MACARTHUR 35, L.D. BELL 21
Dallas Morning News Box Score Report:
IRVING — Irving MacArthur running back Edward Wesley hadn’t broken a run all game. Sure, he had three touchdowns, but he’d only gained 39 yards on 15 carries through three quarters. Wesley had averaged nearly 140 yards entering the game.But a 49-yard run, right after a Hurst L.D. Bell turnover, was the spark for MacArthur’s final scoring drive, giving MacArthur, No. 11 in SportsDay’s Class 5A area rankings, a 35-21 District 7-5A win at Irving Schools Stadium.“Eventually, if you keep pushing, keep pushing, keep pushing, the defense is bound to break,” Wesley said.
Wesley and quarterback Erick Foreman had their hand in every score for MacArthur (6-0, 3-0), which had another strong second half that MacArthur coach Brian Basil attributed to the team’s conditioning.
MacArthur has outscored opponents 125-43 after half.
“Our kids worked so hard in the offseason,” Basil said. “They know they’ve paid the price. In the second half, it’s not really about halftime adjustments. It’s what you’re doing in February. Those kids worked hard in February, and now they’ve got money in the bank that they can take out.”
And Wesley led the way to the bank, finishing with 124 yards on 22 carries.“He promised us that if he allowed to push us as hard as he wanted to push us, we’d be in the position that we are now,” Wesley said.
Foreman added 114 yards passing and a rushing and passing touchdown.Bell (4-2, 2-1) had their chances in scoring position.
At the end of the first half, Bell came up empty on an 18-play, 5:35 drive. Twice from the 13-yard line, Bell quarterback Tate Holbert missed receiver Grant Milton, first on a fade to the corner of the end zone that was batted down by MacArthur’s John Kaye and then — on fourth down — on a post route that went over Milton’s head.
In the fourth quarter, Bell had a chance to tie the game, but an interception by Deante Piper in the end zone stopped the drive.“That was huge,” Bell coach Gary Olivo said of the interception. “But there was a lot of other ballgame besides that.” Piper finished with 101 yards rushing on 21 carries.With the win, MacArthur heads into the next week’s game against Euless Trinity with a potential district title on the line.Wesley, however, was very zen about it.“The next game is always the biggest game,” Wesley said.
Makenna loves Coach Powe.
Boston's grandpa didn't realize he was holding for the daughter of a former All-American kicker. You should see that little girl kick the ball. We need to get her signed up for soccer! I can hear the cheers from Aunt Laura!
David brought a few extra fans to the game. Darren Jansen, Lee Hughes, and Gabe joined the Smith family for some serious high school football.
JV GAME:
Makenna and I went to the JV game on Wednesday night take advantage of the beautiful weather. Makenna played with Sydney. They are showing off their Skittles here, one of the only safe things in the concession stand for my girl, now that she has been diagnosed with peanut and tree nut allergies. I see a whole lot of Skittles in our future, seeing as we're around concession stands so much, and all!
Uncle David with Skittles Girl on Thursday at the Varsity Game
