Football: Defense rescues Bentonville in 44-34 shootout

Bentonville cornerback Jadyn Loudermilk (left) intercepts a pass intended for Eric Calton-Watkins of Bixby, Okla., in the second quarter Friday at Tiger Stadium in Bentonville.
Bentonville cornerback Jadyn Loudermilk (left) intercepts a pass intended for Eric Calton-Watkins of Bixby, Okla., in the second quarter Friday at Tiger Stadium in Bentonville.

BENTONVILLE -- The offenses put up some hefty numbers Friday night, but it was Bentonville High's defensive play that came through when it was needed the most.

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Bentonville running back Jacob Clark (center) is brought down by Bixby, Okla., defenders Cade Cavender (15) and Coby Tillman (31) on Friday at Tiger Stadium in Bentonville.

[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD: Full results + recaps, photos and more]

Tyrell Lyons returned a fumble 32 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and Joe Britton's had a game-clinching interception as the Tigers held off defending Oklahoma Class 6A-II champion Bixby for a wild 44-34 nonconference victory at Tiger Stadium.

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Bentonville^7^10^13^14^—^44

First quarter

Bent — Mays-Hunt 80 pass from Ross (Moehring kick), 11:46.

Bixby — Pawley 5 run (Campbell kick), 3:35

Second quarter

Bixby — Swanson 28 pass from Griffin (Campbell kick), 6:24

Bent — Clark 45 run (Moehring kick), 2:47.

Bent — FG Moehring 22, 0:06.

Third quarter

Bixby — Pawley 1 run (run fail), 7:51.

Bent — Ross 4 run (Moehring kick), 6:05.

Bent — Johnson 29 pass from N. Lyons (run fail), 4:27.

Bixby — Swanson 34 pass from Griffin (Campbell kick), 0:00.

Fourth quarter

Bent — T. Lyons 32 fumble return (Moehring kick), 9:48.

Bixby — King 14 pass from Griffin (Campbell kick), 6:29.

Bent — Adkins 18 run (Moehring kick), 1:20.

"Our defense did make some big plays when we needed them," Bentonville coach Jody Grant said. "I tell you what, our defense was on the field a lot. We couldn't get off the field in big third-down situations, and that was frustrating to our kids.

"They finally made a big play, and those were some key turnovers. I'm just proud of the way our kids played."

Bentonville (1-1) entered the fourth quarter with its lead trimmed to 30-27 on a Bixby trick play. Tanner Griffith handed off to Braden Roller, then took a lateral and threw 34 yards to Nic Swanson with no time remaining in the third quarter.

The Spartans forced a three-and-out and took over on their 28 following a punt. Workhorse running back Tucker Pawley, however, fumbled the ball two plays later, then Lyons scooped up the ball and raced to the end zone, with Hayden Moehring's extra point giving Bentonville a 37-27 lead with 9 minutes, 48 seconds remaining.

"I knew I had to make a play for the team," Lyons said. "I saw the ball, and I knew I had to do what I could to score. I saw the whole play. I saw the ball come loose, and as soon as it hit the ground I grabbed it and kept running."

Bixby answered with Griffith's 14-yard touchdown pass to Staton King with 6:29 left and pulled within 37-34, then had the ball again on its 15 after forcing a Bentonville punt. Britton, however, ended the Spartans' threat when he dove for the interception at the Bixby 30 with 2:10 remaining.

The Tigers then gave the ball three straight times to Destyn Adkins, who put the game away when he scored from 18 yards out with 1:20 remaining.

"They actually had me in a middle zone, so I was just reading the quarterback's eyes," Britton said. "I was just lucky. A little bit of the safety came out of me. I used to play safety, so I have the feel for it."

Bentonville took a 17-14 halftime lead on Moehring's 22-yard field goal, which was set up by a Jadyn Loudermilk interception in Tigers territory. Bixby moved in front on Pawley's 1-yard touchdown run with 7:51 left in the third quarter, but Bentonville responded less than 2 minutes later when Canaan Ross scored on a 4-yard quarterback keeper.

Ross had an 80-yard touchdown pass to Kam'ron Mays-Hunt on the game's first offensive play and finished with 304 yards on 17 of 22 passing, with Mays-Hunt hauling in six passes for 143 yards. Griffin, who has thrown more than 3,000 yards in the past two seasons, hit 30 of 44 for 347 yards, and Swanson caught 13 for 162 yards.

Sports on 09/10/2016

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