09/15/2025
SULLIVAN — With the game still hanging in the balance, Paul Oliver glared over to his bench and demanded the ball be placed in his hands. The next play the Linton-Stockton senior delivered.
Oliver ran up the middle, through the Sullivan defense for a 13-yard score on 4th-down-and-three. The score gave the Class 2A No. 12 ranked Miners a 36-21 lead with just under six minutes left in the game.
Earlier in the drive, Oliver converted another 4th-and-3 to keep the drive alive. Oliver was a thorn in the side of the Arrows all night, scoring five touchdowns in the 42-28 win.
The game marked the ninth straight loss in the series for Sullivan.
Prior to Oliver’s game-changing score, the Arrows pulled to within one score on the previous drive. Clark French broke through the Miners’ defense and raced down the left sideline for a 62-yard score with 24 seconds left in the third period. The score brought the Arrows to within 28-21.
Clark also found the endzone on Sullivan’s opening possession. On third and five, the junior broke free for a 61-yard score giving the Arrows an early 6-0 lead.
The score came after the Sullivan defense forced the Miners to a quick three-and-out — aided by a sack from Jaden Norris — to start the game.
Following Clark’s first score, Oliver scored on the Miners’ next two possessions from eight yards and seven yards for a 14-6 lead.
Trailing by the same score at the break, Sullivan pulled even 90 seconds into the third quarter. Senior quarterback Blake Fraker found Paul Ridgway for a 43-yard touchdown, before French ran in the two-point conversion for the 14-all tie. Ridgway broke a couple of tackles en route to the end zone.
But the momentum would be short-lived.
Oliver capped a 10-play, 68 yard drive with a two-yard rushing score.
Sullivan went three-and-out on its next possession before Russell Goodman broke free for a 20-yard score and a 28-14 lead.
Fraker and Ridgway hooked up on a 7-yard score in the closing seconds for the final score.
Oliver finished with a game-high 195 yards rushing, on 19 totes.
Goodman added 86 yards on the ground in part of a 416-yard ground attack in the win.
Fraker completed 12 passes for 160 yards and two scores. Ridgway hauled in four passes for 118 yards.
French led the Arrows’ rushing attack with 162 yards on 15 carries. No other Arrow rusher finished with positive yards.
Before kickoff, senior Levi Hollifield was honored for earning All-State honors last season.
Sullivan (2-2) travels to 1A No. 4 South Putnam (3-1) on Friday night.