QBs To Light Up Sky

FAYETTEVILLE, ROGERS HERITAGE OFFENSES PACK PUNCH

By Tom Glave

Posted: November 6, 2009 at 5:05 a.m.

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ROGERS — The scoreboard operator at David Gates Stadium had better get ready.

Two high-octane o◊enses led by junior quarterbacks will meet tonight as Fayetteville and Rogers Heritage sort out the 7A-West Conference’s third and fourth seeds.

“We know the potential of (Heritage’s) o◊ense to put a lot of points on the board,” Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said. “They’ve done it several times this year. We don’t want that, but if that happens then we’re just gong to have to step up o◊ensively and put more points on the board if we can.”

The quarterbacks - Heritage junior Reed Brown and Fayetteville junior Brandon Allen - have combined for 4,700 passing yards and 46 touchdowns this season.

“They’re good quarterbacks, both of them,” Heritage coach Perry Escalante said. “We’re pleased with ours, and I know coach Patton is very pleased with his. It could be a track meet, you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Both teams have been in high-scoring shootouts with Springdale. Fayetteville won a 50-49 game against Springdale High while Heritage beat Springdale 64-45.

“You’ve got two quarterbacks back there that can make all the throws, and they’re tough as a boot,” Patton said. “It should be anexciting game for the fans.”

Allen (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) is already being highly recruited and has been o◊ered by Arkansas. He leads the league in passing (2,637 yards and 23 touchdowns).

Brown (5-9, 147) is smaller and has also put up big numbers, completing 61 percent of his passes for 2,098 yards and 23 scores.

“Both do a good job of getting rid of the ball quickand making good, quick decisions,” Patton said. “Both throw nice footballs.”

Both are surrounded by a talented group of receivers. Heritage’s Grant Driver and Travis Entwisle and Fayetteville’s Michael Heintzman and Demetrius Dean are all among the league’s top receivers.

“We have a good core receivers, and so does Fayetteville,” Escalante said.“You need to know where everybody’s at. You can’t go to sleep (on defense).”

Both Heritage and Fayetteville have already secured first-round home games in the postseason, but tonight’s game is for pride, momentum and a slightly higher seed.

“Obviously you want to get the highest seeding you can. So if something happens down through there and some people get beat, you’ll end up a higher seed a get another home game possibly,” Escalante said.

Sports, Pages 12 on 11/06/2009

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