p>The Bearcats’ defense held the Southerners’ offense on back-to-back drives but could not capitalize on the opportunities. </p><p>After a failed fake punt by Southside resulting in a turnover on downs, Brookland quarterback Hayden Elder threw an interception on the second drive of the game.</p><p>Southside would get excellent field position but were stopped to a field-goal try, making the score 17-0 midway through the second quarter. </p><p>The Bearcats were once stopped again on offense, while Southerners quarterback Savion Hall rolled out of the pocket for a 51-yard rushing touchdown right before halftime. </p><p>Unfortunately for Brookland, Southside would get the ball to start the second half. After a failed onside kick by the Bearcats, Witt ran for 37 yards to put the Southerners in another goal-line situation. </p><p>Running back Louis Calhoun punched in for a score, Southside leading 31-0 early in the third quarter. </p><p>The Southerners eventually got the ball back as the Bearcat offense could not connect down the field with passes. </p><p>Back-to-back long runs from the Witt and Case duo, led to their second straight drive with a goal-line situation. Case capped off the drive with his second rushing touchdown of the game. </p><p>Entering the fourth quarter, Brookland was still looking for their first score. Their next drive was stalled as Elder threw his second interception of the game. </p><p>Southside ran the clock out to win 38-0. </p><p>Coach Hindsley expressed his thoughts on the outcome of the game and what the team needs to do moving forward. </p><p>“There were no positives (takeaways). Negatives, there were a bunch of them. We have just got to get better. We have got to get better as a team. We have to get better offensively and defensively. We have to get more focused and have the right mindset going into every week,” Hindsley said. </p><p>Brookland is now 1-4 on the season and looking to get back in the win column as they travel to play Valley View in a conference matchup next Friday. </p><p>-30-</p><hr><hr><div><hr><p><a href=)
Brayden Morse is a multimedia journalism major in the School of Media and Journalism at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. He can be reached at [email protected].NOTE: Featured photo shows Brookland’s Tyler Hammett (12) pushing through Southside’s defense during first half action on Friday. Courtesy of Terrance Armstard
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