DeQueen kept its game plan simple Friday night at Badger Stadium, running the ball every play of the game and simply out powering the Badgers, 49-15.
The Badgers received the opening kickoff, but were forced to punt after three plays.
DeQueen let the punt die at their own 23-yard line and proceeded to go 77 yards on 13 plays to score the first touchdown and consume much of the first quarter. The PAT was good and DeQueen went on the board, 7-0.
The Badgers answered on a drive comprised of Markel Hendrix runs and Garrett Rucker finding Spencer Knight on a pass before hooking up with Greg Clayborn over the middle. Clayborn beat the defensive back guarding him and took Rucker’s well-placed pass to the endzone. The Badgers lined up to kick the extra point, but instead the snap went directly to placekicker/quarterback Rucker, who found Knight wide open in the back right corner of the endzone for an additional two points, taking the lead for the Badgers 8-7 with 2:48 remining in the first quarter.
DeQueen’s quarterback would keep the ball on a draw play from shotgun formation for 25 yards on the next drive that set up the next score of the game.
Their two-point attempt was unsuccessful, but Dequeen still held the lead at 13-8.
On the Badger’s next possession, DeQueen almost forced another three and out, but a roughing-the-passer penalty on third and 10 gave what appeared to be a break for the Badgers. However, a few plays later,   DeQueen’s defense redeemed the big penalty by tipping, intercepting and returning an attempted screen pass.
DeQueen’s lead increased to 21-8 after a successful two-point conversion.
The interception began a chain of turnovers that would affect both teams for the rest of the game.
DeQueen dropped a  Badger punt, which defender Cole Weems recovered. That gave way to DeQueen picking off Rucker again three plays later. DeQueen’s quarterback took two snaps before fumbling and Badger Kentrel Jones recovering the ball, taking it to DeQueen’s 12, and setting up the next Badger touchdown. With 3:03 remaining in the first half, the Badgers narrowed DeQueen’s led to six points, 21-15.
The turnover-bug bit again on the next kickoff. After a DeQueen player fielded a short Badger kick and tossed it backward to DeQueen’s kick returner, a Badger defender put a hard hit on him, causing the ball to fly loose and allowing the Badgers to recover the fumble in excellent scoring position.
However, on the Badger’s first play after the turnover, Rucker dropped back and sent a pass toward Clayborn and two Leopard defensive backs. DeQueen intercepted the pass, halting the momentum for the Badgers.
The first half ended with DeQueen leading 21-25.
The second half of the game was as muddy for the Badgers as the field of slop they were playing on.
After a long kickoff return, DeQueen scored on its opening drive to make the score 27-15 after the successful two-point conversion.
The Badgers would turn the ball over several more times allowing three more touchdowns for DeQueen and resulting in a 49-15 final score.
Clayborn led the Badger offense with two receptions for 67 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Spencer Knight led with eight tackles and three assists. Weems, Jones and Derric Conway all recovered fumbles for the Badgers.
The Badgers travel to Nashville to face the Scrappers for their last game of the regular season Friday, Nov 6. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.