Tigers Focus On Fundamentals

BENTONVILLE GETS BACK TO BASICS DURING BYE WEEK OF CLASS 7A PLAYOFFS

By Ryan Malashock

Posted: November 12, 2009 at 5:15 a.m.

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BENTONVILLE — No opponent immediately looms for the topranked Bentonville football team. No scouting report consumes the Tigers as they await the winner of Friday night’s first-round playoff contest between Fort Smith Southside and Bryant.

Don’t think Barry Lunney’s team has taken the last few days off, however.

While the Tigers haven’t exactly practiced like they would during a normal game week, they’ve concentrated just as hard on improving.

Senior offensive lineman Matt Hoftman said this week’s workouts, which included a slightly shortened practice Wednesday, have challenged the Tigers in unique ways.

“There’s been a lot of work on fundamentals,” Hoftman said. “For the linemen, it’s been just a lot of blocking and working on pass protection. We’re just trying to get better at what we know we can do, and the coaches are really pushing us.”

Hoffman said the Tigers have appreciated the chance to ease back from a physical standpoint.

“It’s been nice that the coaches haven’t pushed us as hard physically,” Hoftman said. “But they are really trying to keep our mental focus there. It’s been a little dift erent. We haven’t had full-pad practices.

“But we also haven’t been lazy, either. We’ve still had really good practices.”

Bentonville’s coaching staft will drive to Bryant for Friday night’s game, in order to formulate a full scouting report on the winner. The players won’t go, though.

Instead, the Tigers will congregate at the Tiger Athletic Complex, just like they did the night of their first-round bye last season.

“It should be fun,” senior receiver Tyler Trudo said. “The whole travel squad will get together for the night. We’ll order pizza and watch a movie or something, and then we’ll listen to the game on the radio.”

While some Tigers might secretly root for the Rebels, who handed Bentonville its only loss this season (31-21 in Week 5), Hoft man insisted they didn’t care which team prevailed Friday night.

“We may want (Southside to win) a little bit more, but really it doesn’t matter one way or the other,” Hoft - man said.

“Either way, it’s going to be a tough game. Either way, we’ll be ready.”

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