Bears fall short to the Indians
SPRING HILL- The Spring Hill Bears traveled to Northeast Arkansas today, November 10 to play in the first round of the state playoffs. The Bears took on the Marked Tree Indians. With the Bears receiving the football to start the game. The ball was brought back to the Bear 35. Starting the game with a loss of five, Payton Massanelli followed up the play and got a gain bringing up third down. Cameron Middleton received a pass and got the ball to the 29 and brought up fourth down. Massanelli punts and ball is picked up by the Indiands and ran back for a 70 yard touchdown, that was then reversed due to flags on the play and the ball was placed on the 48. The Indians ran up the middle for a gain of 8 with the following play allowing them to get in the end zone making the first score of the night, 6-0 Marked Tree leading the game. The kickoff was returned by Keymonte Rhodes to the Bear 36. Massanelli made a handoff to Rhodes who ran up the middle then cut back to the outside having a 49 yard gain. On the next play Massanelli faked a handoff to Lewis Chambers and ran the ball up the middle but was pushed back for a loss of 3. With a fumble on the handoff to Rhodes the Indians recovered the ball at their own 43. After gaining possession of the ball and a great stop made by Marshall Glover the Indians brought in their second touchdown of the night and a two point conversion bringing the score 14-0. Marked Tree kicked off to the Bears after the first play during the Bears possession of the ball a fumble was made and was removed by the Indians. With stops by Ty Clark and host of Bears they were able to keep the Indians from scoring again in the first quarter.
The Bears started the second quarter with possession of the ball and being on fourth down, Middleton gets a first down at the Marked Tree 49. Massanelli had a 6 yard gain followed by a gain of a few yards that was replayed due to a flag on the play for unsportsmanlike conduct from both teams. After a turnover on downs and Marked Tree in possession of the ball a pass was knocked down by Middleton but they were able to score during the next play. With some tension during the kickoff from both teams a Marked Tree player was ejected from the game, and the Bears had the ball at the Indian 40. Massanelli makes a pass to Hays Martin who cuts back to the inside and gets a gain of 5 on the play. Massanelli then makes a pass to Middleton who gets a 6 yard gain. Massanelli is able to carry the ball to the 2 yard line for a 6 yard gain. The Bears were then able to get the ball into the end zone for their first touchdown of the night followed by a field goal kick making their score 20-7 trailing to the Indians. With stops made by Glover, Cannon Saunders, Dustin Beck, and Rusty Orr throughout the Indians possession of the ball they were still able to score bringing the score to 28-7 to end the first half.
The Bears came back from the half with an onside kick and the Indians start at the Bear 43. Middleton stopped them at the 34. With a holding call made against the Indians and a pass that was tipped by Matthew Kelesoma, and a running pass that was knocked out of bounds by a host of Bears, and a stop by Drake Kidd the Indians were able to get 1st and goal at the 7, that was then walked in for a touchdown. Middleton returned the kickoff to the 38. Rhodes then carried the ball to the 40 getting a first down for the Bears followed by Martin with a gain of 7 yards. With a turnover on downs at the Bear 43 and stops made by hosts of Bears. A pass was intercepted by Rhodes but was then fumbled during the handoff and recovered by the Indians. The Indians were then able to make another touchdown and two point conversion making the score 42-7 and allowing the clock to continue to run. With a deep kickoff the ball was returned to 36 by Drake Kidd, with a fumble at the hand off the Indians recovered the ball with a stop made by Kelesoma the Indians were still able to score making it 49-7 starting the fourth.
The Bears started the fourth quarter at their 34. With a gain of two then a loss of 5 bring up third down at the 29 Massanelli made a pass to Martin who ran the ball into the end zone for a 70 yard touchdown run brining the score to 49-13. After the kickoff the Indians made a pass to the 43 that was stopped by Chambers. Marked Tree carried the ball to the 26 before being knocked out of bounds by a host of Bears. Stops were made by Glover and Levi Kidd bringing up third down for the Indians who then made a touchdown and two point conversion bringing the score 56-13. With two minutes and five seconds left in the game Parker Freeman returned the kickoff to the Indians 45. Massanelli as quarterback keeper ran the ball to the outside for a 45 yard touchdown run to end the game with the final score of 56-19.