MONTICELLO – It was a case of good news and bad news on Friday night for Smackover.
The good news came thanks to a pair of touchdown runs by Jarius Burgie and a stout defensive effort that lifted the Bucks past Drew Central 20-12 in 6-3A play.
However, the Bucks’ hopes for making the playoffs were formally ended after Lake Village downed Barton 42-20.
The Bucks opened the scoring on the first play from scrimmage on a 56-yard run by Burgie to give the visitors a 6-0 lead.
Smackover led by the same score at the end of the opening period, but increased their lead by capitalizing on a miscue in the second period.
After a Tyler Sexton interception gave the Bucks the ball at Drew Central’s 12, Burgie scored on a 9-yard run to make it 12-0.
In the first half, Smackover’s defense forced three turnovers and their special teams also blocked a punt.
Late in the first half, the Bucks struck with their passing game, as Brandon Lockhart fired a 41-yard strike to Wyatt Parker to give the Bucks an 18-0 lead at intermission.
The Pirates scored twice in the third quarter to cut Smackover’s lead to 18-12, but the Bucks got a safety in the fourth quarter to make it 20-12.
The Pirates had one final chance, but turned the ball over on downs with Sexton and Cole McNeely combining on a fourth-down stop that ended Drew Central’s comeback bid.
The Bucks (4-5, 2-4) host McGehee to close out the season next week.
The Pirates (0-9, 0-6) will wrap up their season next week at Rison.