No Trouble Tussle

Tigers Make Short Work Of Panthers

Dylan Smith, Bentonville running back, carries the ball Friday for a first down in the second quarter against Siloam Springs at Tiger Stadium in Bentonville.
Dylan Smith, Bentonville running back, carries the ball Friday for a first down in the second quarter against Siloam Springs at Tiger Stadium in Bentonville.

Bentonville turned the short field — or no field at all — into a short night of work for its varsity players Friday night.

That Figures

7 — straight victories by Bentonville over Siloam Springs

21 — consecutive conference victories for Bentonville

51 — career rushing touchdowns for tailback Tearris Wallace

The Tigers took advantage of their good field position and special teams play throughout the first half, resulting in a 56-0 victory against Siloam Springs during 7A/6A-West Conference play in Tiger Stadium.

Bentonville (5-0, 2-0) scored on five of its six first-half possessions while building a 42-0 halftime cushion, and it didn’t have to go far to do so. The Tigers’ first two drives began in Siloam Springs territory, and their worst field possession in the first half was their 36.

“It was a good start,” said Barry Lunney, Bentonville coach. “The defense plays well, you force a punt and you get good field position.

“You put your offense in a sport where it doesn’t feel backed up. You can be a little more selective in your play calling and a little more aggressive. We got off to a great start, to say the least.”

Bentonville’s special teams played a role in good field position, particularly in the first quarter. Gavin Shadrick slipped past the line and partially blocked a Siloam Springs punt attempt, and Austin Haggard returned a punt 55 yards for the Tigers’ third touchdown.

Play of the Night: Bentonviille hasn’t had many chances to return punts this season because of the rugby-style kicks teams have adopted and punts that have gone out of bounds. Haggard made the most of this opportunity as he took the ball in the middle of the field and raced to his right, then picked up key blocks for the score.

Injury Update: No serious injuries reported.

Player of the Game: Tearris Wallace had his lightest workload of the season and still finished with four touchdown runs. The senior tailback finished with 97 yards on only 11 carries and became the conference’s all-time leading rusher with 3,600 career yards, surpassing the 3,570 set by Fort Smith Southside’s Daniel McGee from 2006-08.

Notable: Wallace has scored four touchdowns in two of his last three games and 10 total during that span, and he had another nullified because of a penalty ... Interceptions by Shadrick and Jordan White, who returned his 89 yards for Bentonville’s last touchdown, gives the Tigers’ defense 13 through five games. ... Sophomore Dylan Smith picked up his first career touchdown with a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter.

The Lingo: “We felt like we had a chance to either rush the punter and maybe get him out of his rhythm or block it. He got a piece of it and gave us good field position.”

— Barry Lunney

Bentonville coach, on Gavin Shadrick’s blocked punt

Up Next: It’s a battle of unbeatens as Bentonville travels to Rogers High to face the Mounties in a key 7A/6A-West showdown.

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