The Mountain Home Bombers secured a decisive 38-6 victory over the Fort Smith Southside Mavericks on Friday night at Bomber Stadium, concluding their regular season on a high note. The win guarantees Mountain Home a bye in the first round of the 6A state football playoffs.
Mountain Home struck first when kicker Isaac Ballard connected on a 35-yard field goal during the Bombers' opening possession, putting the team ahead 3-0. Shortly thereafter, a series of key runs—including a 15-yard gain by Grady Sheehan and a 25-yard rush by Naz Johnson—set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Johnson early in the second quarter. Ballard’s extra point extended Mountain Home’s lead to 10-0.
Strong defensive efforts by the Bombers, including stops from Kobe Dotson, Saxton Bodenhamer, Ford Coleman, and Michael Anitoni, forced Southside into a short punt. Mountain Home capitalized again as quarterback Conner Gentry connected with Sheehan and Johnson sprinted for a 59-yard touchdown to make it 17-0 after Ballard’s kick.
Dotson added a sack to stop another Mavericks drive, and Gentry later found Kanye Worman for a 28-yard passing play. Johnson continued his standout performance with a 25-yard touchdown run, and Ballard's reliable kick boosted the lead to 24-0 with just under seven minutes remaining in the first half.
Though the Mavericks briefly responded in the third quarter with a 17-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the score to 24-6, Mountain Home’s control of the game was never in doubt. Johnson delivered another touchdown, this time from 4 yards out, followed by another Ballard kick to bring the score to 31-6. Easton Shrable closed out the scoring for the Bombers in the fourth quarter with a 9-yard run, followed again by Ballard’s successful extra point, sealing the 38-6 victory.
With the win, the Bombers wrapped up their regular season in commanding fashion and now have a week to rest and prepare for the second round of the postseason.