LITTLE ROCK — Last year, Fayetteville won a Class 7A state championship that left the entire state in shock.
This time around, the Bulldogs’ win was no fluke.
With a stingy defense and an all-state quarterback who mixed timely drives and help from a surprisingly strong running game, Fayetteville defeated Bentonville not by a small margin like in 2011, but in a more convincing 31-20 fashion Saturday.
That Figures
2 — Losses by Bentonville in the last two seasons, both against Fayetteville in the Class 7A state finals
32 — Wins for Fayetteville’s senior class, the most by a single class in school history
115 — Combined rushing yards allowed by Fayetteville defense in final two games against Alabama commit Altee Tenpenny and Bentonville tailback Tearris Wallace
7,983 — Attendance for Saturday’s Bentonville-Fayetteville state title game at War Memorial Stadium
The win gives the Bulldogs two consecutive 7A titles against the Tigers and puts Fayetteville — not Bentonville — at the top of the heap for now.
“There’s no doubt who the best team in the state is for the past two years,” Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said. “They beat us in 2010, but we’ve won the last two and we’ve shown that we’re the best football program in the state.”
Strong words, indeed, but Fayetteville has been able to back it up in the state finals the last two years.
“We came out and had a great game plan,” Patton said. “And I could not be prouder of the two-time defending state champion Fayetteville Bulldogs.”
Play of the Night: Fayetteville had just grabbed a 14-7 lead — its first lead of the game — with 6 minutes, 59 seconds left in the third quarter on an eight-play 72-yard drive. Then came an even bigger lead for the Bulldogs thanks to the defensive play of the night.
Junior cornerback Jordan Dennis read a pass in the flat by Bentonville quarterback Reese Dollins to perfection, jumping the attempt and intercepting the ball at the Tigers 42. As Bentonville tailback Tearris Wallace continued upfield on the pass route, Dennis was off to the races, 42 yards for a Fayetteville touchdown and a 21-7 lead with 6:42 left in the third quarter.
Injury Update: Fayetteville’s team health was a big concern early in the regular season. The Bulldogs played without several key starters — including safety Alex Brignoni and linebacker Brooks Ellis — in the first month of the season, and tailback Brice Gahagans missed four games because of hanstring and knee injuries.
But as the playoffs approached, Fayetteville was as healthy as it had been all season, making a big difference in the Purple’Dogs title run.
Players of the Game: Quarterback Austin Allen was named the game’s Most Vaulable Player, but Gahagans might have played just as important a role Saturday. Back at full strength, the senior tailback — who tied the school record for touchdowns in a career — finished with 87 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown to go along with his four catches for 37 yards.
Allen was 19-for-28 passing for 198 yards, throwing no touchdowns but more importantly throwing no interceptions. He also added 53 rushing yards on 10 carries as Fayetteville’s running attack of Allen and Gahagans was perhaps the biggest key for the Purple’Dogs’ offense.
Notable: Fayetteville senior kicker Ryan Starr had missed just one field goal attempt all season long before missing from 28 and 46 yards in the championship game. ... The Bulldogs are the first team to repeat as state champions in Class 7A. The last team to repeat at the state’s highest classification was Little Rock Central in 2003-04. ... In consecutive weeks, Fayetteville’s defense held Alabama commit Altee Tenpenny to 50 yards on 19 carries and record-breaking Bentonville tailback Tearris Wallace to 65 yards on 21 carries.
The Lingo: “To win this game against a great team, a nationally ranked team, is special. We started off slow this year, but we picked it up and now we’re back-to-back champs. First time in 7A history.”
— DARYL PATTON
Fayetteville coach
Up Next: The offseason and another year to play as defending state champs. Fayetteville will say goodbye to its most decorated senior class in school history, a class that finished 32-9 in three seasons with three trips to the state finals and two state championships. There will be plenty of questions at several areas on offense and defense with Allen, Brignoni, Ellis, Gahagans, Cole Harris, Starr and many others graduating.
But as back-to-back champs, Fayetteville has entered rare territory on the state’s highest classication. So no matter who is on the field, expect the expectations to remain high for the Purple Bulldogs.