Bentonville swats Hornets No. 1-ranked Tigers dominate second half to dismiss Bryant
Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2008
Daily Record photograph by Charles Fowler Bentonville senior running back Erik Ragsdale slipped through a huge hole created by the offensive line for a touchdown during the first quarter of Friday night’s playoff game against Bryant at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers outscored the Hornets 20-0 in the second half to pull away to a 34-14 victory and advance to the semifinals for the second straight year.
BENTONVILLE — Bentonville took Bryant’s best shot through most of the first half until one kickoff return changed everything.
Chase Baggett’s 99-yard kickoff return tied the game at 14 and sparked a 27-0 run for Bentonville in a 34-14 win in the Class 7 A quarterfinals at Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers, who were outgained 183-87 in the first half, dominated the final two quarters. Bentonville picked up 187 yards in the second half and held Bryant to 14.
The Tigers (10-1 ) will host 7 A-Central Russellville next Friday at Tiger Stadium in the Class 7 A semifinals. The Cyclones knocked off Fort Smith Northside 13-7 in another quarterfinal Friday. The Tigers are in the semifinals for the second consecutive season.
Baggett’s kickoff return was the Tigers’ first kick return for a touchdown this year and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Bryant (8-4 ) had just taken a 14-7 lead on a 12-yard run from Aspen Trevino with 2: 46 remaining before halftime on a nine-play 72-yard drive that had the Tigers’ defense reeling.
The Hornets were utilizing multiple formations, including looks with nine offensive linemen, and had rushed for 164 yards in the first half, including 116 from Chris Rycraw.
Austin Bradley’s kickoff was fielded by Baggett at the 1-yard line and the Tigers crisscrossed their blocking on the return. The wedge opened in the middle and Baggett went untouched for the score.
“ I felt tired after I crossed the goal- line. I don’t get to run that far too often, ” Baggett said. “ I was just so excited because I knew what that meant for the game at that point. Right away I could tell that was going to change the game and give us some morale. ”
For Bentonville head coach Barry Lunney, it was the climax of a week of a hard work on special teams.
“ You couldn’t have drawn it up any better, ” Lunney said. “ I don’t think anybody touched him. … Those are huge things that do swing momentum and give you encouragement. ”
The Tigers got the ball to start the second half and quarterbacks Pearson Gean and J. C. King methodically led the offense down the field on a seven-play, 61-yard drive.
Brandon Sleeth started the half at running back and rushed 16 yards on the first offensive play. Gean found Sheldon Vanderpool for 14 yards and King also hit Vanderpool for 12 more yards. Shane Boedeker ran around the left end for 12 yards and scored with 9: 18 left to give the Tigers a 21-14 lead.
After Bentonville’s defense stuffed Rycraw on three straight carries for minus three yards. After Baggett returned a punt 17 yards to the 34, the Tigers’ offense started moving the ball again.
Bentonville rushed six straight times to the 7 and King hit Taylor Lyles for a touchdown with 3: 31 left for a 28-14 lead.
“ We got some rust knocked off in the first half, ” King said. “ We came out in the second half and did what we were coached to do.
The Tigers defense held again on Bryant’s second possession of the third quarter. Bentonville scored its final touchdown to cap a 10-play, 62-yard drive — all runs — on Erik Ragsdale’s 2-yard run.
Ragsdale also scored Bentonville’s first touchdown of the game from 5 yards out to tie the game at 7 in the second quarter.
Bryant opened the game with an impressive 11-play, 80-yard drive that took 5: 57 off the clock. Austin Humbard scored on a 24-yard reverse handoff to give the Hornets an early 7-0 lead.
“ Boy I tell you what we played well early, ” Bryant coach Paul Calley said. “ We scored to go up 14-7 and I should have kicked the ball on the ground instead of kicking it deep. We let them get back in and gave them momentum going into halftime. They came out and dominated the third quarter. We made some mistakes that we usually don’t make.
“ We hadn’t played sloppy in a month, but we played sloppy in the third quarter. They took advantage of it and when they started rolling we couldn’t stop it. They’re just so big up front they mowed us out of there. ”
The Tigers finished with 203 rushing yards led by Boedeker’s 87 yards on 17 carries. Boedeker’s yardage pushed him over the 1, 000-yard mark for the season. Gean and King combined to go 7 of 9 in the passing game for 71 yards.
Rycraw finished the game with 112 yards on 27 carries but he was held to minus 4 yards in the second half.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
