By PATRIC FLANNIGAN
Sports writer
Sweet taste of victory.
Just a week after a bitter defeat, the Camden Fairview Cardinals were able to clean their palette with a 27-0 shutout against the Pine Bluff Zebras.
The game was played at UAPB's Golden Lion Stadium as the high school is undergoing construction.
CF received the opening kick off and moved the ball down the field mostly on the ground. Quarterback Dare'll "Juney" Atkins Jr. would find JyMauri Utsey out of the back field for a three yard touchdown - Utsey's first on the season. The drive covered 65 yards in 8 plays.
From there the game got defensive. CF's defense consistently flew to the ball and created a no fly zone for the Zebra's passing game holding them with a total of 90 passing yards on 8/29 passing and two interceptions. Linebacker Rodney Frazier Jr. picked off a pass on the Zebra's first offensive possession near mid-field.
CF would move the ball on offense but had a couple of turnovers and a punt in the first half.
The Zebras got the ball last in the first half and attempted a pass down the the field with about 2 seconds left on the clock. Sr. defensive back Zakilian Marks picked off the pass at the 10 yard line and raced it down the Cardinal sideline for a touchdown as the first half expired. Trent Haygood added the PAT to put CF up 14-0.
Atkins would add another touchdown pass with 44 seconds left in the third quarter to Haygood. Then with 8:43 left in the ball game, Haygood would rumble for a 67 yard TD to help seal the deal. The PAT was no good.
PB switched quarterbacks in the second half, but the front seven of the Cardinals were able to get adequate pressure to keep the Zebras from coming up with any big plays. Ronald "Buck" Buckhanan thwarted Pine Bluff's biggest play of the night when he forced a fumble after a big quarterback run.
Atkins finished 15/21 for 165 yards and two touchdowns while spreading the ball out to six different ball catchers. In addition to Utsey's three yard TD reception, William Henton led the team in receiving yards with three receptions for 46 yards. Haygood reeled in five receptions for 39 yards. Tristan Herndon caught three passes for 32 yards while Jordan Elliott caught two passes for 30 yards and Remondo Caver had a 15 yard reception.
The Cardinals compiled 203 rushing yards on the ground as Jayden Porchia got the bulk of the carries (12 for 72 yards.) A total of four Cardinals lined up at running back during the game and each of them averaged over 6 yards per carry against a very underrated PB front. Haygood rushed 2 times for 70 yards and a touchdown. Justin Frazier carried the ball five times for 31 yards and Zhalyn White rushed four times for 25 yards.
Jerome Williams continued his streak of double digit tackles with 14 on the night including a sack. Maliq Musa-Dennis tallied 10. Zechariah Duhart and Terrell Wilson each added a sack during the game.
Both teams are entering a bye week.