SPRINGDALE — Jimmy Short has seen the play so many times in practice that his reaction became nothing more than second nature Friday night.
All Bentonville’s senior outside linebacker had to do was step in front of the intended receiver near the Springdale Har-Ber sideline, and the pass was waiting for him. He grabbed the ball and ran 32 yards to the end zone.
A penalty negated the score, but Bentonville retained possession. Two plays later, Reece Dollins hit Nate Gneiting with a 21-yard touchdown pass, and Bentonville was on its way to a 28-7 victory over Har-Ber in the 7A/6AWest Conference opener for both teams in Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium.
“I was in the right spot and took advantage of it,” Short said. “The score may have been called back, but that’s all right.”
The interception, Short’s second of the season, was one of two for Bentonville’s defense, which took charge after Har-Ber quarterback Kyle Pianalto scored on a 53-yard run on the game’s fifth play.The Wildcats (1-3, 0-1) were held to 137 yards total offense, with 73 of those coming on the opening drive.
Tearris Wallace finished with 28 carries for 130 yards for Bentonville.
ROGERS 47, SPRINGDALE 42
ROGERS - Rogers linebacker Zach Jones stopped Springdale’s Deandre Murray for a 4-yard loss on fourth down then batted down a fourth-down pass to seal the game and help Rogers improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2006.
Murray had 271 yards rushing with five touchdowns for Springdale (2-2, 0-1). Preston Young had 129 yards on 18 carries, Ty Galyean had 101 yards on six carries.
ROGERS HERITAGE 70, SILOAM SPRINGS 21
SILOAM SPRINGS - Forrest Johnson caught 5 passes for 232 yards and 3 touchdowns and Rogers Heritage blew out Siloam Springs (1-3, 0-1) in its first 7A/6A-West Conference game.
The War Eagles (4-0, 1-0) finished with 608 yards when Josh Qualls threw five touchdown passes to help them to a 49-14 halftime lead. Qualls completed 11 of 20 passes for 327 yards.
Brandon Gates rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns for the War Eagles.
FAYETTEVILLE 27, VAN BUREN 13
FAYETTEVILLE - Van Buren stayed with Fayetteville for a half in the Pointers’ first game in the 7A/6A-West since 2007, but the Bulldogs finally pulled away.
Quarterback Jacob Eason rushed for 119 yards and 2 touchdowns on 27 carries for the Pointers (1-3, 0-1).
Fayetteville (2-2, 1-0) came away with two interceptions on Van Buren’s first two possessions and never trailed.
Sports, Pages 26 on 09/22/2012