Football: Bentonville Can't Make Most Of Opportunities

STAFF PHOTO BEN GOFF • @NWABenGoff Kasey Ford, Bentonville quarterback, looks for an open receiver Friday against Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) at Tiger Stadium in Bentonville.
STAFF PHOTO BEN GOFF • @NWABenGoff Kasey Ford, Bentonville quarterback, looks for an open receiver Friday against Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) at Tiger Stadium in Bentonville.

By Henry Apple

[email protected] • @NWAHenry

That Figures

3 — Bentonville turnovers that have been turned into touchdowns

5 — Consecutive Bentonville losses against out-of-state competition

15 — Combined pass receptions by Tigers receivers Cody Scroggins and Ben Barron

BENTONVILLE -- The opportunities were there for Bentonville's football team to right the ship and earn their first win of the season Friday night.

The Tigers had some breaks go their way, but they couldn't make the most of them. As a result, Bentonville has its first three-game losing skid since 2005 and their first 0-3 start since 2003 after its 21-10 loss to Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic at Tiger Stadium.

"There comes a point in time where we've got to be able to capitalize on those things," Bentonville coach Barry Lunney said. "We had plenty of opportunities."

Bentonville did produce a 40-yard field goal by Bennett Moehring after Bergen Catholic (2-1) had a high snap and a 19-yard loss on a fourth-down play. The Tigers, however, earned nothing out of their onside kick following the field goal, and they failed to score after Derek Hembry's two interceptions gave them decent field position.

The one missed opportunity that hurt the most came after sophomore Jacob Clark recovered a muffed punt at the Crusaders 5 and gave Bentonville a first-and-goal opportunity. On the ensuing play Kasey Ford's pass intended for Hekili Keliiliki was picked off by defensive lineman Frank Feaster, who rumbled 95 yards for a touchdown and gave Bergen Catholic a 7-3 lead.

"That's a 14-point swing right there," Lunney said. "We had a guy that was wide open, and their guy made a nice play. We just have to get the ball up and over him a little bit.

"That was big right there. If we could punch it in there, it gives us a little bit more confidence offensively and get us on top in a hurry. Those are big plays that we have to learn to make."

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Feaster not only had his big interception, but he helped a Bergen Catholic defense that held Bentonville to under 200 yards total offense. Feaster recorded one quarterback sack.

PLAY OF THE NIGHT: Bergen Catholic's late gamble paid off, but not the way the Crusaders planned it. Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano hit Emmanuel Appiah with a fourth-down pass, but Tyrone Mahone hit Appiah and forced a fumble near the goal line. However, Corey Gaarn scooped the ball in the end zone for a touchdown, giving the Crusaders a 21-10 lead with 17 seconds before halftime.

INJURY UPDATE: No serious injuries reported.

NOTABLE: Ford threw a career-high 37 passes and completed 21 for 169 yards. ... Bentonville's ground game was limited to just 30 yards on 28 carries. ... The Tigers' defense forced three turnovers after it failed to produce a turnover in its first two games. ... Bergen Catholic continued to have trouble with high snaps as Guarantano had to leap to catch a number of them, even though the Crusaders changed centers this week.

UP NEXT: Bentonville begins 7A-West Conference play Friday night with a trip to Fort Smith Southside, which returns to the league after a two-year hiatus. It is the first home game for the Rebels, who improved to 2-1 with a 42-14 victory at Lake Hamilton.

Sports on 09/21/2014

Upcoming Events