Near-perfect return

Chandler, Har-Ber rout Springdale in fourth straight victory

SPRINGDALE — It would have been difficult for Fuller Chandler to script a better return to Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium.

The Springdale Har-Ber senior quarterback accounted for 228 total yards and three touchdowns as the Wildcats routed Springdale High 48-10 in Chandler’s return to the school where he started for two seasons.

Chandler and the rest of the Har-Ber starters built a 41-3 lead at halftime and spent the second half on the sideline as the Wildcats (4-1, 2-0 7A-West) rolled to their fourth straight win this season and ninth straight in the series.

“I’ve played here so many times that it was just another game,” Chandler said. “We’re 1-0 this week and that’s what we went for.”

Chandler had a near-perfect game in his return, but teammate Luke Hannon had an even bigger outing. The senior running back ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries while catching two passes for 112 yards and two more scores.

Chandler found Hannon for 79-and 33-yard touchdowns on Har-Ber’s first two drives, then Hannon scored on a 19-yard run and Chandler on a quarterback sneak, all in the opening quarter.

The Wildcats led 35-0 less than a minute into the second quarter and outgained Springdale 412-142 in the opening half. Har-Ber took care of business in the rivalry matchup to set up big showdowns against Bentonville and Fayetteville the next two weeks.

“You take it week by week in the 7A-West, there’s no doubt about it,” Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said. “It was two 1-0 teams (in conference) and our guys were focused on trying to steal one on the road. We were able to do that and now we can turn our attention to Bentonville.”

Springdale couldn’t get untracked on offense against Har-Ber’s first-team defense and was unable to match HarBer’s early fireworks and the Wildcats’ size advantage on both lines. The Bulldogs also struggled with injuries as the game wore on, including a concussion to star receiver Kyler Williams.

“We were a little tight in warm-ups and it bled over,” Springdale coach Zak Clark

said. “We came out and, obviously, didn’t play well out of the gate. And they had more to do with it than we did. They’re a really good football team. Really physical. They have a bunch of weapons.”

Har-Ber will play at No. 2 Bentonville next week, while Springdale will host No. 1 Fayetteville.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANTHONY REYES • @NWATONYR Jacob Robertson of Springdale Har-Ber tackles Springdale High’s Lucky Bannavong during Friday’s game at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium in Springdale. Visit nwadg.com/photos to see more photographs from the game.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANTHONY REYES • @NWATONYR Fuller Chandler, Springdale Har-Ber quarterback, throws against Springdale High during Friday’s game at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium in Springdale.