Bethel seventh grade team gets off on the right foot

Dalen McDonald powers past Immaculate Conception defender Riley Russell on the way to the end zone. (Photo by Kevin Nagle)

Quarterback Jake Meaders rushed for 124 yards on five carries to lead the Bryant Blue Hornets seventh grade team of Bethel Middle School to a 22-14 win over the Immaculate Conception Falcons of North Little Rock in their season debut at Bryant Stadium Tuesday night.

Meadors ran 27 yards for the first score of the game then set up two touchdowns by Dalen McDonald with long runs that weaved through the Falcons’ defense. McDonald finished with 63 yards on seven carries.

The two teams played 20-minute halves. In the first half, the Bethel defense limited the I.C. offense to a net of minus-17 yards of offense with tackles for losses made by Tanner Wilson, Logan Hubbard and Brandon Barber.

McDonald’s first touchdown, a 5-yard burst, was set up by a 49-yard run by Meaders to convert a third-and-20 situation after a holding penalty had pushed the Hornets’ back.

McDonald ran in the two-point conversion after the first score and, after the second, Meaders completed a pass to Ethan Loomis to make it 16-0.

Immaculate Conception got on the board on its first possession of the second half when Gray Rahbany broke a 23-yard run. The conversion was stopped by the Hornets’ defense led by Jonathan Hall.

On Bethel’s subsequent possession, McDonald laced his way 17 yards and, a play later, Meaders galloped 26 yards to set up McDonald’s 25-yard TD tote to make it 22-6.

Bethel quarterback Jake Meaders sprints past Immaculate Conception linebacker Gray Rahbany on his way to the end zone. (Photo by Kevin Nagle)

With the Bethel coaches trying to get everybody in the game, Rahbany reeled off a 71-yard touchdown run with time running out.

The Bryant Blue seventh grade team is set to return to action on Tuesday, Sept. 9, against Bryant White. There will be B team games before the A game.