Missed Opportunities Frustrate Red’Dogs

By By Nathan Allen <a href="mailto:NALLEN@NWAONLINE.N

Posted: November 1, 2009 at 2:40 a.m.

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BENTONVILLE — For most of the first half Friday night, Springdale High had Bentonville right where it wanted it.

The Bulldogs were able to sustain two long drives in the fi rst quarter.

They recovered a rare Bentonville fumble and had two quality chances to put points on the scoreboard.

Both times, however, Springdale couldn’t find a way to get the job done.

After the Tigers fi nally found the big play they’d been looking for just before the end of the fi rst half, Springdale (3-6, 1-5 7A-West Conference) went into the lockerroom at halftime wondering what could have been if it could have put any points on the board.

“It’s hard for me to speculate onhow that would have changed the game,” Springdale interim coach Dennis DeBusk said. “We had a good game plan. We just couldn’t get the job done when we had our chances, and that was unfortunate. We had chances; we got the stops we wanted and yet, we just couldn’t put points on the board. It’s frustrating.”

Springdale quarterback Joseph Calcagni had a decent night, completing 17 passes for 121 yards, while senior T.C. Barkey ran the ball 16 times for 64 yards and also caught eight passes for 59 yards.

Defensively, Springdale did everything it needed to do in the first half, holding the Tigers to only seven fi rst downs and seven points. For the most part, Springdale’s defense tackled well and slowed Bentonville’s running game down dramatically.

Springdale defensive coordinator Jeff Jones credited the defensive line - seniors Blake Gri◊th, Dylan Marrs, juniors Michael Wright and Cory Williams - with wrapping up Bentonville’splayers for e◊ective tackles, something that’s plagued the Bulldogs this season.

“Our guys played fast and physical, we’ve been preaching that all year long,” Jones said. “We fi nally made some tackles, that was the good thing. Up front, we hit their guys and played assignment football.

“We were really pleased at halftime.”

Jones, who was the head coach at Lonoke last year, said he knew about Bentonville running back Courtney Haskell’s potential and how he could make a home-run play at any given moment.

Jones coached against Haskell last season in the state playo◊s when Lonoke defeated Warren in the quarterfi nals.

Against Springdale, Haskellcaught a 64-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Pearson Gean and also had a 79-yard TD run in the third quarter to finish with 256 yards of total o◊ense.

“Courtney is the key to (Bentonville’s) offense,” Jones said. “Any time the guy gets to touch the ball, he’s an immediate threat and that’s what makes them so good. In the second half, we couldn’t handle his ability and I knew it was only a matter of time before he made a few big plays.”

DeBusk said this week will be an important one for the Bulldogs, who fi nish their regular season at home against Rogers High. Both teams also need a win to secure a playoff spot from the conference.

“We don’t have a choice,”DeBusk said. “We have to bounce back and find a way to win. Our kids are resilient, they know what’s at stake, so we’ve got to get back to business and get focused. It’s going to be a huge week for us.”

Sports, Pages 7 on 11/01/2009

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