Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Gibbs leads Fayetteville past Rogers High
ROGERS — Fayetteville wasn’t able to blow out Rogers High, but the Purple Bulldogs were able to keep the Mounties at arm’s length thanks a to big effort from quarterback Hank Gibbs.
Gibbs threw for 379 yards and five touchdowns to lift Fayetteville to the 52-28 7A-West Conference win on Friday night at Whitey Smith Stadium.
Fayetteville (4-1, 1-1 7A-West) finally pulled away with 10 straight points in the fourth quarter aided by two Rogers turnovers to grab a 45-21 advantage with 9 minutes, 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Rogers (1-3, 0-2) held the Purple Bulldogs to a field goal after losing a fumble. But Fayetteville intercepted a Hunter Loyd pass on the ensuing drive and Gibbs threw his fifth touchdown of the night, 30-yarder to Beau Stuckey.
Gibbs threw two touchdown passes to Connor Flannigan and two to Beau Stuckey. Flannigan also added a rushing score.
Fayetteville coach Billy Dawson said Gibbs continued to improve in his second start in place of Darius Bowers, who is injured. But his receiving corps also did well, Dawson said.
“He made some really good throws. He made some good decisions,” Dawson said. “He’ll get better every week. He’s a great kid, a hard worker and loves the game. He’ll continue to improve.
“Luke Charboneau had some nice plays tonight and Connor and Beau. The ball was spread around a little bit tonight. Our running backs played better tonight. So obviously up front we must have played OK as well.”
Fayetteville grabbed momentum back late in the first half, recovering a Rogers fumble with two minutes left in the second quarter and turned it into a touchdown and a 28-14 halftime lead.
The Mounties appeared to have dodged a bullet when Gibbs’ third-down pass fell incomplete,
but Rogers was flagged for a personal foul to give Fayetteville a first down. Four plays later Gibbs found Flannigan in the corner of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown pass, his fourth of the half.
Fayetteville jumped to a 14-0 lead as Gibbs hit Flannigan and Stuckey with touchdown passes in the first quarter. Rogers countered with a 94-yard interception return for a touchdown by Elijah Bigham late in the first quarter. But Fayetteville came right back with a five-play, 72-yard drive capped by Augie Bradach’s 21-yard catch and run for 21-7 lead.
Running back Sammy Zamarron had a big night for the Mounties, rushing for 211 yards and two touchdowns. That included a 97-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.