Landing late punches

Fayetteville scores game’s final 23 points

Bryant running back Jeremiah Long (left) is brought down by Fayetteville’s Trey Colter and Blake Coulter (8) during Friday night’s game at Bryant.
Bryant running back Jeremiah Long (left) is brought down by Fayetteville’s Trey Colter and Blake Coulter (8) during Friday night’s game at Bryant.

BRYANT -- Senior quarterback Taylor Powell completed 17 of 29 passes for 212 yards and 3 touchdowns, and ran for two more scores, in Fayetteville's 43-10 Class 7A nonconference victory over Bryant on Friday night at Hornet Stadium.

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Special to the Democrat-Gazette

Fayetteville running back Nate Nolan (17) fights through a tackle by Bryant defensive back Mike Jones on Friday at Hornet stadium in Bryant.

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

The defending state champion Bulldogs (2-0) stretched their winning streak to six in a rematch of last year's playoff quarterfinals -- a 30-24 Fayetteville road victory.

Fayetteville had a much easier time Friday night, scoring the game's final 23 points after Bryant (1-1) was within 20-10 early in the third quarter.

Powell, who has orally committed to Wake Forest, triggered the burst.

He ran 3 yards for a touchdown on fourth and goal to make it 26-10 with 7:26 remaining in the third quarter. The 12-play, 80-yard drive included a 9-yard scramble by Powell on third and 7 from the Fayetteville 34.

Fayetteville's lead grew to 33-10 when Powell threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Cody Gray, running a seam route, with 1:24 remaining in the third quarter.

It was the 75th career touchdown pass for Powell, who is approaching 7,000 career passing yards.

"He's created, probably, some unrealistic expectations for us," first-year Fayetteville Coach Bill Blankenship said. "We want him to be perfect. We want him to make every throw, and he makes most of them. But what I like is he holds himself to that high standard, too."

Powell put the game away on 1-yard run -- from a rare play under center -- with 11:35 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Senior Rugby Young completed the scoring on a 47-yard field goal with 9:22 remaining.

Fayetteville led 14-0 after one quarter and 20-7 at halftime on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Powell to senior wide receiver Barrett Banister with 1:18 remaining in the second quarter.

Powell also threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Brennon Lewis with 9:26 remaining in the first quarter. The touchdown came two plays after Fayetteville recovered a fumble at the Bryant 36.

Junior tailback Nate Nolen ran 5 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0 with 3:24 left in the first quarter.

Senior tailback Jeremiah Long's 6-yard touchdown run pulled the Hornets within 14-7 at 7:40 of the second quarter.

After recovering a fumble at the Fayetteville 22 on the second-half kickoff, Bryant was within 20-10 on senior Hayden Ray's 35-yard field goal with 10:17 left in the third quarter.

Bryant didn't record a first down in the second half until early in the fourth quarter.

"They're just a better football team than we are right now," Bryant Coach Buck James said. "They're bigger, stronger and more experienced."

Fayetteville, which was without standout senior tailback Terrance Rock, finished with a 313-231 advantage in total yardage. Rock missed the game because of a "coach's decision," according to Blankenship.

Sports on 09/10/2016

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