BROOKLAND, Ark. — Ashton McDaniel accounted for 154 total yards in his return from injury, while Caden Crawford and Kaden Dixon were responsible for a pair of scores, as the Wynne Yellowjackets opened 5A East conference play with a convincing 44-12 victory over Brookland at Jordan’s Stadium.
McDaniel, playing for the first time since spraining his shoulder in the second half of Wynne’s season-opening victory over Marion, capped off a 32-yard scoring drive on the Jackets’ second possession of the game, set up by a bad snap on a Bearcats’ punt. The junior QB found an open Grant Oguin from three yards out. Augie Smith’s PAT made it 7-0 Wynne with 4:43 remaining in the opening quarter.
Early in the second, the Yellowjackets reached into their bag of tricks. From the Brookland 25-yard line, McDaniel handed off to Crawford, who then tossed the ball to wide receiver Kaden Dixon. He then fired a strike to X’Zavion Scott, who caught it at the 3-yard line, and trotted into the end zone for the touchdown. Smith’s extra point put Wynne ahead 14-0 with 9:58 to go until halftime.
Brookland answered that score with one of their own nearly four minutes later. Tyler Fleer’s 50-yard kickoff return put the Bearcats on Wynne’s 45, and they would drive down for a four-yard run from quarterback Caden Rodriguez midway through the second quarter. His extra point attempt was blocked, leaving the score at 14-6 Wynne.
But in the final minute of the half, Crawford found paydirt from four yards out, giving the Jackets a 21-6 lead at the intermission.
Wynne added to the lead on their first drive of the second half. After Brookland held Wynne out of the end zone, Smith booted a 32-yard field goal with 7:16 to go in the third for a 24-6 advantage. Just 63 seconds later, Crawford added his second rushing TD of the night, and seventh of the year, on a five-yard scamper to make it 30-6 Yellowjackets.
Early in the fourth, Brookland cut into the deficit on a fourth-down conversion. Rodriguez found Jackson Fleer in the end zone from the six-yard line with 8:48 remaining to make the score 30-12.
It took Wynne just 30 seconds to respond. From just short of midfield, McDaniel hit an open Dixon, who took it 52 yards for the score and a 37-12 Jackets advantage. On the next Bearcats’ possession, Rodriguez was picked off by Vince Little, who returned the ball to the Brookland 7-yard line. Then, Eli Ramsey scored on a seven-yard run with 7:13 remaining to wrap up the scoring.
Statistically, Wynne outgained the Bearcats 297 yards to 234. McDaniel passed for 91 yards and two scores, and rushed for 63. Crawford ran 14 times for 83 yards and two TDs, while Dixon caught three passes for 80 yards and a touchdown, along with his 25-yard TD pass. For the Bearcats, Nick Bates had 22 carries for 119 yards on the evening.
Both teams are now 2-2 on the season, and the Yellowjackets maintained their perfect record over Brookland in the all-time series. Wynne has won all seven meetings since the Bearcats joined the 5A East conference in 2020.
“It’s a good springboard into the conference season,” said Wynne coach Randy Coleman after the game. “We know that each week is going to be a battle.”
The Jackets will host Greene County Tech for homecoming this Friday night. Tech lost their 5A East opener to Harding Academy Friday, 39-13. Greene County Tech is also 2-2 on the season.
The other 5A East games Friday saw Valley View beat Paragould, 35-0, and Nettleton down Batesville by the score of 28-21.
In other 5A East games this week:
- Valley View at Harding Academy
- Brookland at Nettleton
- Batesville at Paragould
