BENTONVILLE — Euless (Texas) Trinity quarterback Christian Hammack attempted only two passes in the second half, and only one of those were caught Friday night.
It was still one too many for Bentonville’s football team.
Hammack rolled to his left and saw a wide-open Inoke Langi in the end zone, and the two connected for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 2 minutes, 55 seconds remaining. The Trojans then went on to post a 21-13 victory over Bentonville at Tiger Stadium.
“We took a risk for us and tried the play-action pass,” Trinity coach Steve Lineweaver. “Bentonville does such a great job of running to the ball that we caught them a little bit. They were over-hustling.”
George Moeakiola set up the decisive score with his second interception of the game, picking off Bentonville sophomore quarterback Kasey Ford at the Tigers 33. This game one play after Ja’Ron Wilson had fumbled on a fourth-down play, and Bentonville’s Harrison Rooney recovered the loose ball on the Tigers 24 with 6:38 remaining.
The Trojans (1-2) ran six straight running plays by four different plays before Hammack’s pass to Langi, then Jose Bahema’s extra point gave Trinity a 21-10 lead. Bentonville (1-2) then drove down to the Trojans 5 before penalties and a sack on third down forced the Tigers to settle for Bennett Moehring’s 43-yard field goal with 59 seconds remaining.
“When you get yourself put in that position, you have to stop the run,” Bentonville coach Barry Lunney said. “It happens on Friday nights, it will happen on TV and you’ll see it on Sunday.
“Sometimes it amazes me. You look out there on Sunday afternoons, down on the goal line, and players are wide open because of the run. If you can’t stop the run, that’s what happens. It sets those things up.”
EXTRA POINTS:
w Wilson, who finished the game with 23 carries for 172 yards, gave Trinity the lead for good when he bolted through the Bentonville defense and scored on a 35-yard run with 8:27 remaining in the third quarter.
w Moehring closed the gap to 14-10 midway through the third quarter when he kicked a 26-yard field goal and finished 2-for-3 for the game. His first attempt, a 47-yarder in the first quarter, was short and wide left.
w Cody Scroggins became Bentonville’s go-to receiver with the absence of Jimmie Jackson, who was out with a strained hamstring he suffered in last week’s game against Broken Arrow, Okla. Scroggins caught seven passes for 111 yards, including a 59-yard catch to set up Moehring’s first field goal.
UP NEXT: Bentonville completes a three-game home swing and enters 7A/6A-West Conference play against Springdale Har-Ber, a 35-27 winner at Fort Smith Southside.
HOW THEY SCORED
EULESS (TEXAS) TRINITY 21,
BENTONVILLE 13
Trinity^0^7^7^7^—^21
Bentonville^0^7^3^3^—^13
Second Quarter
Bent — Keliiliki 1 run (Moehring kick), 5:50.
Trin — Babcock 2 run (Bahena kick), :14.
Third Quarter
Trin — Wilson 35 run (Bahena kick), 8:27.
Bent — FG Moehring 26, 6:00.
Fourth Quarter
Trin — Langi 7 pass from Hammack (Bahena kick), 2:55.
Bent — FG Moehring 43, :59.