Stats tell Bombers’ story
By SONNY ELLIOTT – Bulletin Sports Editor
After the initial thrill began to fade, a deeper look at the numbers made the Mountain Home Bombers’ 34-18 win over Harrison even more impressive.
Second-year head coach Shane Patrick’s switch to the wishbone offense has produced 55 points in two games thus far. The Bombers scored just 125 points in all 10 games combined last year. Mountain Home’s highest point output in a game last year was 21 points, the team has equaled and surpassed that in both games.
Mountain Home had 58 offensive snaps to Harrison’s 55, but netted 8.5 yards per play compared to Goblins’ 5.49. The Bombers rushed 49 times for 417 yards for 8.5 yards per carry, while the Goblins tallied 124 yards on 39 attempts for a 3.2 yard average.
Bomber fullback Tommy Epps had one of the best outings in school history, rushing for 240 yards on 25 attempts and three touchdowns. Epps averaged 9.6 yards every time he touched the ball on the strength of runs of 57, 46, 23 and 20 yards.
Quarterback Evan VanDolah was no slouch, rushing for 162 yards on 19 carries for an 8.5 yard average. He scored two touchdowns higlighted by runs of 59, 20 and 20 yards.
First-year defensive co-ordinator Robert Johnson’s efforts in the preseason are impressive as well. After giving up 38.1 points per game last year, the Bombers have surrendered only 16 points a game.
Among the great individual defensive plays were Kyle Byrd’s block of an extra point, Shawn Robert’s interception of a Guy Brown pass and Jered Barnes’ sack of Brown in the fourth quarter. After Byrd blocked Harrison’s first PAT attempt, Mountain Home stuffed a 2-point conversion attempt and Goblin kicker Brett Bolton missed wide left on his team’s final touchdown.
Mountain Home’s 2-0 start is the first for the school since 1999 and only the second time since 1986. The victory was the 250th in school history.
The Bombers return to action on Friday evening by playing host Van Buren for the final non-conference game of the year. A victory would give the team its first 3-0 start since 1986. The teams are meeting for the first time since 1988, when Van Buren posted a 26-14 win.