Arkansas PBS Sports | AR PBS Sports Football State Final - 7A | Season 2024

It is a beautiful day in Little Rock, Arkansas, for the seven day state championship game between Bentonville and Fair Ball.

It's an all northwest Arkansas state championship game and the crowd is packing in for this one on this gorgeous Saturday in central Arkansas.

I'm RJ Hogg along with Bobby Swafford and Bobby.

This is a little bit different of a championship because for the last six years we've seen a central Arkansas team named Bryant here at the championship.

And it's different because you've got two Northwest Arkansas teams this year feel like we've got the time machine and jumped all the way back to the mid 20 tens because this was what it used to be.

It used to be two Northwest Arkansas teams.

We've starting to see that thing balance out.

The power swung back to the central, but thanks to wins in the semifinals last week and a really impressive performance by Bentonville, it's all in the Valley today, and rightfully so.

Both these two teams have a plethora of talent, and we're going to show throughout the game today there's college coaches from all over the country here at this game today.

That's right.

And this is the highlight.

This is supposed to be the crown jewel of football in our states, the largest classification.

You've got the two best teams, one team who's a perfect on the season in Fayetteville.

This is supposed to be the heavyweight match.

That's why all the big time college coaches, that's why the big time college coaches from our state are also going to be here today.

It ought to be a lot of fun.

We are expecting temperatures to be in the sixties today for this.

It's kind of crazy to think about.

We are in December and we've got the windows open and it's just a perfect day for football.

It went from a typhoon Thursday night for the eight man game to absolutely perfect fall weather here.

And we can't ask for a better situation.

The fans are going to take advantage of it.

The players are going to take advantage of it.

It's going to be about who's the better football team today.

It's going to be a lot of fun.

In fact, right before we went on, I looked out back and looked on 430, The line of cars is going down for 30 right now.

So if you're coming, you better come now because the line is filling up with the seven eight state championship game.

When we come back, we will go around the brackets, look at some players and look at keys to the game.

As you're watching the Centennial State football championships in Arkansas, PBS Sports Insight.

PBS has been a trusted resource and our high quality programs are seen by viewers in every corner of our state, making on our sponsors a solid investment.

Aligning Your Business with Arkansas PBS offers a powerful blend of community engagement, corporate philanthropy and cause marketing and our viewers remember and appreciate businesses that support our programs.

Contact us today for more information on sponsorship opportunities.

You know, I think sports are really big to a lot of people, and because it is an important part of our fabric and our community.

And one good thing about what I've seen is it's high quality production.

You know, you think of a small communities all over Arkansas, it's a big deal that they can turn on the TV or DVR or whatever and know they're going to get a quality product.

And so I think it just expands the the focus of what PBS is doing.

Arkansas PBS is doing a great job.

And I think it's part of education.

The commitment it takes to be a winner on the field is the same as the commitment.

Centennial shows its customers patience, perseverance, commitment and resilience are key ingredients for success, both on and off the field.

Whether you're cheering on your home team or eating encouragement, starting a new business, let Centennial Bake help you make plans for your future Centennial.

For all of life's moments, remember FDIC, when we're counting down for kickoff in the 70 state championship game between Bentonville and Farmville?

And it is going to be a fun one between both teams will do well since both teams have played each other in a state championship game and are looking forward to seeing what the talent is on the field right now.

Well, let's go ahead and look on how both of these teams got here.

Will first start with the Bentonville Tigers.

Bobby And they had to go through the defending champs to get here.

The number two seed coming from the Western Conference had a bye on the bottom half of the bracket in that first round.

But then they handled caviar a game.

The thought maybe a trip up.

You never know how things are going to handle survival.

You mentioned in the semifinals they had to go on the road to Bryant.

It's not that Bentonville won that game, RJ, it's how they wanted their up 5228 late in the third quarter.

Dominant performance, timely turnovers and that's why the Tigers are back in the championship game for the second straight season.

Well, not only that, but they've got an excellent wide receiver in C.J.

