SHERIDAN, Ark. – The White Hall Bulldogs opened their 2024 football season Friday night, August 30, suffering a 44-20 defeat on the road against the Sheridan Yellow Jackets. The game, which also determined the fate of the Highway 270 Trophy, saw Sheridan take control early and never look back, securing the trophy for the 2024-2025 season.
Sheridan’s dominance was evident from the start, with Zay Stephens setting the tone by scoring a 78-yard touchdown on a flea flicker in the first quarter. Though the two-point conversion attempt failed, the Yellow Jackets quickly asserted themselves, taking a 6-0 lead.
White Hall showed resilience on their next drive, capitalizing on a short field. Junior quarterback Wyatt Golden scrambled for an 18-yard touchdown, and sophomore kicker Reece Thornton added the extra point to give the Bulldogs a brief 7-6 lead.
However, Sheridan’s offense, led by junior quarterback Dax McMellon, was relentless. Stephens added a 5-yard touchdown run, and after a successful two-point conversion, Sheridan regained the lead at 14-7. Moments later, McMellon connected with Jace Bradshaw on a slant route for a 5-yard touchdown, and with Preston Her’s extra point, the Yellow Jackets extended their lead to 21-7.
Sheridan’s aggressive special teams play was also a factor, as they recovered their second onside kick of the game, setting up another Stephens touchdown. This time, a 30-yard sprint to the end zone followed by a successful two-point conversion pushed the lead to 29-7.
White Hall’s next drive ended in disaster when a fumble at the Sheridan 1-yard line was recovered by the Yellow Jackets in the end zone for a touchback. Sheridan capitalized on the mistake, marching 80 yards down the field before Bradshaw caught a 5-yard touchdown on fourth and goal. Another successful two-point conversion made it 37-7.
The Yellow Jackets recovered yet another onside kick, and McMellon connected with Payton Sterritt for a 12-yard touchdown to cap off a short drive. Her’s extra point extended Sheridan’s lead to 44-7.
In the second half, with the mercy rule in effect, White Hall managed to add a pair of touchdowns. Golden found Jacolby Edwards for a 3-yard touchdown pass, though the extra point was blocked. Later, with under a minute remaining, Golden connected with Edwards again, this time on a 35-yard vertical route. Thornton’s extra point brought the final score to 44-20.
The Bulldogs will look to rebound next week as they travel to Warren to face the Lumberjacks, who are coming off a narrow 41-34 loss to 5A Greenbrier. Sheridan, now riding high after their opening win, will head to Hot Springs Lakeside to take on the Rams, who edged out Lake Hamilton 34-29 on Friday night.
