Fayetteville misfired on its first offensive series Friday night when Huxley Richardson missed a 42-yard field goal.

That, however, was about the only thing that didn’t go right in the first half.

Quarterback Darius Bowers threw three first quarter touchdowns and the Purple Dogs scored twice more in span of 18 seconds early in the second quarter and withstood a third quarter scoring blitz from Southside on their way to a a 64-34 victory Friday at Harmon Field.

The Purple Dogs (7-4) face Bryant this coming week.

Southside ends the season 3-8.

“I didn’t think we played real well in the first half, and you have to give them credit, too, but our guys went in at halftime and said that’s not the way we play,” Southside coach Jeff Williams said. “We had a great group of seniors that hung in there with us all year long, and we have a great group coming back.”

Southside quarterback Taye Gatewood’s second pass was intercepted, leading to Richardson’s long field goal attempt — a kick that never had a chance.

The Mavericks, who picked up a first down on their initial series, punted twice more following the interception, and Fayetteville cashed on a pair of Bowers’ touchdown passes, a 26-yard strike to Jackson White on fourth-and-21 from the 26, and a 30-yard toss to Cody Gray.

Southside had one fleeting moment in the first half when Gatewood hooked up with Tyrese Solomon for a 68-yard touchdown pass with 1:33 left in the opening quarter.

Fayetteville (7-4) was just getting revved up. Gray was on the receiving end of a 29-yard touchdown strike with 0:40.2 left in the first quarter, and Nate Nolen’s 54-yard touchdown run with 9:39 to play in the first half, the Mavericks fumbled the ensuing kickoff, leading to Jackson’s 14-yard TD run and a 36-7 lead.

Nolen finished with 148 yards rushing in the first half alone, which included runs of 39 and 28 yards.

The Purple Dogs’ Dan Hinton added a 5-yard touchdown run with 3:15 to play in the first half.

The Mavericks scored three times in the third quarter. And, even with a running clock via the Arkansas Activities Association mercy rule, Southside was within an onsides kick of making things interesting.

Gatewood, who threw for 272 yards, threw three third quarter touchdown passes to help the Mavs close to within 43-27.

Jordyn Jackson, who was shut out in the first half, set up the first third quarter TD with a 56-yard reception to the Purple Dogs’ 5. He hauled in a 4-yard TD pass two plays later for a 43-21 lead.

A turnover on the following kickoff led to Gatewood’s 12-yard TD pass to Mason Love.

Then, after another Fayetteville turnover, Gatewood capped another scoring drive with a 44-yard strike to Jackson to make it 43-27.

The Purple Dogs responded, however, with a 31-yard TD pass of their own, with Bowers hooking up with Gray to make it 50-27.

Gatewood capped the Mavericks’ scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run, his team-leading 17th rushing touchdown.

He finished the season with 16 touchdown passes and 2,891 yards passing.

“We got some explosive plays and kind of got rolling right there,” Williams said. “I’m really proud of those guys; they had a great year.”
