Bulldogs defense picky, picky

— Jordan Dennis entered War Memorial Stadium on Saturday night as Fayetteville’s most reliable receiver.

The junior had caught 61 passes for 974 yards over the course of the Bulldogs’ first 12 games, but he didn’t make much of an impact on offense in Fayetteville’s 31-20 victory over Bentonville in the Class 7A state championship game as he was held to two catches for 26 yards.

Dennis made his impact on defense Saturday night, thanks to one play in the third quarter.

Fayetteville was clinging to a 14-7 lead when Bentonville’s Reece Dollins tried to throw a pass to running back Tearris Wallace in the flat. Dennis, responding to a safety’s check before the snap and moving up for tighter coverage from his cornerback spot, recognized the play, jumped the route and returned the interception 42 yards for a touchdown to put the Bulldogs ahead 21-7.

“The running back ran the wrong route ... and there was nobody there,” Dennis said. “It pumped us up.”

Fayetteville Coach Daryl Patton wasn’t surprised by the big play.

“I think he’s the best cornerback in the state,” Patton said. “I may be biased, but we put him on the best receiver week in and week out and he makes plays week in and week out.”

Bentonville Coach Barry Lunney said Dollins checked into a different play because he recognized Fayetteville’s linebacker blitz, but Fayetteville’s defensive check made up for Dollins’ adjustment.

“That’s what happens in big games,” Lunney said. “That wasn’t a good play for what they were running defensively, but they shifted into it a little bit late.”

And, just like that, the deficit ballooned from one touchdown to two and took the air out of the Tigers.

On a defense consisting of more recognizable names such as linebacker Brooks Ellis and safety Alex Brignoni, both of whom have orally committed to Arkansas, it was a slew of lesser-known defensive backs who came up with the biggest plays to seal Fayetteville’s second consecutive state championship.

In addition to Dennis’ interception return, senior safety Heath McCracken had a team-high nine tackles and broke up a pass and senior cornerback Cole Harris’ 34-yard interception return for a touchdown with 1:56 left sealed the Bulldogs’ third state title.

“They weren’t all huge plays,” Harris said, “but everyone played a part in it.”

Harris’ interception came on a fourth-and-20 play from the Tigers’ 10. Dollins’ pass was intended for Jimmie Jackson, but Harris intercepted it and coasted into the end zone, never thinking about taking a knee so Fayetteville could run out the final two minutes of the clock.

“They’re both receivers,” Patton said of Dennis and Harris. “After they catch it, they know where to find the end zone.”

Sports, Pages 31 on 12/02/2012

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