BENTONVILLE -- Everything was laid out for Javier Carbonell to have a senior season to remember.
He was expected to be a leader on Bentonville's defensive line, as well as serve an expanded role on the offense as a tight end or an H-back. He had drawn interest from a number of colleges including Tulsa, Memphis, Northern Illinois, Utah State, Louisiana-Monroe and Arkansas State, which he gave a verbal commitment to during the summer.
Class 7A State Quarterfinals
Bryant at Bentonville
Tiger Stadium
• Kickoff: 7 p.m.
• Records: Bryant 9-1-1; Bentonville 6-4
• On The Air: KAKS-FM 99.5 and online at www.bentonvillehssp….
• Between The Lines: This is the third time in seven seasons that these two teams have met in the quarterfinals. Bentonville won the previous two meetings, also played in Tiger Stadium — 34-14 in 2008 and 38-7 in 2010. … The two teams have only one common opponent — Springdale Har-Ber. Bentonville defeated Har-Ber 45-13 in a Week 7, while Bryant edged the Wildcats, 28-27, in last week’s playoff game. … Bryant QB Brandan Warner has thrown for 1,415 yards and seven touchdowns, including 338 yards and two scores in last week’s game against Har-Ber. … The Hornets have spread out a majority of their rushing yards between RBs Kylon Boyle (102 carries, 643 yards 10 TDs), and Sevante Turner (93 carries, 557 yards, 6 TDs) and Warner (108 carries, 526 yards, 7 TDs). … Bentonville RB Dylan Smith needs 172 yards to reach 1,000. … Bentonville WR Cody Scroggins needs five receptions to tie and six to break Desmond Smith as the school’s all-time leading receiver. … The Tigers’ first-team defense has not allowed a touchdown since the second quarter of the Har-Ber game, a span of 14 quarters.
• Players To Watch: Bryant — QB Brandan Warner (Sr., 5-11, 190); RB Kylon Boyle (Sr., 6-0, 180); WR Evan Lee (Jr., 6-1, 175); OT Cameron Davis (Sr., 6-4, 280); DB Drew Tipton (Sr., 5-9, 155). Bentonville — RB Dylan Smith (Sr., 6-0, 200), QB Kasey Ford (Jr., 6-5, 242), WR Cody Scroggins (Sr., 6-0, 175), LB Harrison Rooney (Sr., 6-1, 200), WR/CB Tyrone Mahone (Jr., 6-0, 170).
• Hooten’s Rankings: Bryant is No. 7 in Class 7A. Bentonville is No. 1.
• Hooten’s Line: Bentonville by 28.
• Our Pick: Bentonville 35, Bryant 17.
— HENRY APPLE • @NWAHenry
Instead, Carbonell suffered a preseason injury that left him out for the season, and he's had to endure the additional pain of having to watch each game from the Tigers' sidelines. While his Bentonville teammates hit the field to begin practice after a weight session Wednesday afternoon, he stayed behind to finish a therapy session.
"It completely tears me apart, to be totally honest," Carbonell said. "But like the coaches have told me: I was a leader on the field, but now I have to be in a different role. I have to be a leader off the field and be around the teammates, encourage them and even coach them up a little bit.
"As hard as it's been, I still enjoy watching guys make plays out there. It stinks, but it's all right. It's a lot better now since we've been winning. Those first four games were just awful, really rough to watch. Ever since we got it together, it's been a lot better for me."
The injury came during an preseason practice. Carbonell had lined up on offense as a tight end and had caught a pass when he and a teammate became tangled up, and the only thing Carbonell could do at the time was stick out his left arm to brace himself for the fall.
He knew he was hurt the moment he hit the ground, but his initial thought was just a dislocated shoulder -- something he has experienced in the past -- and he would return to workouts in three weeks. Instead it was a fracture, which required surgery and eventually knocked him out for the season.
"The first feeling you get is you feel sick in your stomach for a young man who has worked so hard and done everything he's supposed to do and beyond," Bentonville coach Barry Lunney said. "I feel confident to say that, even though Arkansas State is a quality, quality scholarship, the type of year he was positioned for, the interest in him was going to increase as the season progressed.
"You see the utter disappointment in the young man's face, and it's one of the hardest parts about athletics. You see a kid that gets hurt and loses an entire season. With him, there's no tomorrow with us. Then we have to turn our focus on the team and wonder what we're going to do without him."
He is ahead of schedule with his therapy, which he does four times a week. He is scheduled to be medically cleared in late December or early January, but he is constantly trying to persuade Lunney to use him in some fashion if Bentonville happens to reach the Class 7A State Championship in early December.
Meanwhile, all is not lost when it comes to Carbonell's future in football, even though a majority of the interest shown in him during the preseason dropped once those college coaches heard about his injury. Arkansas State immediately told Lunney that Carbonell's scholarship offer still stands, and Red Wolves coaches have remained in contact with Carbonell throughout the season.
"When I heard that, I knew I had made the right decision," Carbonell said. "They were serious, and when I committed to their team, I became part of their family. They treat me like family.
"The injury, I felt like it was a sign from God saying that I truly belong at Arkansas State, and I made the right decision to commit to the school. I'm excited to go over there during the summer and work out with those guys -- my family."
Sports on 11/21/2014