Taylor, Willsey deliver, stand out during victories

“That pick-six was huge. It was huge.”

Fayetteville secondary coach Devonte Britt on Jaxon Taylor’s interception against Bentonville

Trailing by three, Fayetteville needed something significant to happen in the second half to overtake Bentonville.

Instead of a big pass play as usual for the Bulldogs, Friday’s game shifted on a 46yard interception return for a touchdown by Jaxon Taylor that gave Fayetteville the lead for good. But that wasn’t the only big play by Taylor, who had two interceptions on the night and almost returned a fumble for a touchdown in Fayetteville’s 42-34 victory over Bentonville.

For his effort, Taylor is the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Player of the Week for teams in Northwest Arkansas. Fisher Willsey of Mansfield is the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Player of the Week for teams in the River Valley.

Taylor set up Fayetteville’s first touchdown when he picked up a fumble and returned it to the Bentonville 1. He then provided the play of the game with the Bulldogs still trailing 31-28 after twice falling behind by two scores. That’s when Taylor stepped in front of pass by Drew Wright and returned it for a touchdown to give Fayetteville the lead with six minutes left in the third quarter.

“The receiver wasn’t my man,” said Taylor, who leads Fayetteville with four interceptions. “Cade Fields, I think, got a great hit on their quarterback. I saw the ball up in the air and went for it. Kaiden Turner threw a block on the return and I was able to score.”

Fayetteville (5-2, 4-0) added an insurance touchdown in the fourth quarter and the Bulldogs were able to hold on to end Bentonville’s 35-game winning streak in 7A-West Conference play.

“That pick-six was huge. It was huge,” Fayetteville secondary coach Devonte Britt said. “At that point in the game we were reeling a bit and we needed that. It really changed the game.”

Lincoln was searching for its third consecutive victory entering Friday’s 3A-1 Conference game at Mansfield. But the Wolves were turned away by Mansfield and Willsey, a junior quarterback who ran for 176 yards and three touchdowns. Willsey also threw for 82 yards on 8 of 12 completions.

“It was a physical game where the players were getting after it,” Mansfield coach Tim Cothran said. “Fisher was physical and aggressive in the way he ran the football. He’s the leader of our junior class. He’s put in the work.”

Willsey had a 68- yard touchdown run in the second quarter to break a 7-7 tie. He added a 31-yard scoring run before throwing 31 yards to Clint Stovall to give the Tigers a 28-7 lead in the third quarter.

The win provides Mansfield (2-4, 1-2) with some momentum heading into Friday’s game at Lavaca.