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Defensive Line Getting It Done For Tigers
Last updated Saturday, September 27, 2008 10:41 PM CDT in Prep Sports
By The Morning News
BENTONVILLE -— Bentonville’s defensive line has been one of the most consistent positions for the Tigers this season.
Friday night was certainly no different.
The defensive line, made up of Ivan Gallegos (6-foot-1, 248 pounds), Austin Taylor (6-4, 282) and Rob Ferrell (6-1, 218), constantly put pressure on Fayetteville sophomore quarterback Brandon Allen, who only completed 11 passes and threw a season-worst four interceptions.
The constant pressure resulted in the Purple’Dogs having their worst offensive night of the year and the Tigers coming away with their fourth straight victory.
“If you can get to a young quarterback and make him have to move, he’s not as productive, and that’s what we were able to do,” said Tony Cherico, Bentonville’s defensive line coach. “That was our game plan going in and we executed extremely well.”
Cherico said shutting down Fayetteville’s offense the way Bentonville did will continue to give the Tigers more confidence.
“That’s what this is all about right now, we need as much confidence as possible,” Cherico said. “I think we got plenty of it (Friday).”
Heritage Falls Under Second-Half Swell
ROGERS — Last week against Republic, Mo., Rogers Heritage watched Chase Mills return the second half kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown but the War Eagles held on for a 29-17 victory.
Friday night, Heritage couldn’t come back from another big second-half kickoff return in a 59-38 loss to Fort Smith Northside.
Heritage led 25-20 at halftime but Northside’s Chuck Carter took the second half kickoff 61 yards to the War Eagles 20 to setup the first of three Grizzlies touchdowns the first five minutes of the second half.
The kickoff return turned the tide in Northside’s favor and Heritage coach Perry Escalante said the War Eagles must eliminate the big play in order to be competitive in the 7A-West.
“You can’t have big plays like that,” Escalante said. “That speed in this conference will come up and bite you if you are not careful. We have to correct that.”
Despite the loss, Escalante was proud of the War Eagles’ effort and thinks the first-year program may have earned some respect.
“We played pretty well, and I guess the naysayers will leave us alone now,” Escalante said. “The reality is that we are a good football team.”
— PAUL NIELSEN
Eckwood Shines For Red’Dogs
SPRINGDALE — Wide receiver LaDarius Eckwood caught both of Springdale High’s touchdowns in a 20-14 loss to Springdale Har-Ber on Friday night.
Both catches were highlight-reel plays where quarterback Ashton Glaser lofted a high spiral into the end zone. Eckwood, who owned a significant height advantage over Wildcat cornerback Zach Smith, jumped into the air and came down with the acrobatic catch and touchdown.
“That’s what he’s good at,” Springdale coach Kevin Johnson said. “He can get up in the air and go after the ball. That’s what we want him to do.”
Eckwood finished the game with five receptions for 81 yards -— accounting for more than half of Glaser’s passing yards.
Brandon Harris, Special To The Morning News
Prairie Grove Offense Rebounds
PRAIRIE GROVE — Two weeks of disappointing offensive performances were cast aside by the Prairie Grove Tigers in Huntsville on Friday night.
The Tigers (2-2, 1-0 4A-1) rushed for more than 300 yards, including 225 first-half yards from Anthony Sharp and Thomas Soehner, in their 36-7 win over the Eagles.
After averaging just more than 135 yards in its two losses to Cassville, Mo., and West Fork, the explosion against Huntsville was a welcome sight for coach Danny Abshier, who hopes this will build momentum for the rest of the conference slate including next weeks home game against Farmington.
“I hope it’s a boost for us and this not turn out like what happened after our game against Lavaca [in which the Tigers rushed for more than 400 yards] where we didn’t show up for the next two games,” Abshier said.
Abshier said the Tigers really didn’t change anything in practice over the last few weeks, but the offense just executed better in Huntsville and if it continues to execute, the Tigers will be able to move the ball all season.
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