BROKEN ARROW, Okla. -- Bentonville's football team had more than its share of accolades and praise heaped upon it before the season began.
Two weeks into the regular season, the Tigers have been dealt a harsh case of reality. Bentonville struggled, particularly on offense, throughout Friday's game and suffered a 34-0 loss to Broken Arrow, marking the first time the Tigers (0-2) had been shut out since a 34-0 loss at Russellville in 2004.
THAT FIGURES
2 — Bentonville fumbles that have been returned for touchdowns this season
4 — Consecutive Bentonville losses to out-of-state opponents
2004 — Last time Bentonville was shut out on the field before Friday’s loss
Bentonville's closest scoring threat came with under 5 minutes remaining, where it had moved the ball to the Broken Arrow 4. Kasey Ford appeared to have a first-down on a fourth-and-1 play from the 4 before the ball was stripped away, then Broken Arrow defensive lineman Eric Clark ran 97 yards untouched for a touchdown, capping the host Tigers' scoring.
"They just whipped us," Bentonville coach Barry Lunney said of Broken Arrow. "They're just a better football team than we are right now.
"I don't think it was a lack of effort. We're just not getting in sync, and they're making plays. We had a play called, and they would have a better play called defensively. We had our defense on the field way too long."
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Broken Arrow tailback Jamall Shaw started the game with a 35-yard run into Bentonville and kept on running. The junior tailback finished the game with 27 carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns.
PLAY OF THE NIGHT: Ford escaped a potential quarterback sack and appeared to make something out of nothing with a throw downfield. The pass, however, was tipped and intercepted by strong safety Jacob Fruechting, then Broken Arrow scored three plays later for a 21-0 lead late in the first half.
INJURY UPDATE: No serious injuries reported.
NOTABLE: This is the first time Bentonville had an 0-2 start to a season since the Tigers opened the 2003 season with losses by Jefferson City, Mo., and Webb City, Mo. (Bentonville wound up with an 0-2 start in 2005 because it had to forfeit a win over Huntsville). ... Ford had his worst passing performance since he became Bentonville's starting quarterback, connecting on only 6 of 19 passes for 51 yards. ... Kahlil Gunn came off the bench to be the Tigers' leading rusher with 66 yards on 13 carries.
UP NEXT: Bentonville will close out the nonconference portion of its schedule Friday when the Tigers host Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic. Bergen Catholic (1-1) dropped a 49-20 decision to instate rival St. Peter's Prep in a game that was televised Thursday on ESPNU.
Sports on 09/14/2014