Ford boosts Tigers with versatility

BENTONVILLE — Kasey Ford accounted for three touchdown passes Friday night, but one was a little different than usual.

Bentonville’s quarterback was on the receiving end of a 5-yard touchdown pass from Chase Hunter, and Bentonville scored 28 points in the second half of a 42-14 victory over Fort Smith Southside in the 7A-West Conference opener at Tiger Stadium.

Ford appeared to be giving his linemen instructions when he stepped toward the line, but the direct snap went to Jacob Clark, who then pitched the ball to Hunter, who passed to a wide-open Ford in the end zone to give Bentonville (4-0, 1-0) a 28-14 lead late in the third quarter.

Ford said he’s been trying to convince offensive coordinator Aaron Danenhauer to let him catch a pass since he started playing for the Tigers.

“Ever since I started here, I’ve been getting onto coach D about catching a touchdown pass because it’s been a dream,” Ford said. “My dreams finally come true, so to speak.

“We’ve had that play in for a couple of years now. We just never threw it in there, but we were in the right situation to throw it in. I was very excited when Coach D called that.”

Ford, who completed 17 of 22 passes for 237 yards, broke a 14-14 tie when he hit Matt Crenshaw with a 3-yard touchdown pass with 5:15 left in the third quarter. The Tigers made it 35-14 when Ford hit Clay Barganier, who had 10 receptions for 175 yards, with a 59-yard touchdown pass.

Southside (2-2, 0-1) had three possessions end on three-and-outs. The Rebels did have a scoring threat in the fourth quarter, but it turned into disaster when tight end Kevin White fumbled after a pass reception and Logan Darby returned the loose ball 80 yards for Bentonville’s last score.

“The bottom line at the end of the day was in the second half — field position and laying a goose egg,” Southside Coach Jeff Williams said. “We were stagnant offensively in the second half.”