Add another title to Lunney’s legacy
Will eight be enough? Barry Lunney — at least publicly — wasn’t saying moments after the Tigers’ 24-21 comeback victory over Fayetteville in the Class 7A state championship game Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
But the tone of Lunney’s words, at times barely audible in a jubilant locker room, sounded like a man who had authored the final chapter in his Hall of Fame head coaching career stretching 27 years and three schools.
“I’ve been so blessed to do something I’ve loved to do,” Lunney said, his voice choking with emotion.
Fueled by senior tailback Dylan Smith’s 6-yard touchdown run with 26 seconds remaining, Bentonville (9-4) captured its fifth state championship since 2001 and its fourth under Lunney, who also guided the Tigers to Class 7A titles in 2008, 2010 and 2013.
The victory was Lunney’s eighth state championship overall, tying Frank McClellan for the second-highest total in Arkansas high school football history.
Wilson Matthews won a record 10 Arkansas Activities Association-recognized state championships in 1947-1957 at Little Rock Central.
All eight of McClellan’s state championships came at one school (Barton), but Lunney won four state championships at Fort Smith Southside (1991, 1992, 1997 and 2002) before moving to Bentonville.
“Whenever he hangs it up, if he’s not a first-time ballot Hall of Fame coach, I don’t know who it is,” Fayetteville Coach Daryl Patton said.
Lunney, 62, has hinted in recent years that his coaching career was nearing an end. If the 339th game of his career was his last, Lunney went out on top.
Fittingly, Saturday’s game mirrored Bentonville’s season.
The Tigers began 2014 nationally ranked but were stung by injuries to several high-profile players, including senior defensive lineman Javier Carbonell, an Arkansas State oral commitment who didn’t play this fall because of a shoulder problem.
Senior tight end Austin Bugos missed several early games with a leg injury. Junior cornerback Tyrone Mahone, another major college recruiting prospect, didn’t play in the championship game after breaking his ankle in the semifinals.
Bentonville, against a challenging schedule, stumbled to an 0-4 start but closed with a nine-game winning streak.
Trailing 7A-West rival Fayetteville 21-17 with a little more than three minutes remaining Saturday, junior quarterback Kasey Ford directed an 11-play, 68-yard game-winning drive. The Tigers led 17-7 early in the fourth quarter.
“Unbelievable,” Lunney said. “I love all the kids I’ve coached. I love all my teams. They’re all different, but this is one that I’ll remember as very special.”
The victory moved Lunney’s career record to 248-901, including 97-25 in 10 seasons at Bentonville.
Lunney was 15-5 at Beebe (1987-1988) and 136-60-1 at Southside (1989-2004).
Tommy Tice of Huntsville (285) is the state’s winningest active coach.
“I’ve been blessed,” Lunney said.