Brown, who has got over 1200 yards receiving this year.

He's actually an Arkansas commit 55 catches, 1255 yards, 15 touchdowns.

Any time Number two forbidden go gets his hands on the football He's got a chance to take it the distance You mentioned he's committed to Arkansas.

He's got offers to Minnesota and some other places.

He's a big time player in Fayetteville.

Got to know where number two is at all times.

Well, let's look at the other side of the field.

And it's laughable.

Purple dogs and how they got here.

Go Fayetteville again, like Bentonville had the bye in the first round there, The number one seed from the Western Conference, a perfect regular season, but tested by Fort Smith, South Side in that first round of the second game, first second round, their first game 3224.

And then they took down Conway, a classic in that one 2421 How to get a defensive stop in the final minute of the game.

Take down the Whoppers Gates and Fayetteville for the second time in three years, playing for a seven state championship.

You know, last night in the six eight game, we saw two of the top recruited quarterbacks in the country.

But one guy that everybody always leaves off the list is Drake Lindsey, who is headed to the University of Minnesota at 3300 yards, passing 49 touchdowns.

But the number two, remember two interceptions all season long, four interceptions in two years as a high school quarterback.

Really impressive.

Six, six foot six, £240, has a massive arm, makes all the throws you've got to cover for 40, 50, maybe even 60 yards, because he could push it down the field and he is a heck of a football player.

Let's go down to cow Carl Duck a bomb on the sidelines.

Kyle, I know that you've been roaming the sidelines and during the pre game you've seen some folks, but boy, it's an absolutely gorgeous day here on Memorial Stadium.

My friends.

First of all, great to be with you.

I am overdressed.

It is absolutely perfect conditions.

We said years.

Guys were in heavy coats.

It's freezing.

We will absolutely take this.

This is absolutely amazing.

You know, this afternoon a78 West team will win a state championship for the first time since 2016.

That's when Fayetteville beat North Little Rock.

In fact, this is the first time two seven, eight West teams are playing for the state championship since 2015.

When Fayetteville beat Harbor Bend, Coach Jody Grant says all the West coaches get together in the off season.

They try to strategize how do we get the focus back to the West?

Because all we've heard about is Bryant and North Little Rock for pretty much the last decade.

And then, in fact, Jody Grant texted Fayetteville coach Casey Dick after the two teams won their semifinal games to congratulate each other.

But I can promise you this, guys, the camaraderie ends there.

The rivalry will be renewed here in just a few minutes.

Thank you.

Call.

And he's exactly right, Bobby.

I mean you you think to the last six years it has been a dominant performance by the Hornets and what Bienville did in the semifinal game.

I tell you what, they they came out and they were the better team in the semifinal.

They're going to have to do the same thing today.

When you look at the keys to this contest, Bentonville has to get after Drake, Lynch and the quarterback.

They've got to force the Fayetteville QB into situations that he hasn't been put in all season long.

You've got to get into his face.

You've got to put pressure on him, try to get him out of the pocket, because I mentioned the size 66 to 40, he's not going to be a huge threat running the football.

Try to get the quarterback's face forcing Aaron through.

And the keys for Fayetteville.

This is the team that has not lost this year and they've got an uphill task with this Bienville team aired out.

I mean you've got a quarterback who could launch at 60 yards no matter the win today as the Bulldogs take the field, trust your quarterback, rely on the big arm and you have to neutralize broken coverage on the other side.

You can't let things break down.

Bienville We talked about the receiver for C.J.

Brown and how good he is in the passing game.

Bentonville will always be a run first football team.

They're going to try to pound the rock and then let Carter dye the quarterback, try to hit him in the pass the play action game.

There are the Bentonville Tigers as they're getting ready to make their way out of the tunnel and they're coming on the field here at War Memorial Stadium.

We talked about how great of a day it is.

And let's go ahead and look at the weather forecast for this one.

Boy, you can't beat it as we are going to have a kick off of 54 degrees, mostly cloudy, slight wind out of the north.

And it is going to be a lot of fun.

