BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @Gosset41
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS – Behind a four-touchdown night from running back Darrion Bowers and five defensive takeaways, Arlington Bowie won its fifth game in a row following a 41-7 victory over Haltom in District 8-6A on Friday night at the Birdville Fine Arts Athletic Complex. Bowie improves to 5-0 in district and 5-3 overall – with a playoff spot.
Haltom falls to 3-2 and 4-4.
The Vols forced a three and out on Haltom’s opening drive and then proceeded to march down on a 63-yard scoring drive led by a 35-yard TD from Bowers with 8:58 left in the first quarter.
Haltom gave up the ball four times in the first half, the first a fumble which Bowie’s Okello Okello recovered at the Buffalos 31. Bowers capped off his second touchdown from 18 yards to up the lead to 14-0 with 5:49 left.
Bowie recovered a second straight fumble – from Princeton Campbell – and less than a minute later Bowers found the end zone for the third time from the 4 to make it 21-0. Campbell returned the fumble recovery 41 yards to set up goal to go.
Haltom was coming off a big 56-49 win over Arlington Martin in Week 8 – its first win over Martin since 2005. The Buffs rushed for over 550 yards – Vudrico Roberson going for 394 and five touchdowns while Keenan Jackson chipped in 156 and three scores.
Jackson was Haltom’s leading rusher on Friday – and scored the team’s lone touchdown.
He burst through the Vols’ defense 57 yards to make it 21-7 midway through the second quarter.
Bowers added his fourth touchdown from 30 yards followed by a 75-yard one-play touchdown pass by QB Larry Nichols to receiver Antonio Birdow and Bowie led 34-7 at the intermission.
Bowie gained 282 yards in the first half and averaged 11.8 per play.
The Vols got one more touchdown in the second half – a 15-yard score from Bowling Green commit Dilon Tallie. Bowie went 83 yards on 10 plays and Tallie caught a screen, broke several tackles and muscled his way in for six.
Bowie had over 530 yards of total offense.
Bowers rushed 21 times for 213 yards. Nichols threw for 208 yards on 11 of 13 passing. Tallie finished with 58 yards on six catches. Keidric Osunde-Brown added a game-high 86 yards on six catches. Johnnie Macon had two interceptions and Steven McQueen added one in the fourth quarter.
Jackson rushed 19 times for 137 yards. Roberson chipped in 76 yards on 18 attempts.
