BY CHRIS BOUCK
Sports Staff Writer

Badger running back Austin Benton gets the handoff and tries to get behind his blockers. Benton had 52 yards in last week’s loss to CAC. (Photo by Bill Ashmore/maumellesports.com)

The Badgers traveled to Crossett last week for the first game of the 5A Southeast schedule, pulling off an 18-12 double overtime win against the Crossett Eagles.
Crossett opened the game with a 14 yard passing touchdown for a 6-0 lead, but Crossett’s passing attack fell flat and the Eagles only managed to complete eight more passes in the double overtime game finishing with nine completions in 23 attempts for 142 yards.
Badger quarterback Scot Gowan tied the game 6-6 with 4:42 remaining in the first quarter on a 25 yard scamper into the endzone.  Gowan finished the game with 70 rushing yards and was 1 of 6 passing for 7 yards.
Both teams played a scoreless second quarter and headed into the break still locked in a tie.  Badger back Adam Griffis shouldered most of the load Friday night and had 76 of his 172 total yards by the half.  Griffis’ final carry of the first half was a three yard run, which matched Crossett’s total rushing yards for the half.  The Eagles finished the game with eight rushing yards on 19 carries and only managed 150 total yards for the double overtime game.
Griffis put the Badgers (1-4, 1-0) ahead in the third when he crossed the goal line from a yard out with 8:09 remaining, but the Eagles answered back with a six yard touchdown pass that would tie the game again at 12-12 and send the game into overtime after another quarter of scoreless action.
The game came to an end when Griffis scored his second touchdown of the night on a 6 yard run into the end zone to give the Badgers a 18-12 conference win.  Griffis leads the Badgers in rushing yards with 540 on 93 carries only four games into the season.
The Badgers 308 total offensive yards were the lowest this season and it took a season high 63 rushes to get there, but it was still enough to pull off a conference win on the road.
Badger Victor Howell had five carries for 23 yards and Colby Taylor added 10 carries for 36 yards in the win.
Beebe will host North Pulaski this Friday at the Badgers homecoming game.  Kick off for homecoming is scheduled for 7 p.m. with pre-game Royalty presentation at 6:25 p.m.