Springdale hangs on, stops skid

ROGERS — Springdale came up with two big defensive stops to break a 16-game losing streak Friday night at Gates Stadium.

The Bulldogs held Rogers Heritage on a fourth-and-1 play in the waning seconds to claim a 29-26 7A-West Conference win.

Heritage (1-3, 0-1 7A-West) mounted a late drive, facing a fourth-and-1 from the Springdale 6, but War Eagles quarterback Jake Qualls couldn’t get a handle on the snap and was forced to throw a desperation pass that fell incomplete with less than 30 seconds left.

Springdale Coach Zak Clark said his team stayed strong despite two first-half turnovers that put the Bulldogs in an early hole.

“I knew we were going to play hard,” Clark said. “We did, all the way down with a great goal-line stand to end it. Can’t say enough about our kids. We got down two scores early but kept fighting and battling back.”

Heritage took a 26-24 lead on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Trey Kitterman to Collin Christian on the first play of the fourth quarter. It was Christian’s third touchdown catch of the game, but the War Eagles didn’t score again.

Springdale tied it when Heritage snapped the ball through the end zone for a safety, then followed that with a 10-play drive that resulted in John Bautista’s second 30yard field goal of the night with 7:01 left.

Heritage came back with another drive into Springdale territory, but junior Jayden Minchew intercepted Kitterman inside the Bulldogs 5.

Heritage Coach Perry Escalante said his team couldn’t overcome its late mistakes.

“We did everything everything we could to lose the ballgame tonight,” Escalante said. “Snapping it out of the back of the end zone, throwing a pick down there with a guy playing center field. Just poor judgment. Then not paying attention down the stretch. We deserved to lose.”

Heritage converted a pair of Springdale turnovers into scores en route to a 20-11 halftime lead, but Springdale countered with two third-quarter scores keyed by the running game. Junior Eric Mendez finished off both drives with touchdown runs of 9 and 6 yards.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANTHONY REYES Andrew Mendoza (96) of Rogers Heritage watches a play develop in front of a Springdale lineman during the first half of the War Eagles’ 29-26 loss Friday at Gates Stadium in Rogers. For more high school football photos, visit...