Wade’s Kick Boosts Tigers

BENTONVILLE POURS IT ON LATE IN WIN

Tearris Wallace, Bentonville running back, breaks away Friday for a big gain during the third quarter of the Tigers’ season opener against Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst at Tiger Stadium in Bentonville.
Tearris Wallace, Bentonville running back, breaks away Friday for a big gain during the third quarter of the Tigers’ season opener against Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst at Tiger Stadium in Bentonville.

— Dillon Wade had been in this position before. In fact, it was just seven days ago when he had to make a field goal, and do it on the road.

This 39-yard kick was a little different, though.

Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst could send the players to block Wade’s attempt, but that didn’t bother the Bentonville senior, who split the uprights almost perfectly with room to spare with 5 minutes, 20 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Wade’s kick put the Tigers ahead to stay, and Bentonville added a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns and opened the season with a 24-7 victory over Hawklets in Tiger Stadium.

“That was a real meaningful kick right there, and I was glad I could make it,” Wade said. “I was a lot more calm this week. I’m in my element, and I kick here every day. I can do that every day in practice, so it’s just another day to go out there.”

Bentonville (1-0) felt the need to regain momentum as quickly as possible after Rockhurst (1-1) tied the score at 7-7 on Ahmad Tyler’s 1-yard quarterback sneak with 8:16 remaining.

Gamebreaker

Bentonville 24 Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst 7

Why The Tigers won

Rockhurst coach Tony Severino credited Bentonville tailback Tearris Wallace for wearing down the Hawklets’ defense. Wallace finished with 24 carries for 170 yards, capped with a breakaway 61-yard run for Bentonville’s final touchdown.

Why The Hawklet lost

Rockhurst never had a big play develop on offense and threw three interceptions, with Garrett Kaufman returning the first one 40 yards for a touchdown and Bentonville’s first score.

Tearris Wallace broke a 22-yard run on the Tigers’ first offensive play and put the ball in Hawklet territory, then Reece Dollins hit Trey Perkins with a 37-yard pass on the next play to the Rockhurst 11.

Wade was called on four plays later to kick the go-ahead field goal. The distance became a little longer after Dollins was sacked for a 13-yard loss on the play before, but that eventually didn’t matter.

“The thing is there is no substitute for experience,” Bentonville coach Barry Lunney said. “There’s never any substitute for a young man being in some type of stressful position, and to take from that and build on it the next time it happens.

“Him kicking last week did wonders for his confidence and everybody else. I think it helped, no doubt about it. If that had been his first time to kick in front of a live crowd, it could have been a different deal.”

Bentonville’s defense made sure that stood as Rockhurst didn’t threat to score again until the final minute. Nate Gneiting and Austin Haggard each intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter to go with the one Garrett Kaufman picked off and returned 40 yards for the Tigers’ first score in the opening quarter.

Gneiting also increased Bentonville’s lead with his 18-yard touchdown reception on the second play of the fourth quarter. Wallace, who finished with 24 carries for 170 yards, then capped the scoring when he broke away from Hawklets defenders and raced 61 yards for a score with 1:19 left.

“That back just finally wore us out,” Rockhurst coach Tony Severino said. “They had somebody that just wore us out. We’re playing a lot of young kids, and Bentonville has an excellent football team. I hope we don’t see another defense like that.”

Bentonville returns to action next week with another nonconference game at Broken Arrow, Okla.

BENTONVILLE 27, KANSAS CITY (MO.) ROCKHURST 7

Rockhurst 0 0 7 0 — 7

Bentonville 7 0 3 14 — 24

First quarter

Bent — Kaufman 40 interception return (Wade kick), 6:02

Third quarter

Rock — Tyler 1 run (Bins kick), 8:16

Bent — FG Wade 39, 5:20

Fourth quarter

Bent — Gneiting 19 pass from Dollins (Wade kick), 11:49

Bent — Wallace 61 run (Wade kick), 1:19

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