FAYETTEVILLE — Perfect games don't come around very often. But Fayetteville will needto pitch an error-free contest to knock off top-rankeddefending state champion Bentonville in both squads' 7A-West Conference opener Friday at Harmon Field.
The Tigers are surrendering a measly 6.3 points pergame and have outscored their opposition 196-19 in a 3-0 start.
While Bentonville is busy limiting teams and forcing mistakes, Fayetteville, while not yet turnover prone like last season, is committing a difference brand of miscue in 2009.
The Purple Dogs have squandered 23 points after two missed field goals, a blocked field goal, two extrapoint blocks and anothermissed, and four failed two-point conversion tries in only three games.
If Fayetteville fails to seize points at similar junctures, it could be the first time in the Daryl Patton era that a mercy rule could transpire. While Fayetteville has the offense to compete, it doesn't have the defense to recover from those types of blunders. Points will be at a premium against the Tigers' stingy defense and missed field goals could quickly lead to 10-point swings in momentum.
Fayetteville's hope is that the Tigers' have yet to truly have their mettle tested. Bentonville faced questionable opposition in two of three contests.
The Tigers' numbers are somewhat misleading since two of the three victories were against bad teams. Bentonville (3-0) whipped up on Conway, 42-0, in its season opener.
Conway likely won't make the playoffs in an inclusive postseason format in which 12 of 16 Class 7A teams qualify.
And the Tigers are fresh off a 54-0 trouncing of Class 5A Nettleton. While the Raiders, who went 2-8 last year and are about as bad this season, failed to muster much resistance, the Tigers still pummeled Fort Zumwalt (Mo.) West, 50-19 in Week 2. Fort Zumwalt West is an upper tier team in Missouri's highest classification.
Fayetteville (1-1-1) slid out of "My Point Exactly's Top 10" after relinquishing a 26-9 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter and settling for a 26-all tie against Russellville. WhileFayetteville is just three points away from a 3-0 start, they will be even further from a 2-1-1 record if they can't run the ball and fail to capitalize on prime opportunities.
Fayetteville rushed for a season-high 213 yards last week with help from quarterback Brandon Allen, who accumulated a career-high 124 yards on 14 carries against a Russellville defense geared specifically to stop the pass. Allen had yet to show that on film and theTigers will likely be ready for it this week.
As much as Fayetteville depends on Allen to move the chains, it might not be so wise to subject him to the Tigers' cast of headhunters, especially with so much season left to play.
Lose Allen and the Purple Dogs will likely stay home this post-season.
Fayetteville tailback Dylan Hale will have to find his stride against the Tigers for the Purple Dogs to have a chance.
Allen entered last season's tilt at Bentonville averaging 312 yards passing per outing. Bentonville held him to 11 of 29 passing with four interceptions and only 101 yards.
Hale needs to step up, hit the holes harder and find creases quicker to give the Purple Dogs' running game a jolt of productivity. Allen won't be able to run for over 100 yards against Bentonville without absorbing serious flack. Fayetteville will take what the defense gives but that likely won'tbe 10-yard scampers by Allen.
Prediction: Fayetteville's passing attack will test the Tigers' defense but in the end Bentonville is too sturdy ... Bentonville 42, Fayetteville 27.
Heath Allen is a sports writer for the Northwest Arkansas Times.
Sports, Pages 7, 8 on 09/23/2009