Big Play Defense Difference For Bulldogs

Jordan Dennis, Fayetteville wide receiver/cornerback, celebrates in the end zone after a 42-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Jordan Dennis, Fayetteville wide receiver/cornerback, celebrates in the end zone after a 42-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

— Jordan Dennis couldn’t believe what was about to happen. But the Fayetteville cornerback sure knew what to do once the play came his way.

Dennis had already made a big defensive play earlier in the season against Bentonville, returning an interception for a touchdown to help Fayetteville’s hopes in a regular season matchup with the Tigers. Saturday, it was almost like deja vu.

Except this time, Dennis’ big play — and others by the Bulldogs’ defense — helped lead Fayetteville to a 31-20 win against Bentonville in the Class 7A state finals Saturday at War Memorial Stadium.

“Oh my goodness, with all the adrenaline in me I don’t even remember the play,” Dennis said. “The safety checked the coverage and I came down for cover two. The guy ran the wrong route or something, I guess, and I just came up and got it.”

Dennis read Reese Dollins’ pass attempt to Tearris Wallace perfectly, broke on the play and raced 42 yards for a Fayetteville touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 21-7 lead and a big momentum lift with 6 minutes, 42 seconds left in the third quarter.

“Jordan Dennis is a heck of a football player,” Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said. “Somebody next year will be after him and they will get a good one. I think he’s the best cornerback in the state and I know I’m biased. But we put him on the best receivers week in and week out and he makes big plays week in and week out.

Dennis wasn’t alone. Fayetteville (10-3) held Wallace to just 65 yards on 21 carries, —with no gain of more than 11 yards. And with Wallace held in check for most of the night, the Bulldogs’ secondary knew it was just a matter of time before mistakes would be up for grabs.

Cole Harris found this out at just the right moment, intercepting a second Dollins pass late in the fourth quarter to seal Fayetteville’s win as Bentonville (12-1) faced a fourth-and-21 attempt while trailing 24-20.

Harris sprinted 34 yards on the interception for the Purple’Dogs second pick-six of the game, essentially ending Bentonville’s comeback chances and sealing up a second straight state title for Fayetteville.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am,” Fayetteville defensive coordinator Brian Early said. “Obviously facing a program that is 37-2 the last three years and to beat those guys twice is a big accomplishment.

“But it’s about the players coming up with plays. We met today and I showed them clips of us dominating Bentonville at points in the game last year. And it was nothing magical about the call. It was all about the players running the call. It’s all about those guys. They’re special and they find a way to make the plays.”

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