NASHVILLE, Ark. — Going into Friday’s first-round Class 4A playoff game against Nashville, Gentry coach Brian Little said the Pioneers would have to run the ball effectively and contain the Scrappers’ speed.

Gentry accomplished neither.

Nashville used a balanced offensive attack that racked up 438 yards, and the Scrappers intercepted Gentry quarterback Austin Millsap five times in a 51-20 victory against the Pioneers.

Two of Gentry’s three touchdowns came on a kickoff return and a fumble return for a touchdown. Their final touchdown came with 2 minutes, 48 seconds left in the game.

Gentry had just 81 yards rushing and 72 through the air before the 35-point sportsmanship rule went into effect with 7:35 remaining in the game.

Nashville defensive coordinator Lafe Caton said the Scrappers defense is playing its best football at the right time of the year. Caton spent nine seasons at Rogers High and was the Mounties defensive coordinator before going to Nashville this season. Gentry was 0-for-8 on third down conversions

“I was thrilled with the way we played because they were big and physical,” Caton said. “We challenged our kids up front and they held their own up front. And we got some turnovers that stopped some drives. Ifwe can hold people to one score, then we will have a chance.”

That’s especially so with a balanced attack on the other side of the ball.

Nashville rushed for 221 yards and passed for 217 more. Running back Davencio Hawthorne had 159 yards on 21 carries, and the senior also had four catches for 47 yards. Hawthorne had four runs of 20 or more yards.

“When you have that kind of speed and athleticism, it’s just a matter of time before they break a big one,” said Gentry coach Brian Little. “The turnovers also got us.That’s just the way it is sometimes.”

Nashville scored on back-to-back possessions in the first quarter and the Scrappers took a 10-0 lead on a sevenyard run by Hawthorne. Gentry picked up some momentum when Tanner Coy returned the ensuing kickoff 76 yards for a touchdown that cut the lead to 10-7 with 1:22 left in the opening quarter.

But Nashville scored on its third straight possession and took a 17-7 lead when Cole Moore hit Copeland for an 18-yard touchdown.

Gentry missed a chance to cut the Scrappers lead to three at half-time as the Pioneers drove to the Nashville 10 when Millsap hit Tre Asencio-Porter for 25 yards on fourth down with 52 seconds left before half-time. But the drive ended when Jacody Horton intercepted Millsap in the end zone on the next play.

Nashville then scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter to pull away.

The Scrappers (9-2) will play at Gosnell this week in the second round.

Class 4A Playoffs NASHVILLE 51, GENTRY 20 Gentry 7 0 7 6 - 20 Nashville 10 7 21 13 - 51 First Quarter Nashville - Puente 28 FG 5:00 Nashville - Hawthorne 7 run (Puente kick) 1:35 Gentry - Coy 76 kickoff return (DiMella kick) 1:22 Second Quarter Nashville - Moore 18 pass to Copeland (Puente kick) 11:27 Third Quarter Nashville - Hawthorne 1 yard (Puente kick) 9:07 Nashville - Moore 5 pass to Wright (Puente kick) 4:52 Nashville - Hendry 38 pass to Copeland (Puente kick) 3:32 Gentry - Morgan 45 fumble return (DiMella kick) 1:24 Fourth Quarter Nashville - Hawthorne 5 run (kick blocked) 9:58 Nashville - Gaines 13 run (Puente kick) 7:35 Gentry - Ramsey 2 run (kick failed) 2:48 Nashville 51, Gentry 20 Why The Scrappers Won Nashville had 440 yards of offense - 221 rushing and 217 passing - and the Scrappers defense intercepted five passes.

Why The Pioneers Lost Gentry had just 153 yards of offense before the mercy rule went into effect, and the Pioneers were 0-for-8 on third down conversions.

Sports, Pages 11 on 11/17/2010