Great atmosphere here at one Memorial Stadium.

Yeah, you can't ask for a better day.

And for you and I who are sitting here Thursday night, you're wondering, okay, this is going to be miserable.

That's why the midfield logo is practically gone because the rain washed it away.

But it's there.

No conditions are going to affect the play today.

It's all going about who is the better football team right now at this stage is going to be your 70 state champion.

Well, we're just about sitting ready to go.

The federal purple dogs, they have, they're wearing their black pants with purple tops trimmed in white with their purple helmets.

And there's Bentonville and they're all white uniforms trimmed in black with black numerals and black helmets.

And we are just about set and ready to go.

Bobby, I'm looking forward to this.

When I we've heard, you know, if you're in central Arkansas, you don't get to see these teams very often.

But you've heard about Drake.

Lindsey I'm not going to see him this year.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what he can do on the field.

Yeah, it's a quarterback.

Everybody talked about Walker White, of course, in central Arkansas, and everybody talked about Kayne Archer, who we saw last night.

Not a lot of people outside of northwest Arkansas have talked about Drake, Lindsey.

He can make all the throws.

He's going to be really impressive.

But also Carter nine doesn't get the respect maybe that he deserves either.

2800 yards, passing the Bentonville quarterback 24 or 29 touchdowns excuse me, five interceptions.

And that includes two games that he missed due to injury.

And we're going to get a good look at Carter.

Nine firsts is Bentonville is going to receive this opening kickoff.

So for Fayetteville, kicking off is going to be Trey Byers and he'll have that into the end zone.

And that's where we'll start first.

And ten for Bentonville from the 20 yard line.

We've already crowned at eight man champion, a68 champion and a two way champion.

We've got the seven eight today.

And then tonight it's the five eight championship, which ought to be a good one between Shiloh, Christian and Park View.

If you believe in trends, Fayetteville may like this statistic.

Every team who's coming to the championship game undefeated this weekend has won Rucker at eight man Bigelow at two A and then again last night, Greenwood at six.

So the perfect teams have prevailed up to this point.

We'll see if that holds true.

Carter Knight is the quarterback for the Bienville Tigers.

He'll have three wide said to the right side.

Fakes the handoff going to look to throw nine going big ball right out of the gates has a man and goes just out of his reach as he was trying to hook up with C.J.

Brown and Brown had about five yards in between him in the corner.

One of the keys to the game.

No busted coverage is in right there.

The very first play of the contest, Fayetteville had one, and that's where you see the speed and the explosiveness of C.J Brown almost a big play for 80 yards on the first one but nine just missed it brings up a second down and ten for the Tigers they'll have Jason Gilmore the running back in the backfield and they'll come with a tight formation this time with two wide receivers set to the right side and we've got our first penalty of the ballgame as Fayetteville is going to jump out of the neutral zone encroachment defense by guard penalty, take it out.

So that gives Bentonville a35 yards.

That moves the ball up to the 25 yard line to bring up a second down and five or nine in the shotgun stands at the 20 yard line with the throw on an out route as he's got a man out at the 30 yard line.

Coming up with the reception for Bentonville is Carson Pate.

It's a really good throw there long throw cutter Knight is drops it over the defender's head perfectly placed ball pick up 11 in a first down moves the ball to the near hash they move towards the south end zone here at war Memorial Stadium just underway in the first quarter.

The wing backs it off the left side.

Two wide receivers to the left, nine going to hand it off, goes left side to Gilmore.

And Gilmore has got a great running line.

We do have a penalty marker down back at the 36 yard line.

He's got enough for a first down.

But hold everything.

Let's find out what the penalty is and will be a 13 yard gain.

Gilmore With 855 yards on the season.

We'll have to see if this play stands get out of that ball Personal foul face best defense 15 yard finish in the end the run was off the place a first down come with the 15 yard facemask and that's going to get Bentonville in some great field position that little margin all the way to the farm ball territory it's a great start for Bentonville.

