A rough night on Crooked Creek
Bombers’ dreams crash amidst penalty flags at Harrison
From The Baxter Bulletin
HARRISON — Coming out with more intensity than in their last contest, the Mountain Home High School Bombers fell victim to the penalty bug and never recovered Friday night, losing 41-23 to the rival Harrison Goblins at Crooked Creek.
The Bomber defense matched Harrison stop for stop until late in the first quarter. That’s when Harrison fullback Matt Crowder barreled his way into the end zone from two yards out to give the Goblins a 7-0 lead.
On Harrison’s next possession, the Bombers forced an incomplete pass on a third and five, but were called for pass interference.
Later on, on their own 48 yardline, the Goblins were forced to punt. That’s when the flags started to fly.
In all, the Bombers were flagged 10 times for 76 yards in penalties on the night.
A block to the back by the Bombers gave the Goblins new life and jump-started their 19-play, 67-yard drive into the end zone, capped by Matt Brown hooking up with Matt Walters on a 12-yard touchdown pass.
Walters was Brown’s favorite target for the night as the duo hooked up four times for a total of 76 yards. Brown also was 7-of-14 passing on the night.
The Goblins also had another apparent punt blocked on the drive, but once again referees flagged the Bombers for roughing the kicker.
Down 14-0 with 5:26 left in the first half, the Bombers needed to gain some momentum going into the lockerroom.
Jacob Hanson returned the kickoff 60 yards, but Mountain Home ended up settling on a 47-yard field goal attempt by Jake Young that fell short.
When Harrison got the ball back, Brown went to the well one too many times, and Bob Durr was looming to pick off the pass intended for Walters. He took it 34 yards for the score to cut the lead to 14-7 at the half.
To start the third quarter, Bomber quarterback Jake Haynes was picked off near midfield, and the Goblins needed only three plays to reach the end zone as Brown once again found Walters on a 31-yard hook-up. Crowder capped the drive with an eight-yard touchdown romp to put the Gobs up 21-7.
After forcing the Bombers to punt, Harrison went on a nine-play, 60-yard drive that all but sealed the deal. Mountain Home stopped Brown once on the goal line, but a second effort gave the Goblins a 28-7 lead.
On its next possession, forcing a fourth and 15, Harrison decided to go for it. Brown found Crowder on a short pass, and he took the ball into the end zone for his third touchdown of the night.
Bomber running back Will Dyer, who rushed for 134 yards, added a touchdown run to start the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 35-14.
A wild snap on a punt attempt caused a Harrison safety and made it 35-16.
Harrison would get the ball back, though, and Crowder hit pay dirt for his fourth touchdown of the night. Crowder rushed for 68 tough yards in the contest.
Bomber sophomore Zach Hawthorne took it in from 61 yards to set the final score at 41-23.
Harrison is building a new stadium, so Friday night’s was the last matchup between the Bombers and Goblins at Crooked Creek.
Hanson racked up 118 all-purpose yards for the Bombers, who are back in action next week when they host Van Buren at Bomber Stadium in Mountain Home.