Little Rock Southwest (7A Central) at Conway (7A Central) 09/22/23 7:00 pm
The Conway Wampus Cats opened 7A conference play Friday night, playing host to the Little Rock Southwest Gryphons. Conway had yet to taste defeat this season, bringing a 4-0 record into the game, while the Gryphons entered the game 0-2.
Conway received the opening kickoff starting at their own 35. It didn’t take long to get on the scoreboard from there. Quarterback Donovyn Omolo hit Cris O’Neal on a 39-yard touchdown strike to put the Cats up early 7-0.
Little Rock Southwest turned the ball over on downs its first possession, giving Conway the ball back on their own 35. Following a pass interference call, the ball moved to the 20. A couple of plays later, Desmond Davidson scored on a 6-yard run, and also added the extra point to put Conway up 14-0 at the 8:23 mark.
It appeared the Gryphons were getting something going when quarterback Chase Forte hit Luther Tucker on a pass to midfield. Conway’s Trez Hammond however broke up a long fourth down pass a few plays later near the goal line.
Conway took over at the Gryphon 46, and wasted no time with Omolo connecting to O’Neal again on a 28-yard touchdown pass, making it 21-0 with 5:01 left in the quarter. Following a LRSW punt, Conway started at its own 41. A few plays later, Omolo hit O’Neal again for the touchdown, putting the Cats up 28-0 at the 2:58 mark.
On Conway’s next possession, Omolo called his own number, running it in from 4 yards out to make it 35-0 with 1:12 still left in the first. Jonah Cecil then intercepted the ball for Conway returning it to the 15 to start the 2nd quarter. Davidson scored again on a run up the middle on the very next play, making it 42-0 at the 11:46 mark. Later in the quarter, following a botched snap on a Gryphon punt, Conway took over on its own 12. A couple of plays later Kobe Irwin scored on a touchdown run to make it 49-0 with 5:49 left in the half.
On the Gryphon’s next possession, Forte hit Jabron Lewis on a nice pass play to the Conway 46. He then hit Logan White to the Conway 13, but they were unable to capitalize. On fourth and 9 from the 12, the Wampus Cat defense held. Conway’s offense drove the ball quickly down the field, reaching the Gryphon 2-yard line before allowing the clock to run out ending the half leading 49-0. The Cats added another touchdown in the second half, while its defense remained strong to secure a 56-0 shutout in front of its home crowd.
Conway (5-0, 1-0) is scheduled to play at North Little Rock this Friday, 09/29. Little Rock Southwest (0-3, 0-1) hosts North Little Rock on Friday, 10/06.
