STUTTGART, Ark. – The Stuttgart Ricebirds dropped their first game of the 2024 season, losing a hard-fought battle to the Malvern Leopards 48-38 Friday night at Moseley Stadium. The defeat moves Stuttgart to 2-1 on the season, while Malvern remains undefeated at 3-0.
Stuttgart opened the scoring with a 59-yard touchdown pass from Cain Price to Quarterion Johnson in the first quarter. However, the missed extra point left the Ricebirds up 6-0. Malvern quickly responded, tying the game at 7-6 with an extra point to take a one-point lead.
Stuttgart regained the advantage midway through the first quarter when Price connected with DeOntae Clark on a 13-yard screen pass for a touchdown. After a failed two-point conversion, the Ricebirds led 12-7. Malvern answered on their next possession, scoring on a 5-yard bootleg pass from Sedrick Allen to Kahlen Cooper. Stuttgart blocked the extra point, but Malvern held a 13-12 lead.
A 20-yard field goal by Stuttgart’s McKelvey gave the Ricebirds a 15-13 lead in the second quarter, but the lead was short-lived. Malvern regained control with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Allen to Jarrett Hathcock, pushing the Leopards ahead 20-15. The back-and-forth continued as Stuttgart’s Jawyan Terry found the end zone on a 6-yard rush, with the Ricebirds converting a two-point try to take a 23-20 lead.
Malvern closed out the first half with a 1-yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown, sending the Leopards into halftime with a 27-23 advantage.
In the third quarter, Stuttgart’s Temarrion Burks intercepted a screen pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown, with McKelvey’s extra point putting the Ricebirds ahead 30-27. However, Malvern’s Jabori Jacobs ran in an 11-yard score to put the Leopards back in front, 34-30.
Malvern extended their lead in the fourth quarter when Allen connected with Cooper on a 6-yard slant for another touchdown, making it 41-30 with just under five minutes to play. Stuttgart’s Terry kept the Ricebirds in the game with a late 15-yard rushing touchdown, and a successful two-point conversion cut the deficit to 41-38.
Despite Stuttgart’s efforts, Malvern sealed the victory with a late touchdown, pushing the final score to 48-38.
The Ricebirds will look to bounce back next week when they travel to face the Rison Wildcats on September 20. Malvern will have a bye before hosting Genoa Central in week four.
