BENTONVILLE -- It's unfortunate enough that Bentonville West has to play a team like Muskogee, Okla., without any seniors on its roster.
[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD: Full results + recaps, photos and more]
It was even worse that the Wolverines didn't have their starting quarterback and leading receiver, but coach Bryan Pratt refused to make excuses after West's first home game in school history resulted in a 62-13 loss at Tiger Stadium.
Muskogee, Okla. 62, Bentonville West 13
Muskogee^28^14^13^7^—^62
Bentonville West^0^0^6^7^—^13
First quarter
Musk — Gilbert 1 run (Dennis kick), 4:52.
Musk — D. Hillmon 20 interception return (Dennis kick). 4:39.
Musk — Gilbert 5 run (Dennis kick), 1:04.
Musk — Smith fumble recovery in end zone (Dennis kick), :51.9.
Second quarter
Musk — K. Hillmon 10 run (Dennis kick), 10:08
Musk — D. Hillmon 21 pass from Medrano (Dennis kick), 1:46.
Third quarter
Musk — Curl 66 pass from Medrano (kick fail), 10:15
West — Prince 27 pass from West (kick fail), 1:56
Musk — D. Hillmon 49 pass from Cherry (Dennis kick), 1:13
Fourth quarter
West — Prince 4 pass from West (McDoulett kick), 9:55
West — Cherry 45 run (Dennis kick), 6:38
"We feel like we have to do what's right for the program," Pratt said. "That's what we're trying to do is build a program. If we're not taking care of our foundation, it's not going to be very good.
"We knew coming into this game it was going to be tough. They're a really good football team, but we shot ourselves in the foot early with turnovers that led into touchdowns. You just can't do that."
Moe Gilbert ran for two touchdowns in the first quarter and Muskogee, ranked third among Oklahoma's Class 6A-II teams, jumped out to a 28-0 lead, thanks to two West turnovers that resulted in scores. Devin Hillmon intercepted a pass by backup quarterback Jake West and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown, then Kaleel Smith stripped the ball from West in the end zone and recovered it for another score.
West was filling in for an starting quarterback Will Jarrett, who was injured in last week's game against Little Rock Central. Pratt, however, didn't disclose the reason why sophomore receiver Jadon Jackson didn't play.
"It will all pay off because he has to be ready to play when this happens," Pratt said of West. "He knows he has to be ready to play, then get out there and play."
The Roughers (3-0) added two more scores in the second quarter and extended its lead to 42-0 at halftime, causing the sportsmanship rule to be in effect and a running clock through the second half. West, on the other hand, was held to 5 yards total offense through the first two quarters.
West did find some offensive life in the second half as West and Jackson Prince connected for a pair of touchdown passes. West threw to Prince for 27 yards and the score in the third quarter, then hit him again with a 4-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
"I talked to them at halftime and told them they were playing for pride," Pratt said. "They were playing for the wolverine on their chests.
"We came out, and I thought out sideline was more into it. The kids were more into it, and it caused them to put the starters in after we got some success and scored on them."
The Wolverines enter 7A-West Conference play next week against Van Buren at Tiger Stadium.
Sports on 09/17/2016