Bulldogs get victory in Texas

DALLAS -- All it took was one more turnover to seal Fayetteville's ' 35-25 victory over the Bishop Dunne Falcons on Friday night.

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

Bulldog defensive back Luke Waller ended a promising Bishop Dunne drive with an interception return for a touchdown to extend Fayetteville's lead to what would be the final score with 19 seconds left in the game.

Waller's interception was only one of seven total turnovers committed by both teams in what was a high-paced, turnover-prone game.

Fayetteville quarterback Taylor Powell threw three interceptions, but finished the game with 336 total yards and three total touchdowns, including two huge second-half scores that changed the momentum of the game.

The first half was all Bishop Dunne. The Falcons scored 14 points in the half, including an interception return for a touchdown by defensive back Jason White.

Bishop Dunne had a chance to increase its lead in the first half, but missed two field goals including one that was blocked by Fayetteville's Brennon Lewis.

Fayetteville took advantage of the Falcons' four turnovers, two of which came in the second half that resulted in touchdowns for the Bulldogs.

Running back Terrance Rock finished with 15 carries for 59 yards and five receptions for 26 yards.

On the last drive by the Bulldogs, it was all clock management. Only up three, and facing a fourth down, Powell and the offense took the field for one final play. The quarterback lofted the ball toward the end zone and it was picked off by a Bishop Dunne defender.

Because the pass was intercepted instead of batted down, the Falcons got the ball at their own 5-yard line instead of the 44.

"We thought they would be ready for the quick punt," Fayetteville Coach Bill Blankenship said. "We did not want to punt it and cover it with our offensive linemen. We felt like, just like they caught one on us, where they just hung the ball up and it was a jump ball, a jump ball would give us a chance for a pass interference or if that happened like that it would be OK.

"All I asked Taylor to do was to not overthrow it. Just hang it up there and give us a jump ball and let's see what happens."

With the victory, Fayetteville will face rival Bentonville next week in the 7A-West Conference opener.

"It's huge for our program," Blankenship said. "We've done a lot of good things at Fayetteville and to come get a win in Texas against a quality opponent like this is huge. I love the fact that it was hard. Our guys were rattled at halftime and we had to get our wits about us. They came back and fought and I'm very proud of them."

Sports on 09/17/2016

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