FAYETTEVILLE — Before hitting the field Friday, Fayetteville was already shorthanded as the injuries from the week before were starting to pile up.
Senior Jordan Dennis missed the game at Musgokee, Okla., with concussion symptons, tight end C.J. O’Grady was limited to a part-time role in Friday’s game after being banged up in practice during the week and quarterback Mitch Marshall has been held out of some practices leading up to the game.
“We didn’t have a good week of practice, but we didn’t have a lot of our guys out there who were held out,” Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said. “So that hurt, and then tonight we have Carson Baker get hurt and Brayden Cook gets hurt on his last play.
“So it’s not a good time to have a lot of injuries, going into conference play.”
Play of the Night: O’Grady had the catch of last week’s win to help preserve Fayetteville’s win against Jefferson City. Friday, the junior came up with the catch of the year, hauling in a high-leaping, one-handed grab for a 20-yard reception to set up the Bulldogs with an easy score just before halftime.
Player of the Game: Cook rushed for 140 yards on 28 carries and was almost literally carrying the Fayetteville offense on his back at times. He scored on a 1-yard TD run with 42.2 seconds left before half for a 17-0 Bulldogs lead, then helped Fayetteville preserve the win with a big 40-yard second-half run, before leaving the game late in the fourth quarter with an injury.
Injury Update: Dennis may return next week.
Notable: Cook has rushed for more than 100 yards in all three games for the Bulldogs. … Fayetteville is 3-0 for the first time since 2011.
Up Next: The Bulldogs open 7A/6A-West Conference play with a trip to Pointer Stadium to face Van Buren. Fayetteville defeated Van Buren, 27-13, at Harmon Stadium, last year.
That Figures:
132^Fayetteville rushing yards against Muskogee.
133^Fayetteville passing yards against Muskogee.
390^Total rushing yards for Brayden Cook through first three games.