Conway can't pull second straight upset

CONWAY — A week after Conway upset Russellville, the Wampus Cats ran out of magic. Little Rock Catholic held Conway to 60 yards of offense the first half, and ran away with a 31-6 win. The loss dashed the Wampus Cats' (2-8, 2-5) playoff hopes. Catholic (6-4, 5-2) earns the No. 3 seed with the victory. "We've played pretty well defensively all year long, and we have a turnover right off the bat," Conway coach Kenny Smith said. "That didn't just break our back, but they out-executed us, and that's just how it its. We have a lot to build on, and we have a lot of young kids that have played a lot of football that are coming back. We're proud of our seniors for the effort and leadership they provided all year long. We've just got to get bigger faster and stronger." The Catholic defense set up two of the Rockets scores. Conway sophomore star running back Desmond Cox, who ran for 85 yards and passed for a 66-yard touchdown, fumbled on the Wampus Cats 40-yard line and Michael Ferrara recovered. Seven plays later Rockets quarterback Taylor Bartlett scored on a six-yard run to make it 7-0 with just under eight minutes to play in the first quarter. Bartlett scored again early in the third quarter on a one-yard run after Conway mishandled a punt attempt. As players scrambled for the ball, it bounded 20 yards down to the Wampus Cats two-yard line and Catholic's Stacy Hunter recovered. The touchdown gave Catholic a commanding 21-0 lead. "I thought the defense really came of age last week against Central," Catholic coach Scooter Register said. "They actually played good against Russellville. We held Russellville to 25 yards the second half, but we had some turnovers and couldn't catch up. The defense has gotten better, and I am proud of them. They played well tonight." Bartlett, who racked up 215 yards of offense, ran for two touchdowns and passed for another. For his efforts he earned the VYPE/Hot N' Ready Impact Player of the Game, presented by Little Caesars. "I thought (Bartlett) did a great job," Register said. "I told him on Saturday, we were going to get him involved a little more in the offense. In the middle of the season, he got in a funk, but he kind of came out of that."