Caldwell County didn’t leave anything to chance in a battle of 0-5 teams Friday night in Princeton.
The Tigers scored 28 points in the first quarter, led 49-0 at halftime and breezed to a 49-16 triumph over Ballard Memorial in Class 2A 1st District action.
The Caldwell defense returned three interceptions for touchdowns as the Tigers reached the running-clock mercy rule in the second quarter on both Homecoming and Hall of Fame Night.
The Caldwell defense held Ballard’s rushing attack to just nine yards on 11 carries in the first half while posting the shutout through two quarters. The Bombers’ two second-half scores came against Caldwell reserves.
A 5-yard scoring pass from Luke Parker to Cooper Mobley put Caldwell in front just 3:24 into the contest. Timothy Nichols added the extra point to make it 7-0.
The Tigers struck again at the 5:06 mark of the opening stanza. Jamus Carneyhan scored on a 2-yard run to help extend the margin to 14-0.
Carneyhan then picked off a pass and returned it 22 yards for a score at the 3:12 mark.
Twelve seconds later, Landon Davis intercepted a Ballard aerial and went 25 yards to paydirt to help make it a 28-0 ballgame.
Carneyhan scored his third touchdown of the first half on a 4-yard run with 9:54 left in the second quarter. That put Caldwell up 35-0.
The Bombers responded with their best drive of the second half, marching into the red zone. However, another Ballard pass was picked off by the Tigers. This time, Mobley returned it 96 yards for a touchdown, giving Caldwell a 42-0 lead with 7:11 still remaining in the first half.
Mobley’s pick tied for the second-longest in Tiger history. Donovan Dame returned an interception 97 yards for a touchdown in 2001 against Crittenden County while Lucas Green had a 96-yard interception return for a score in 1993 at Reidland.
Logan Chambliss had a 94-yard pick-six earlier this season against Crittenden.
The Tigers tacked on another touchdown before halftime on a 27-yard toss from Parker to Luke Maddox. Sutton Ritchey kicked that extra point after Nichols had made the first six, putting Caldwell in control at 49-0.
The second half moved quickly with the running block.
Ballard got a 5-yard touchdown run from Keaton Overstreet with 2:20 left in the third quarter to break up the shutout. Overstreet ran for two to make it 49-8.
Jerrico Wilson hauled in a 39-yard scoring pass from Hunner Bealmear with 5:20 left in the game. Overstreet again carried in the two-point try, making it 49-16.
Caldwell outgained Ballard just 222 yards to 201, but the Tigers dominated time of possession with over 30 of the game’s 48 minutes.
Ballard simply could not over a Caldwell defense that forced four turnovers in the contest — all leading to scores.
Parker was 9 of 11 passing for the Tigers for 133 yards and two scores.
Carneyhan ran for 68 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
With the three interceptions returns added in, Caldwell’s average starting field position in the contest was the Ballard 39-yard line.
Caldwell gets a stiff challenge next week when it visits 6-0 Mayfield for another district contest.
