Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Bentonville halts comeback attempt
ROGERS — Bentonville High looked to be on its way to an easy win thanks to a big first half, but the Tigers needed two fourth-quarter scores to finish off the 63-35 victory over Rogers High on Friday night to remain undefeated.
The Tigers (8-0, 5-0 6A-West) scored twice in the final 5½ minutes to finally put away the Mounties (1-7, -4), who trailed 35-7 at halftime but got within 14 on multiple occasions in the second half.
Preston Crawford rushed for 174 yards on 20 carries and scored three second-half touchdowns. Crawford’s 18-yard touchdown run with 5 minutes, 35 seconds left gave the Tigers a 56-35 advantage. Cody Ried’s 17-yard scoring run set the final score with just under 90 seconds left.
Bentonville coach Jody Grant liked the way his offense performed but also credited Rogers’ offense.
“You look at 63-35, you probably think it’s a ballgame that was not tight the whole time,” Grant said. “We felt like we were in a four-quarter football game the whole time. I’m pleased with our offense, I thought they played really, really well. We’ve got some stuff we’ve got to clean up defensively.
“I’m not disappointed completely, it’s just our defense has got to play better than that. I give credit to Rogers and their coaching staff. They played really well in the second half and we struggled to stop them, truthfully, and kudos to them.”
Rogers started the second half quickly as quarterback Hunter Loyd hooked up with Mason Ross for an 80-yard touchdown pass. After recovering a Bentonville fumble on the ensuing kickoff, the Mounties took advantage and scored again as Loyd sneaked in from the 1.
Loyd’s run pulled Rogers
within 35-21 less than 2 minutes into the second half. But the Mounties could never get any closer.
Bentonville quarterback Ben Pankau enjoyed a big night both running and throwing the ball. He rolled up more than 350 yards of total offense and accounted for fourth first-half touchdowns — two through the air and two on the ground.
The Tigers looked as though they would roll to an easy win, finishing the first half with 28 unanswered points after Rogers tied the game 7-7. They scored on four consecutive possessions.
Pankau finished off a 10-play, 81-yard drive with a 12-yard keeper for the touchdown to give Bentonville the 14-7 advantage. Bentonville scored quickly on the next two drives.
Sophomore Chaz Nimrod went 26 yards on a reverse to finish a three-play drive, and Pankau found Trenton Kolb for a 70-yard catch and run. That drive lasted just two plays and went 72 yards.
It was Pankau again connecting with Cade Foster for a 36-yard touchdown pass with less than a minute left in the half for a 35-7 Bentonville advantage.
FOUR QUARTERS
• Loyd threw for 333 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for one for the Mounties. Aron Rendon rushed for 133 yards on 18 carries.
• Bentonville has now won the last 13 meetings against Rogers, but still trails 70-406 in the overall series.
• Leyton Robinson was recognized as the Rogers High homecoming queen in a ceremony prior to the game.
• The Mounties play next week at Springdale Harber, while Bentonville hosts Springdale High.