FORT SMITH -- Seth Acosta has become the latest defensive player to pour salt to Bentonville's winless wounds.
Fort Smith Southside's senior linebacker intercepted a Kasey Ford screen pass on the third play of the second half and raced 27 yards for a touchdown. It gave the Rebels a 10-0 lead, and it was enough as Southside posted a 10-7 victory in the 7A-West Conference football opener for both teams at Jim Rowland Stadium.
How They Scored
Bentonville^0^0^0^7^—^7
FS Southside^0^3^7^0^—^10
Second Quarter
South — FG Chavez 23, 3:29
Third Quarter
South — Acosta 27 interception return (Chavez kick), 10:14
Fourth Quarter
Bent — Mahone 15 pass from Ford (Moehring kick), 9:09
It marked the fourth time in as many games that Bentonville (0-4, 0-1) has not only committed a turnover, but the opposing team went on to score on that play. The loss gives the Tigers their first four-game losing skid since the end of the 2005 season and ends their 33-game win streak in conference play.
"We haven't become our worst enemy. We are our worst enemy," coach Barry Lunney said. "That's an all-time record, I think, for me. I've been coaching a long time and never seen anything like this.
"The defense played well again, didn't give up an offensive score. We had a screen call and threw it to the bad guys. You can't do that. We've had four touchdowns scored on us defensively, and two of them have beaten us."
Southside (3-1, 1-0) led 3-0 at halftime, thanks to Kaleb Chaires' interception of a Ford pass at the Rebels 5 in the closing seconds of the first half. Bentonville had the ball in the second half, but early disaster struck as the Tigers faced third-and-8 from their 27.
Ford tried to attempt a screen pass as he was under pressure, but the ball went into traffic and wound up in the hands of Acosta. He had nothing between him and the end zone, and Miguel Chavez added the PAT to give Southside a 10-0 lead with 10 minutes, 14 seconds left in the third quarter.
"He was in a position to make the play, and he made it," Southside coach Jeff Williams said.
"It was a great football game. I think it was a typical 7A-West game. We came out without several of our key guys and played with a lot of heart."
Extra Points
• Bentonville came back with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Ford to Tyrone Mahone with 9:09 remaining in the fourth quarter and had the ball on its 49 following a punt with 5:30 remaining. The Tigers, however, had only 2 yards on their last nine offensive plays.
• Chavez gave Southside the early lead with a 23-yard field goal with 3:29 before halftime. The Rebels had the ball with the nose of the ball near the goal line before a penalty pushed them back.
• The Tigers appeared to have a touchdown before the first touchdown when Ford went deep to Derek Hembry. Southside defensive back Jordan Racy, however, prevented the score when he hit Hembry and forced the ball loose for an incomplete pass.
Up Next: Bentonville returns to Tiger Stadium to celebrate homecoming against Fort Smith Northside, which opened conference play with a 27-27 victory at Fayetteville. Southside remains home next week to play Fayetteville.
Sports on 09/27/2014