Perkins Catches On As Tigers’ Leading Receiver

Trey Perkins, Bentonville senior wide receiver, pulls in a long reception for a touchdown Nov. 2 against Fayetteville at Tiger Stadium in Bentonville.
Trey Perkins, Bentonville senior wide receiver, pulls in a long reception for a touchdown Nov. 2 against Fayetteville at Tiger Stadium in Bentonville.

— Trey Perkins stood all by himself as he waited for Garrett Kaufman’s halfback pass to arrive.

All Bentonville’s senior wide receiver had to do was catch the ball, and he could walk into the end zone. The wait, however, seemed like an eternity, and the ball just couldn’t get to Perkins fast enough.

PROFILE

Trey Perkins

SCHOOL: Bentonville

CLASS: Senior

HEIGHT: 5-11

WEIGHT: 170

NOTABLE: He’s the only Bentonville player to catch at least one pass in all 10 games this season. ... The Tigers’ leading receiver with 23 catches for 431 yards and five touchdowns. ... Caught two passes for 106 yards in Bentonville’s 24-17 victory over Fayetteville, including the go-ahead score on a halfback pass early in the fourth quarter.

“I thought the ball would never come down, to be honest,” Perkins said. “I was far enough behind the safety that once the ball did come down, he wasn’t a factor.

“I could see him out of my peripheral vision. Right at the last second, I caught the ball, and I could see him closing in.”

The early fourth-quarter touchdown reception gave Bentonville the lead for good in its 24-17 victory over Fayetteville. The win helped the Tigers (10-0) secure their sixth consecutive conference title and a first-round bye in the Class 7A state playoffs.

It all took place because Perkins — who is labeled a “technician” by Bentonville football coach Barry Lunney — did everything he was supposed to do to make the play work.

“The wide receiver’s assignment — during that week, especially — was to block the safety,” Lunney said. “He cracked right at the safety like he was going to block him, then he bypassed him and went to the corner.

“He was so wide open because the safeties were keying our linemen and the flow of our backfield. It happened just like we drew it up and hoped it would happen.”

Perkins (5-foot-11, 170 pounds) finished that game with only two pass receptions, but they totaled 106 yards and two touchdowns. Both of them couldn’t have come at a better time.

Fayetteville had taken a 17-7 lead in the third quarter when Perkins ran his favorite routes. His used a double move to get open, then Reese Dollins hit him with a 68-yard touchdown pass to put Bentonville back in the game.

“The first one is probably more memorable,” Perkins said. “Reese and I always connect on that stutter route.

“(Fayetteville defensive back) Jordan Dennis had actually grabbed my jersey, and I had to knock him off. Luckily, the ball wasn’t too far in front of me. Reese threw a great ball, and it was right there for me to take it to the house.”

Perkins enters tonight’s home playoff game against West Memphis as Bentonville’s leading receiver with 23 catches for 431 yards and five touchdowns. His biggest game in receptions was against Van Buren, when he snagged four passes for 58 yards and a touchdown.

He may not be the fastest receiver around, but his ability to run precision routes is what catches Lunney’s eyes the most about his senior receiver.

“Trey has good speed, but not great speed,” Lunney said. “He’s an excellent fundamental player. He runs routes very well, and he’s able to get separation from defensive backs that might be faster than him.

“It’s not all about being fast. It’s about how you run routes. Every game, he finds a way to get open because he’s learned how to run routes, and I hope our younger receivers will take notice.”

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