The Harmony Grove Cardinals (1-0) clawed their way to a 13-6 win Friday over Bauxite in the second annual Saline River Showdown.
This time at The Pit, Harmony Grove needed all four quarters to bury the Miners after defeating cross-county competition handedly a season ago.
Talented quarterback Hunter Hilson was picked off three times Friday — twice by Bauxite's Seth McDowell — after turning the ball over through the air a total of four times in 2016.
The senior would finish 8 for 22 with 100 yards passing. Hilson also ran 10 times for 14 yards, getting dropped for a sack five times.
Junior running back Jake Brooks scored both of Harmony Grove's touchdowns, crossing the line from a yard out early before slipping in untouched from 11 yards away late in the contest.
A late interception by the Cardinals' defense would seal the deal as Bauxite was out of timeouts with under two minutes to tick.
Harmony Grove hosts Fountain Lake in Week 2. Bauxite will stay at home as longtime rival Glen Rose makes the trek to The Pit.
Both tilts are expected to begin at 7 p.m.