Chenault | McKenzie | McGonigal 1 2 3 | Eddlemon | Petrone

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A fourth-quarter Hendrix rally came up just short, as Berry (Ga.) won the Southern Athletic Association championship game, 21-20, on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium. The Vikings won their fifth-consecutive league title.

After Cameron Kawa caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Gavin Gray with 4:34 left in the first quarter, Hendrix (3-1) marched 75 yards in six plays and tied the game at 7 when Miles Thompson connected with Blake Hinton on a fade route in the corner of the endzone from 10 yards out. Thompson hit Hinton in strike for a 51-yard pass play on third and eight from the Hendrix 27 on the third play of the drive.

On the next Berry (4-0) series, the Warriors forced a fourth and 21 and pushed the Vikings out of field goal range when Mitchell Johnson forced a Gray fumble that resulted in a loss of eight yards back to the Hendrix 44. However, a muffed punt recovered by Berry at the Hendrix 2 allowed Jonahan Maisonave to score on the next play and put the Vikings in front by a touchdown after 15 minutes.

The Vikings blocked a Warriors punt to start the second quarter at the Hendrix 28 but went backwards in three plays, and a Matthew Syverson 48-yard field goal fell short.

However, Berry stretched the margin to 21-7 four plays later when Devin Grier returned a 58-yard interception for a touchdown with 11:49 left before intermission.

The Warriors' fourth turnover of the first half came two plays into its next offensive drive, giving the ball to the Vikings at the Hendrix 40, but Buck Buchanan's defense forced another stop, as Seth McClure was stopped for no gain by Alek Taylor on fourth and one at the Hendrix 21 with 7:18 to play before halftime.

A Hendrix 13-play, 32-yard drive which encompassed 5:15 ended on an incomplete pass on fourth and 13 at the Berry 47. Berry drove to the Hendrix 20 before the Warriors' defense again stiffened. Maisonave was tackled for a four-yard loss by Ethan Armour on fourth and four with 34 seconds on the clock.

Hendrix's third defensive stand inside its own 21 took place less than five minutes into the third quarter when following an Adonnis Butler hurry of Gray on third and four, Syverson's 28-yard field goal sailed right.

Hendrix threw its third interception of the night three plays later, giving Berry the ball at the Warriors 47, but Buchanan's defense forced a three and out, and Butler blocked and recovered a Bobby Hope punt, setting his team up at the Vikings 34 with 7:51 left in the third quarter.

Neither team found the scoreboard again until early in the fourth quarter when a Jacob Wood 15-yard touchdown scamper on third and 11 cut Hendrix' deficit to 21-14.

On its second offensive series of the period, Berry drove to the Hendrix 39 before a holding call preceded a Brooks Parham interception of Gray, giving the ball back to the Warriors at the Vikings 48 with 7:12 left. A Wood 19-yard completion to Chad McGonigal moved the ball to the Berry 19. Caleb Williams rushed for 12 yards on the next play, and a Vikings personal foul gave Hendrix a first and goal on the 4. After a five-yard loss, Tajae White took a jet sweep and hit paydirt from nine yards out with 3:59 on the clock. However, the extra point attempt hit the left upright and was no good, keeping Berry in front by a point.

The Warriors forced a three and out on the next Vikings offensive series, starting at their own 18 with 2:53 to go. Wood hit Hinton for a 15-yard gain on the first play of the drive, but Hendrix lost 14 yards on the next three plays. After a Wood pass to Colton Phillips gained 16 yards to set up fourth and eight at its own 35, a scramble for no gain turned the ball over on downs with 1:14 to play.

Gray ended 18-of-28 passing for 205 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He was also sacked twice.

Maisonave rushed 18 times for 51 yards and a touchdown.

Kawa caught five passes for 69 yards and a score.

Jack Carroll totaled 13 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack for Berry. Mac Wells had seven tackles, including three for loss and two sacks. Grier picked off three passes.

Wood went 11-of-22 through the air for 103 yards with two picks and was sacked three times. Thompson was 5-of-12 for 82 yards with a touchdown and two picks before leaving the game due to injury on the interception return for a touchdown.

Kip VanHoose rushed 15 times for 60 yards for the Orange and Black.

Hinton hauled in six receptions for 96 yards and a score.

Johnson totaled 10 tackles, one tackle for loss, a forced fumble and interception. Eli Martin forced two fumbles.

Neither team eclipsed 300 yards of total offense, with Hendrix netting 294 and the Vikings 257, including just 1.3 yards per rush on 39 carries.

Berry was 5-of-16 on third down and 0-of-2 on fourth. The Warriors were 4-of-16 on third down and 2-of-5 on fourth.

Hendrix was perfect (3-of-3) in the redzone. The Vikings were only 2-of-4.