FORT SMITH -- Taylor Powell scrambled out of the pocket for one final heave toward the end zone just before the first half clock expired.
The Fayetteville junior quarterback eluded the Fort Smith Northside defense just in time. Much to the surprise of the Grizzlies, the pass was laid perfectly into the hands of receiver Tyson Morris for a stunning last-second Bulldogs touchdown.
Fayetteville^46
Fort Smith Northside^19
Fayetteville^15^10^7^14^—^46
Northside^8^3^8^0^—^19
First Quarter
Fay — Armstrong 72 pass from Powell (Powell pass to Scalise), 11:06.
North — Hardwick 1 run (Hardwick run), 9:05.
Fay — Morris 28 pass from Powell (Fagg kick), 1:40.
Second Quarter
North — FG Parga 43, 11:54.
Fay — FG Fagg 24, 5:01.
Fay — Morris 44 pass from Powell (Fagg kick), :01.
Third Quarter
North — Hardwick 11 run (Hardwick run), 8:51.
Fay — Powell 1 run (Fagg kick), :42.
Fourth Quarter
Fay — Morris 44 pass from Powell (Fagg kick), 4:43.
Fay — Waller 50 interception return (Fagg kick), 2:21.
In one play, air was taken out of Mayo-Thompson Stadium and new life was put into the Purple'Dogs as a one-touchdown lead turned into a 14-point halftime advantage and led to a 46-19 victory to open up 7A-West Conference play on Friday.
"We're just trying to give our athletes a chance," Powell said. "I stepped up in the pocket and gave Tyson a chance and he made a great play."
Powell and Morris were a big combination for Fayetteville (4-0, 1-0 7A-West) all night. Powell completed 21 of 30 passes for 423 yards and four touchdowns, adding another rushing touchdown. Morris, who missed the first week of the season with a foot injury, had six receptions for 183 yards and three touchdowns of 28, 44 and 44 yards.
"The kid (Morris) has just one (college) offer," Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said. "It blows my mind. Somebody needs to get on him because I think he's not only one of the best receivers in the 7A-West, but one of the best in the entire state."
The Grizzlies (1-3, 0-1) hung close for much of the second half, recovering an onside kick to open the third quarter and driving 51 yards to pull within 25-19.
Fayetteville answered back, turning to the run game on a 14-play, 93-yard drive to get some breathing room to increase the lead to 32-19 with 42 seconds left in the third quarter before a strong finish put the Grizzlies away.
Powell's final scoring pass to Morris increased the lead to 39-19 with 4 minutes, 43 seconds left to play. On the ensuing drive, a Luke Waller's 50-yard interception return tacked on a final Fayetteville touchdown with 2:21 remaining.
Fayetteville forced four turnovers and committed just none.
"Our defense is not the 1985 Chicago Bears by any stretch of the imagination," Patton said. "But that was a good offense and we stuck to our game plan.
"And any time you can come into Mayo-Thompson Stadium and get a win, it's big."
Fayetteville hosts Fort Smith Southside for Homecoming next Friday. The Grizzlies host Bentonville. Bentonville defeated Southside on Frida night.
Sports on 09/26/2015