SPORTS: Dogs beat Vilonia; Bigelow beats Perryville Junior Destin Tate rushed for 223 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries to lead the Morrilton High School football team to a 42-27 victory over Vilonia in the 5A Central Conference opener for both teams on Friday night in Vilonia. The Devil Dogs dominated the first half of the game and led, 28-0, at halftime. After sophomore Caden Meeler recovered a Vilonia fumble at midfield on the game's first possession, Tate put the Devil Dogs on the board with the Dixon Family Dental Big Smile Play of the Game from 20 yards out with 7:24 remaining in the first quarter. Tate added a 32-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter and senior quarterback Damarius Martin had two short touchdown runs to seemingly put the Devil Dogs in control. The Eagles made a game of it in the second half, outscoring the Devil Dogs, 27-14, but an interception by senior Jackson Dixon with eight-and-a-half minutes remaining helped put the game away... Dixon finished with 12 tackles and a forced fumble, in addition to the interception, and was named the Colton's Defensive Player of the Game. Meeler had a team-high 13 tackles. Senior Terrell Garlington had an interception and senior Jonathan Blaylock and junior Luke Garrett combined on a sack... Junior center Duncan Blakley was named the Colton's Offensive Player of the Game after helping Morrilton gain 359 yards on the ground. Tate's big night earned him recognition as the Conway County Farm Bureau Insurance Player You Can Depend On. Martin finished with 92 yards rushing and three touchdowns and Garlington had 50 yards on four carries... The Devil Dogs are 3-0 on the season and will continue 5A Central play this week at home against Joe T. Robinson... In the other 5A Central games from Friday night, White Hall mauled Maumelle, 44-24; Mills beat Beebe, 34-21; and Pine Bluff walloped Watson Chapel, 36-22...