LITTLE ROCK -- The streak will end sooner or later.
Not this year, though.
[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD: Full results + recaps, photos and more]
The West's domination of the state's largest classification played on with Fayetteville's resounding 53-19 win on Friday night over North Little Rock at War Memorial Stadium in the Class 7A championship game.
North Little Rock was the latest challenger from the 7A-Central, at least getting to the championship game for just the second team from outside the mighty 7A-West to earn the distinction.
Like Cabot in 2003 against Bentonville, though, the Wildcats couldn't break the stranglehold of the West, which now has won 12 straight championships.
Bill Blankenship, who took over for the departed Daryl Patton, in June was new to the state, but he knew all about dominance after winning three state titles at Tulsa Union.
"It's the same people with different faces and names," Blankenship said. "Over in Oklahoma, the East side has won it like 18 or 19 times straight. We were part of that."
Blankenship and the Bulldogs faced the pressure of carrying the West mantle, but North Little Rock also felt the pressure of the Central and cracking the West dominance.
"There are so many intangibles," Blankenship said. "What an incredible run for North Little Rock to get here. They also had some pressure to come in and finish. I thought just the fact that we'd been here before and the leadership of this team would handle it."
For Fayetteville, the Bulldogs have now won five state championships and made it consecutive titles on Friday.
TAYLOR MADE
Fayetteville quarterback Taylor Powell threw four touchdown passes on Friday night to add to his record-setting career.
Powell finished with 113 touchdown passes in his career, the most in the state's largest classification. Powell broke former Fayetteville quarterback Brandon Allen's record of 98 career touchdown passes, set in 2010. Austin Allen followed that up with 77 touchdown passes in two years as a starter for the Bulldogs. This year, it was Powell's turn.
"You try not to focus on that," Powell said. "You just try to go 1-0, and the touchdowns take care of themselves. I'm not really thinking about that, but it's a great record. I'm really good friends with Brandon and Austin. It's a cool thing to have."
Friday, Powell threw for 265 yards, finishing the season with 3,473 yards and his career with 9,501 yards.
Friday, he threw two touchdown passes to Barrett Banister and two more to Brennon Lewis. Fayetteville added 131 yards on the ground as the Bulldogs mounted a 396-yard attack.
"We've got weapons everywhere, especially on the receiver end and we've got two great running backs," Powell said. "Our O-line is the best part of our offense, and the defense gets us the ball. It's a great team to have."
POPPING FRESH
Fayetteville enjoyed some turnovers on Friday, and that was a formula for success.
Since the loss to Bentonville in week four to open 7A-West play, the Tigers have put points on the scoreboard via defense or special teams every week. It's translated to a nine-game winning streak to end the season.
"We had scored on special teams or defense every game so the trend when we can score defensively or special teams we win games," Blankenship said. "There's something to that."
Friday, Fayetteville scored 20 points off turnovers, all in the second half after a slim 20-19 halftime cushion.
Three plays after Fayetteville scored to take a 26-19 lead with 9:48 left in the third quarter, Trey Coulter intercepted a pass across the middle.
Powell ran for a loss of one yard and then hit Lewis for a 39-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline. Rugby's Young extra point kicked Fayetteville's lead to 33-19 with 7:37 left in the quarter.
North Little Rock took 13 plays and drove to the Bulldogs' 13 when Daniel Willits sacked quarterback Trey Cox and forced a fumble, which Kester Olson picked up and ran 88 yards for a touchdown, to set a championship game record for a fumble return. Young's extra point ballooned Fayetteville's lead to 40-19.
Just for security, Luke Waller picked off a tipped pass and returned it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to set the final score.
BY THE NUMBERS
Following are the all-time leaders in passing touchdowns in the state's largest classification:
113 -- Taylor Powell, Fayetteville (2014-2016)
98 -- Brandon Allen, Fayetteville (2008-2010)
79 -- Daniel Lunney, FS Southside (1996-1998)
78 -- Reed Brown, Rogers Heritage (2008-2010)
77 -- Austin Allen, Fayetteville (2010-2012)
77 -- Josh Qualls, Rogers Heritage (2011-2013)
Sports on 12/03/2016