Lindsey’s 7 TD passes help propel Bulldogs
FAYETTEVILLE — Drake Lindsey had another dominating performance for Fayetteville on Friday night.
Lindsey threw seven touchdown passes to six different receivers as Fayetteville finished 7A-West Conference play with a 56-28 victory over Springdale Har-Ber at Harmon Field. The senior quarterback completed 25 of 28 passes for 337 yards and tied a school record for touchdown passes in a game.
He also set a school record with his 47th touchdown pass of the season.
“That’s who he is, Mr. Consistent,” Fayetteville Coach Casey Dick said of Lindsey. “He’s a great football player and I’m super proud of him.”
Even with those impressive accomplishments, Lindsey took some good-nature ribbing from his teammates after he stumbled short of the goal line on a 40yard run. Lindsey then threw his seventh touchdown pass of the game seconds later.
“I just tried to cut outside and the turf monster got me,” Lindsey said.
Fayetteville struggled mightily for awhile with Har-Ber, which trailed 28-21 at halftime after having a potential tying touchdown called back because of a penalty late in the second quarter. But Fayetteville dominated the third quarter and went ahead 56-21 to start the running clock.
Fayetteville (10-0, 7-0) won the 7A-West Conference championship for the second time in three years and went undefeated in conference play for the first time since 1957. The Bulldogs finished 10-3 overall two years ago and advanced to the Class 7A state championship game after winning its first outright league championship since 1963.
Fayetteville will receive a first-round bye as a No. 1 seed for the state playoffs that begin next week. Bryant, which beat Fayetteville 42-38 in the Class 7A state championship game in 2021, begins postseason play as the five-time defending state champions in the state’s largest classification.
Friday’s game got off to a bizarre start when officials took more time huddling up and marking off penalties in the first quarter than there were actual plays on the field. Unsportsmanlike penalties were assessed to both teams and Fayetteville was called for a rare roughing the holder penalty on an extra point attempt following a HarBer touchdown.
Both teams had touchdown passes nullified because of penalties, including a 77-yard score from Lindsey to Mason Spencer on the first play from scrimmage.
When play finally settled in, Har-Ber took advantage of a short field and scored first on a 1-yard keeper by quarterback Braden Sprague. Fayetteville answered with consecutive touchdown passes by Lindsey before Har-Ber came right back with two touchdown throws from Sprague.
Fayetteville took control by outscoring Har-Ber (2-8, 2-5) 28-0 in the third quarter. Spencer, who had a touchdown catch called back to start the game, snared a 2-yard touchdown pass from Lindsey to put Fayetteville ahead 35-21 early in the third quarter. The score was set up by Christian Setzer, who had a 29-yard run deep into Har-Ber territory.
“We didn’t play too well, obviously, in the first half,” Dick said. “We played a lot better in the second half and I’m super proud of our seniors for coming out and fixing it.”