PINE BLUFF — Quarterback C.J. Branch threw four touchdown passes and ran for another to lead the Watson Chapel Wildcats to a 42-7 playoff victory over Searcy on Friday night at Wildcat Stadium. Branch threw touchdowns of 45, 49, 9 and 29 yards and had a 35-yard touchdown run. He was intercepted twice.
“He’s a great leader, and we’re fortunate to have someone of his caliber,” Watson Chapel Coach George Shelton said.
Searcy took the opening kickoff and drove 65 yards in five plays. The drive was capped by a 27-yard pass from Dezmond Stegall to Jacob Mowrer with 9:20 left in the first quarter. Steven Seitz’s extra point made it 7-0.
The rest of the first half was all Watson Chapel as the Wildcats scored twice within 20 seconds midway through the first quarter to take a 14-7 lead.
Branch hit Sam Bass for a 55-yard scoring strike with 3:11 left in the first quarter. The kick for the extra point by Collin Massanelli was good for a 21-7 lead en route to a 35-7 halftime lead.
