Powell delivers knockout blow

FORT SMITH — It took Taylor Powell one play to take the air out of Fort Smith Northside.

Fayetteville’s junior quarterback scrambled out of the pocket just before the clock expired in the first half and laid a perfect touchdown pass into the hands of Tyson Morris as the Bulldogs took a 14-point lead into intermission on their way to a 46-19 victory in the 7A-West Conference opener at Mayo-Thompson Stadium.

“We’re just trying to give our athletes a chance,” Powell said. “I stepped up in the pocket and gave Tyson a chance, and he made a great play.”

Powell and Morris formed a big combination for Fayetteville (4-0, 1-0 7A-West) throughout the game. Powell completed 21 of 30 passes for 423 yards and 4 touchdowns and ran for another touchdown. Morris, who missed the first week of the season because of a foot injury, had 6 receptions for 183 yards and 3 touchdowns covering 28, 44 and 44 yards.

“The kid [Morris] has just one [college] offer. It blows my mind,” Fayetteville Coach Daryl Patton said. “Somebody needs to get on him because I think he’s not only one of the best receivers in the 7A-West but one of the best in the entire state.”

The Grizzlies (1-3, 0-1) hung close for much of the second half, recovering an onside kick to open the third quarter and driving 51 yards to pull within 25-19. Fayetteville turned to the run game on a 14-play, 93-yard drive to get some breathing room, increasing its lead to 32-19 with 42 seconds left in the third quarter before using a strong finish to put away Northside.

Fayetteville forced four turnovers and committed none.

“Our defense is not the 1985 Chicago Bears by any stretch of the imagination, but that was a good offense and we stuck to our game plan,” Patton said. “Anytime you can come into Mayo-Thompson Stadium and get a win, it’s big.”