HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — It was a tale of two vastly different halves for Hot Springs Thursday night against Arkadelphia at Trojan Stadium.
The Trojans’ defense threw up a brick wall in the first two quarters. Then there were fireworks in the second half for the Hot Springs offense enroute to its 24-7 win over the Class 4A Badgers.
Arkadelphia managed two first downs, and 44 total yards in the first half.
The Badgers piled up 200 yards in the final two quarters. They scored their only points in the third period when sophomore quarterback Maddox Fendley tossed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Kelbern Middleton.
Hot Springs signal-caller Matthew Contreras overthrew his receivers early. The only points of the first half came on a 32-yard field goal by Contreras with 4:25 left before intermission.
That three-pointer involved some controversy when kicker Bryan Tolentino missed a 39-yard attempt, but was roughed by the charging Badger defense. Tolentino was helped off the field, and he returned in the second half.
Brogdon Jr. burns Arkadelphia
It wasn’t until the middle of the third quarter that Contreras and senior Taurean Brogdon Jr. teamed up on a 65-yard scoring pass to make it 10-0.
Two minutes later Arkadelphia scored. The Trojans answered 56 seconds later on a 67-yard bomb from Contreras to Brogdon. It was the same duo scoring in the fourth period on a 15-yard completion. Contreras finished 12-of-29 for 242 yards.
Brogdon had five receptions for 153 yards. Senior Perry Jones led the Trojans’ ground game with 58 yards on 17 carries.
Jeremiah Adaway turned back an Arkadelphia threat late when he intercepted a pass in the Trojans’ end zone. Eli Eggeston stopped another threat with an interception. Fendley was 11-of-31 for 147 yards.
Hot Springs has a bye next week, travelling to Little Rock Southwest on Sept. 15. The Badgers play at Texarkana next Friday.