Commentary

Patton Proves Best At Big Games

Austin Allen, Fayetteville quarterback, looks downfield for an open receiver Saturday in the third quarter of the game against Bentonville at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock for the Class 7A football state championship.
Austin Allen, Fayetteville quarterback, looks downfield for an open receiver Saturday in the third quarter of the game against Bentonville at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock for the Class 7A football state championship.

— Daryl Patton sat in his office early last week, reminiscing about two of the bigger football games in his coaching career. He lost one of them in 2010, then won the rematch a year later.

So, was there a part of him that secretly hoped he’d face a team other than Bentonville for a third straight year in the Class 7A State Championship Game? He insisted no.

“I’m a competitor. I like to play in big games. I like to coach in big games,” Patton said. “And I’ve lost numerous big games.”

However, in the past two years, Patton has quickly established himself as the best big-game coach in Class 7A. This shouldn’t even be up for debate.

Sure, the Fayetteville coach is bound to drop a few games during the regular season that cost the Bulldogs a chance to win the 7A/6A-West Conference championship. But as soon as the playoffs roll around and the stakes intensify, Patton finds a way to win — even when picked as the underdog.

This was proven true again Saturday night when, for the second time in as many years, Fayetteville spoiled Bentonville’s chance at capping a perfect season with a state championship.

In earning a 31-20 win at War Memorial Stadium, Patton took a 2-0 lead over Bentonville coach Barry Lunney in big games in the past two years. Regular-season showdowns don’t matter at the end of the day when Fayetteville is hoisting another state championship trophy.

Patton made the defensive adjustments needed to limit Bentonville running back Tearris Wallace and stop a Tigers offense that had seemingly mercy-ruled opponents on a weekly basis. He put Fayetteville quarterback Austin Allen in position to make plays with his arm and surprisingly with his legs, too.

In doing so, Patton became the first coach in 7A history to win back-to-back state championships and only the second coach to earn three titles in six years. Pine Bluff’s Marion Glover also did it in the early 1990s.

Of course, having the Allen brothers under center always helps.

Only a few years ago, there wasn’t much doubt Lunney was the best big-game coach in Arkansas’ largest classification. He had won so many titles and earned so many victories, and he capped his first perfect season in 2010 after leading Bentonville to a state championship over Fayetteville.

But that was two years ago.

Since then, Patton has turned Fayetteville into the New York Giants. It doesn’t matter how many games the Bulldogs lose during the regular season; they always seem to be dumping Gatorade once December comes around.

A year ago, Fayetteville was considered a heavy underdog against Bentonville. But it didn’t matter as Allen threw rockets and Patton made enough gutsy calls to lead the Bulldogs to a 29-28 overtime win in the 2011 state championship game.

This year’s game was no different. Bentonville was 12-0, nationally ranked and seemingly unstoppable as it rolled through the regular season and playoffs. However, give Patton a week in the postseason to study film, draw up plays and prepare for the Tigers, and he gets the job done.

Fayetteville jumped out to a 21-7 lead on Bentonville midway through the second quarter, and when Bentonville attempted to snatch back the momentum, Patton applied the pressure. His defense came through with a pair of interception returns for touchdowns. His offense was methodical, driving downfield and taking time off the clock.

In the end, there wasn’t much Lunney could do. This is by no means a knock on him as a coach. He proved his worth in the state a long time ago. But Patton has quickly vaulted up into the same category, going from Bryant to Fayetteville and now the top of the coaching list in the state.

Bentonville is 37-2 over the past three seasons. Their two losses are to Fayetteville in the past two state championship games.

Now that’s big time.

Alex Abrams is assistant sports editor for NWA Media.

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