Luke Reeder
Sports Reporter
Friday night the Nashville
Scrappers faced off against
the Malvern Leopards at Malvern
in a game that would ultimately
decide who would be
the holder of the number one
spot in the 7-4A conference.
With the conference on
the line the Nashville Scrappers
showed up at Malvern
with their “A” game on both
offense and defense as they
were able to cruise to an easy
56-14 victory.
Just minutes into the game
the Malvern Leopards were
able to get on the score board
first after an 18 yard touchdown
pass but they were
unable to make the extra
point attempt. This would be
the only time Malvern led in
the game. Barely two minutes
later, with 6:15 seconds left
in the first quarter, Nashville
was able to grab the lead as
quarterback Leonard Snell
was able to find his way to
the end zone after a 38 yard
run. With the kick from Sergio
Pacheco the score became
7-6. With just a minute to play
in the quarter Darius Hopkins
was able to score on a 23 yard
touchdown run and build
Nashville’s lead to 14-6 as the
first quarter expired.
Nashville had a big second
quarter as they were able to
score four touchdowns and
hold Malvern to only one
touchdown. Trey Hughes
started the scoring off for the
Scrappers with 8:20 left in the
quarter, Hughes was able to
grab a 34 yard pass from Snell
to give Nashville a 21-6 lead.
Less than forty seconds later
Malvern showed signs of life
as they scored on a 59 yard
pass. After the touchdown
the Leopards converted on
a two point conversion and
brought the Nashville lead to
only seven points. Nashville
began stacking on their lead
again with another touchdown
run for Snell, this one
being from 20 yards out and
with 6:46 left in the half Nashville
had gained a 28-14 lead.
Less than a minute later the
Scrappers were able to find
the end zone again on the
legs of Andrew Hawthorne to
bring the lead to 35-14. With
45 seconds left in the half
Hughes was able to catch his
second and last pass of the
game and this one like the
first went for a touchdown.
After the 41 yard touchdown
pass and a missed extra point
attempt the Scrappers were
able to go into halftime with
a 41-14 lead.
The second half only had
two touchdowns occur in it
as Trent Harris scored on
a 35 yard run with 9:21 left
in the third and with that
score Nashville was up 35
points and the Mercy Rule
started the clock. De’Ajeon
Armstrong scored the final
touchdown of the game in
the fourth quarter with a 64
yard run with 10:50 left in
the game.
The Nashville defense
was able to stop Malvern
early and never let up on
their pressure. Billy Stewart
had a big impact on the
game on the defensive side
of the ball as he was able to
lead the Nashville defense in
both tackles and sacks with
six tackles and a game high
three sacks. The defense was
also able to force the only
turnover of the game in the
form of a fumble that was
recovered by Austin Gibbs
for Nashville.
Offensively Hopkins led
the team in rushing with 108
yards on 13 runs with one
touchdown. Close behind
was Harris and Snell who
both had 91 yards rushing.
Though he only caught two
passes and both were for
touchdowns, Hughes was
able to lead the receiving
category with 75 yards. Snell
was able to also play a role in
the passing game as he completed
four of seven passes
for 92 yards and two passes
went for touchdowns.
Snell has been able to be
more of a threat in the passing
game and he attributes
this to gaining trust in his receivers,
“I believe I have become
a better passer, I have
grown to trust my receivers
and now I feel I’m just where
I want to be as a team player
in the quarterback position.”
With the help of Snell and
the rest of the Scrappers, the
team is now undefeated and
have the only perfect record
in the conference and Snell
described that as a great
feeling and a blessing to be
able to be undefeated.
Nashville will have their
Senior Night this week as
they face off against Bauxite
at home.
