Bentonville Slips Past Springdale High In Last-Minute Battle

 STAFF PHOTO JASON IVESTER Kyler Williams of Springdale tries to escape a Bentonville defender on Friday during the Southwest Elite 7-on-7 Showcase at Shiloh Christian School in Springdale.
STAFF PHOTO JASON IVESTER Kyler Williams of Springdale tries to escape a Bentonville defender on Friday during the Southwest Elite 7-on-7 Showcase at Shiloh Christian School in Springdale.

SPRINGDALE -- The best action between Springdale High and Bentonville was saved for the waning moments.

Tyrone Mahone hauled in a 40-yard pass for a score, and Derek Hembry broke up a conversion pass on Springdale's final play as Bentonville held on for a 26-25 victory during their pool play game Friday afternoon at the Southwest 7-on-7 Elite Showcase.

The teams combined for four touchdowns after play had resumed following a lengthy injury delay. Bentonville's Austin Bugos, who was projected to be the Tigers' starting tight end, went down to the Champions Field turf and eventually had to be carted off the field with about four minutes left to play.

"It would have been a lot better if we had started out like that," Bentonville offensive coordinator Aaron Danenhauer said. "We started a little slow, but it would have been better it we threw can catch the ball like we did at the end."

Bentonville, which went the entire pool play Friday without starting quarterback Kasey Ford and top receiver Cody Scroggins, appeared to be in control after on a short touchdown pass from Chase Hunter to Clay Barganier, who made several catches during the game. Springdale, however, put itself back in the contest with Fuller Chandler's 40-yard pass to Salvador Sandoval on the following play.

"What I like from our guys is the fact we seem to be getting better every day," Springdale coach Shane Patrick said. "We didn't start off real well this morning, but as the day went on, we seemed to be play a little bit better and a little bit better.

"I'm not pleased with the outcome because I'm never happy with a loss. But at the same time, I'm pleased that our players are getting better."

Bentonville then needed two plays before Mahone, normally a starting cornerback, broke behind a Red'Dog secondary that was missing three starters and hauled the Tigers' final touchdown pass for a 26-19 lead. Springdale then countered with another long pass from Chandler to Sandoval, this time putting the ball inside the 5-yard line.

The Red'Dogs then scored on the following play with a pass to sophomore Kyler Williams and pulled within one point. On the conversion play, Chandler went to his left and threw into the end zone, but Hembry was there and disrupted the play enough to cause an incomplete pass.

Barganier, one of several receiver candidates Bentonville has during the offseason, caught Danenhauer's eye with how well he caught the ball. He hauled in the Tigers' first touchdown pass after setting it up with a 29-yard corner route reception to the Springdale 1, and he also hauled in a conversion reception in the game.

"He's really done a great job of stepping up," Danenhauer said. "He may have found himself a spot. Only time well tell."

Sports on 07/12/2014

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