VYPE Central Arkansas Game of the Week: Cabot 17, North Little Rock 6

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — The Cabot defense held North Little Rock to just more than 150 yards of offense and thwarted a potential scoring drive late in the third quarter to help the Panthers to a 17-6 win Friday night.

North Little Rock started a drive midway through the third quarter on its own 41-yard line. On the 11th play, NLR faced a 2nd-and-9 play from the Panthers 23-yard line when Cabot sacked Wildcats’ quarterback Isaac Kelley for a five-yard loss. On third down, Kelley threw an incomplete pass, and on fourth down Cabot cornerback Powell Bryant kept Devonte Rich from catching a ball in the end zone, ending the drive. Rich had three touchdown catches last week, but Cabot held the star playmaker without a catch Friday night.

After the defensive stop, Cabot marched 72 yards on 13 plays chewing up more than six minutes of clock. Hunter Sales, who rushed for 47 yards, scored on a three-yard reverse lightning the Panthers lead to 14-6.

After holding North Little Rock three-and-out on its next possession, Cabot added a 21-yard Logan Spry field goal with less than two minutes to play.

The Panthers racked up 310 total yards. Spencer Smith led the Panthers with 61 yards. Senior star fullback Michael James missed the first two games with a shoulder injury, and then injured his ankle Week 3. He played Friday night, rushing for 38 yards and his touchdown of the season. James didn’t enter the game until the second quarter and limped noticeably coming on and off the field.

North Little Rock trailed 7-0 at halftime, but Tim Johnson’s 76-yard return of the opening kickoff set up the speed back’s 8-yard scoring run. The point after was no good. North Little Rock kicker Logan Bussard also missed a 26-yard field goal and a 28-yarder in the first half.

Cabot scored its only touchdown of the first half with 12 seconds left. The Panthers moved 53 yards in a little more than two minutes. James rattled off a 13-yard run to get to the one-yard line, then finished the drive off with a one-yard plunge.

Cabot (6-0, 3-0) plays host to winless Little Rock Central next Friday. North Little Rock (4-2, 2-1) plays at Little Rock Catholic.