FAYETTEVILLE -- Come crunch time Friday, Bentonville took its game to another level.
Down three points with 4 minutes, 19 seconds left, the Tigers put together a go-ahead 8-play, 72-yard drive to leave Fayetteville just 1:11 left on the clock. Then it was the Bentonville defense's turn, intercepting two Taylor Powell passes on back-to-back plays -- returning one for another late score -- to secure a 37-26 win in the 7A-West Conference showdown at Harmon Stadium.
Bentonville 37, Fayetteville^26
Bentonville^0^14^3^20^—^37
Fayetteville^6^9^0^11^—^26
First Quarter
Fay — Armstrong 23 pass from Powell (pass failed), 5:59.
Second Quarter
Bent — Ford 1 run (Moehring kick), 9:42.
Fay — Powell 4 run (run failed), 6:11.
Bent — Nichols 2 run (Moehring kick), 2:28.
Fay — FG Fagg 36, :16.
Third Quarter
Bent — FG Moehring 19, 4:31.
Fourth Quarter
Fay — Banister 18 pass from Powell (Powell pass to Morris), 10:41.
Bent — Donson 5 run (kick failed), 7:25.
Fay — FG Fagg 22, 4:19.
Bent — Nichols 5 run (Moehring kick), 1:11.
Bent — Kneeshaw 26 interception return (Moehring kick), 1:04.
"I was pleased with both sides of the ball," Bentonville coach Jody Grant said. "Our offense moved the ball when we needed to and the defense came up with some big stops and some big turnovers there late in the game."
The win gives Bentonville (9-1, 6-1 7A-West) a No. 2 seed in the Class 7A playoffs and first-round bye. Fayetteville (8-2, 5-2) will be the No. 3 seed from the 7A-West and will host 7A-East No. 3 seed West Memphis next Friday.
"This was a rivalry game, that's what it was in my opinion," Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said. "It's a game you want to win for bragging rights, but the next one will be the big one."
"But we just have to get a lot better."
Both teams went back and forth for most of the night. Fayetteville relied on a passing game that featured Powell connecting with Tyson Morris for 10 receptions and 165 yards to keep the offense alive. Bentonville countered with a strong running attack led by Jacob Clark, who rushed 22 times for 94 yards, and David Nichols, who added 61 yards and two TDs on 11 carries.
"We thought we had a chance to have success running the football and wear their guys down as the game wore on," Grant said. "There were some times we had to make some adjustments, but I'm just for the most part pleased with our kids. They decided we were going to get that bye week and that's big for our kids because we need to rest and get some of our kids healthy."
Tigers' quarterback Kasey Ford rolled his ankle when sacked on the final play of the first half. But Ford played through the pain and finished 18 of 25 for 152 yards. Powell, who had thrown just three interceptions in the first nine games, went 25 of 38 for 293 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
"We got the ball back with 1:11 left and I thought we were going to go down and score," Patton said. "But they made a great play (on the interception). It wasn't a great play call and I take the blame for that.
"But overall, it was a great game between two great programs and we'll probably see each other again."
Following Nichols' 5-yard touchdown run with 1:11 left, Ryan Kneeshaw locked up the win for the Tigers when he perfectly read a Powell screen pass attempt on the very next play. Kneeshaw intercepted the pass and raced to the end zone, making the score 37-26 with 1:04 remaining.
"We prepped a little bit for that play and we had seen it enough," Grant said. "But I think our kid just kind of snuffed it out and made a great play.
"(Fayetteville) has some very talented players and they're going to have a lot of success over there and they continue on. But overall we're just pleased with the way our kids performed tonight."
Bentonville would add another interception when Powell heaved a long pass attempt on the following drive before going to a knee to run out the clock.
Sports on 11/07/2015