The Mountain Home High School football team wrapped up its season with an easy victory to clinch a postseason berth. However, the Bombers’ 56-21 Senior Night victory over Greenbrier also included the ejection of head coach Steve Ary.
The Panthers got the scoring started on the first play from scrimmage when Air Force commit Carter McElhaney ran the ball 74 yards into the end zone. Mountain Home responded by scoring the next 35 points of the game, starting with a 40-yard run by Cade Yates. On the Bombers’ second score, a touchdown pass from Yates to Brady Barnett, Mountain Home was called for a sideline infraction after an official reportedly bumped into an assistant coach. Greenbrier got back into the end zone on a 53-yard run by McElhaney.
The Bombers’ next scoring drive started at their own six after an unfavorable bounce on a punt. As Jacob Chenowith began the drive with a 27-yard run, an official reportedly bumped into a Mountain Home player on the sideline. The Bombers were flagged a second time for a sideline infraction, and as a result, the officiating crew told Ary the penalty went against him, and he was kicked out of the game. Despite additional penalties, Mountain Home capped the 94-yard drive with a 25-yard run by Chenowith with less than a minute left in the half.
The Panthers were hoping for one more score before halftime, but in an effort to avoid a sack, Kane Richardson attempted an ill-advised throw into the hands of Ty Hannaford, and he returned the interception 28 yards to ensure the mercy rule would be invoked the moment the second half started. Both teams ended up getting an additional score in the second half, and the Bombers went on to win by 35.
Yates completed seven passes out of 11 attempts for 136 yards and a touchdown and ran the ball six times for 80 yards and another score. Barnett had four receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown and 10 carries for 69 yards and two additional scores, and Chenowith carried the ball 20 times for 136 yards and three touchdowns and caught two passes for 35 yards. McElhaney had 11 carries for 130 yards and two touchdowns and added the Panthers’ third score on an 86-yard kickoff return. Richardson was seven-of-13 passing for 35 yards. Mountain Home outgained Greenbrier in total yardage 447-212.
The Bombers go into the Class 6A State Playoffs at 3-7 on the season and 3-5 in the 6A-West. The Panthers’ season ends at 2-8 and 1-7.
Mountain Home’s postseason opener will be on the road next week for their postseason opener as they meet Marion. Unless a change is announced by then, Ary will have to serve an automatic suspension for the game.
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