Bryant earns victory over Bentonville West

CENTERTON — Latavion Scott accounted for 184 yards of total offense and two touchdowns to lead Bryant to a 17-10 nonconference win at Bentonville West on Friday night.

The win is the second straight to open the season for the Hornets (2-0), who opened with a victory over rival Benton.

Scott finished with 157 yards rushing on 27 carries in the win, including a 43-yard touchdown run through the heart of the Wolverines defense in the second quarter. The 5-foot-9, 200-pound senior

also had five catches for 27 yards and a touchdown.

“He’s going to be a bellcow every time he touches the ball,” Bryant coach Buck James said. “That’s just who he is.”

Sophomore Dalton McDonald was 16-of-35 passing for 182 yards to lead West (0-3), with 171 of his passing yards coming in the second half.

After trailing 17-7 at halftime, the Wolverines held Bryant scoreless in the second half and had a chance to tie the game deep in Hornets territory in the closing minute.

However, after reaching the Bryant 16 with less than 10 seconds remaining, a holding penalty forced West back to the 34 — where time ran out before it could snap the ball.

“People are going to say, ‘Oh, you’re 0-3,’” West coach Bryan Pratt said. “We’ve played three really good football teams, and a break here or there could totally change everything.”

The Wolverines played without standouts Will Jarrett at quarterback and Jadon Jackson at wide receiver because of injuries. They had just 28 yards of total offense in the first half, only 11 of which came through the air.

Despite the early offensive frustrations, West tied the game at 7-7 near the end of the first quarter. Wide receiver Tucker Swoboda lined up at quarterback near the goal line and rushed in from three yards out for the Wolverines touchdown.

Scott responded midway through the second quarter for Bryant. On a third-andfour, the running back broke through the middle of the West defensive line and then raced past the secondary for his 43-yard touchdown to put the Hornets up 14-7.

Bryant appeared well in control at halftime, only to go scoreless in the second half. Senior Ren Hefley rushed for 66 yards and threw for 52 more in the win.

“We’ve got to play a lot better than we did tonight if we’re going to make any kind of a run at anything,” James said.