BENTONVILLE — Barry Lunney closed out his postgame speech to Bentonville’s football team Friday night with a subject he labeled “competitive greatness.”
That Figures
5 — Bentonville victories over Heritage in as many meetings
8 — Different Bentonville players to catch a pass
12 — Touchdowns by Tearris Wallace in 7A/6A-West Conference play
“In the last few weeks, I’ve shifted a little bit,” he said after the Tigers’ 48-7 victory against Rogers Heritage in Tiger Stadium. “Everybody wants to win, but let’s talk about how to compete at a level — every down — where we can look at ourselves on Saturday morning individually and say that I competed every down, regardless of what the score was.
“So we’re talking about that — about being a great competitor. It takes a lot of focus and preparation to get it, and we’re getting better.”
Bentonville (7-0, 4-0 7A/6A-West Conference) was more than competitive from the outset during its homecoming game. The Tigers scored on their first six possessions en route to a 41-0 halftime lead, and they closed out the first 24 minutes with the ball at the War Eagles 1.
Tearris Wallace didn’t play after his third touchdown run, which gave Bentonville a 35-0 lead early in the second quarter and put the senior tailback past the 1,000-yard mark this season. Reese Dollins completed 11 of 13 passes for 166 yards and two scores — all in the first quarter — and Bentonville’s defense held Heritage to just 65 yards total offense in the first half.
Play of the Night: Wallace broke away from a Heritage defender in the middle of the field, then made his way to the right sideline for a 49-yard touchdown run. It was Wallace’s second score in less than three minutes and gave Bentonville a fast 14-0 lead.
Injury Update: No serious injuries reported.
Player of the Game: Wallace touched the ball only nine times but finished with 111 yards and three touchdowns. He now has 1,010 yards and 17 touchdowns through seven games.
Notable: Lunney and Heritage coach Perry Escalante mutually agreed to have a continuous running clock throughout the second half, meaning the time didn’t even stop after touchdowns by Heritage’s Brandon Gates and Bentonville’s Hekili Keliiliki. ... Bentonville players other than Dollins were 0 for 3 in pass attempts this season until reserve quarterback Jake Slocum completed two passes for 14 yards. ... Sophomore Dylan Smith carried the ball 12 straight times, capped by a 4-yard touchdown run, for Bentonville’s final first-half score.
The Lingo: “Obviously, we weren’t thinking about it. Once we got the game in control, we certainly want to give him an opportunity to get 1,000. That’s a great milestone for anybody, and in this league, it’s pretty special. It was a good first half for him.”
— Barry Lunney
Bentonville coach on tailback Tearris Wallace reaching 1,000 yards rushing this season.
Up Next: Bentonville heads south to play conference returnee Van Buren for the first time since 2007. The Pointers (1-6, 0-4) just missed out on their first conference win last night when a failed two-point conversion allowed Springdale High to escape with a 41-40 victory.