Engelkes’ career night paces Greenbrier to first round win over Brookland 43-28
by Mark Rico
Sports Editor
Greenbrier – Senior receiver JP Engelkes scored a career high 3 TD’s – all in the first half – as Greenbrier started strong and then held off a late Brookland charge to secure a 43-28 opening round 5-A playoff win.
The Bearcats were playing in their first-ever playoff game minus 28 players who were in Covid-19 protocol.
Greenbrier (7-4) set the tone early by recovering an onside kick to open the game.
Engelkes would haul in a 24-yard scoring strike from Cooper Wilcox to open the scoring a few plays later.
And then, following a quick three and out from Brookland, the Panthers added another score on their next possession with reserve tailback Dawson Spencer – who subbed for injured starter Trey Havens out with a foot injury – scampering in for a 21-yard touchdown.
Nick Huett’s two-point conversion run pushed Greenbrier’s lead to 15-0 with 7 minutes and 39 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.
Engelkes would also contribute two more touchdown catches to highlight an explosive first quarter that seemed to take the suspense out of the game early, putting Brookland in a 43-0 hole.
But the Bearcats came storming back to record the next four touchdowns and were dangerously on the cusp of closing within a touchdown before it was all said and done.
David York caught a 22-yard TD pass from Kolin Lamberson just before halftime to get the Bearcats on the board at 43-7.
From there, Wright would score on 21 and 12 yard runs and then Lamberson also found the end zone a short 3-yard quarterback sneak to pull the Bearcats within 15 points with 5 minutes and 47 seconds remaining in the game.
After a Panthers punt, Brookland advanced the ball to the 4-yard line but a costly fumble by Wright as he was sprinting into the end zone with under two minutes to play dashed any hopes of a miraculous comeback for the Bearcats.
Greenbrier will travel to Magnolia in the second round.
Brookland finished 3-7 on the season.
CONWAY STEAMROLLS SPRINGDALE 66-21
Senior quarterback Ben Weese completed 17 of 21 passes for 261 yards and six touchdowns as Conway throttled Springdale 66-21 in a first-round clash at John McConnell Stadium.
Conway is set to meet conference rival Little Rock Central next week at home in a quarterfinal game. The schools were scheduled to play Oct. 23, but were forced to cancel because of positive Covid-19 cases at Central.
Conway scored on each of its eight first-half possessions to build a 52-7 cushion at intermission.
Senior wideout Bryce Bohanon, junior tailback Manny Smith, sophomore tailback Boogie Carr, senior wide receiver Micah Mosby, junior wide receiver West Boudreaux and senior wide receiver Dillion Silverman-Barnes each caught touchdown passes for Conway in the rout.
MAUMELLE RACES PAST NETTLETON 19-7
Maumelle senior quarterback Jonathan Reyes’ eight-yard scoring strike to fellow senior Dashaire Ford-Burton in the third quarter broke a 7-7 tie and helped the Hornets post a 19-7 Conference 5A playoff win over Nettleton and will advance to face unbeaten Wynne in the second round.
Burton also had a game-clinching interception late in the final quarter for the Hornets (6-2).
Nettleton was competing for the first time in nearly a month after cases of Covid-19 within the program forced the cancellation of three previously scheduled games.
Scheduled match-ups with Forrest City (Oct. 23) Valley View (Oct. 30)and Wynne (Nov.6) were all scrapped and recorded as “No Contests” after a few players within the program tested positive for the virus.
Jaylon Smith rushed for 115 yards on 15 carries and scored the Hornets final touchdown on an eight-yard run late in the third quarter.
Reyes went 12-for-18 on the night while passing for 110 yards and a touchdown for Maumelle.
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