You missed the big play, the first throw of the contest, but back to back double digit plays and now the 15 yard penalty, they're knocking down door of the 40.

And this is a Bentonville team that is averaging 46 and a half points per game this year and comes in motion that C.J Brown from right to left handed off to pick one fake one works the left side and he'll pick up about four yards on the play and that'll bring up second down It's a last name.

A lot of football fans in our state are going to recognize the older brother Josh was a stud running back for Bentonville and now they just kind of pass the torch down to younger brother Chris, the sophomore.

So it's second down and six as the ball is at the 37 yard line or nine is going to be in the shotgun in this big one.

There's the running back.

You're going to hand it to him.

He'll walk right side, gets past the 35 yard line and taken down at the 34.

A pair of Fayetteville defenders, including no Rojansky converge to make the play.

They're some of the athletic director but now it's third and short.

You stick with the passing game or you trust your quarterback Carter not to go through the air where the ground game's getting that push.

Just lean on those big guys.

You got to believe this is going to be two down territory If they don't pick up the first down here on third, probably that no man's land is.

Go ahead, go for it on fourth.

What we've seen out of quarterbacks in the state championship, a lot of quarterbacks run Carter Knight is not much of a runner.

He's only run for 184 yards this year.

And now we've got a penalty flag all star offense Hogan penalty third down.

You've got to change your philosophy likely was going to be a run there as they overloaded the left side it a false start penalty pushes it back to third and call it seven maybe even eight.

Now we'll see what Carter and I can do through the air.

Obviously, passing down right here is there's five wide in the formation now is going to be alone in the backfield AJ Brown at the bottom of your screen now he takes the snap in a row right Looking has a man all alone.

Now the ten five touchdown coming up with it was JJ Spafford for his third touchdown of the season.

The Fayetteville safety kept his eyes in the backfield and kind of rolled the coverage down on K.J.

Brown who is running a hook right right about the first down marker and left the slot receiver wide open down the seam an easy toss and catch and Bentonville strikes first on the kick for Bentonville there's Nico martin Novick as it's up and good and Bentonville with 945 to play in the first quarter.

They strike first seven to nothing lets it down to Kyle Decker bomb on the sidelines after that first score count.

Well, guys, I'll tell you, I'm standing on the federal sidelines and I think after that very first pass, you can hear a few guys kind of look at each other and go, Wow, Carter has an arm.

And I think that's sort of a you know, these two teams know each other so well.

But let's try to set up here.

Drake Lindsey coming onto the field for the first time for the state title offense, and P.J.

Fleck, the Minnesota coach, a Golden Gophers coach, is here.

I do think, guys, we will start to see a few more Arkansas coaches trickle in as this game goes on.

I did see Kenny Guyton here in attendance as well.

Thank you, Kyle.

As we've got 945 to play here in the first quarter, Martin Harvick was going to kick off as it'll sail down to the eight yard line before being brought up by Ferrell.

Welcome back to Millville.

We've got penalty flags down bring it up for the purple dogs is going to be Kataeb Ian Taylor and Taylor is going to bring it all the way out to the 36 yard line.

But we've got penalty flags down back at the 14 ers.

The return illegal blocking the bad return to Hill is hazardous to the goal first down after that block in the back and of the football back and so Fabio's going to be pinned back on their first drive to start the game.

Never want to start behind the chains and Fayetteville's doing so already here on first down as they back it up the penalty for the 15 So they're going to start this drive inside their own ten yard line probably doesn't change a whole lot what Fayetteville is wanting to do on this opening drive.

Ali, open it up in the 70 championship game of the shadow of their own goalpost.

So Drake Lindsey is the quarterback with Christian Setzer in the backfield.

He'll split out wide to the left, Lindsay looking to throw.

It's deflected at the line of scrimmage and that'll bring up second down a great job by the Bentonville defensive pass rush to realize they weren't going to get to the quarterback in time This get your hands up and knocked down the first pass of the contest You know it's pretty impressive Bobby, that you go through an entire high school football season and you only have two intercepts and you would think that there would be more deflections and things like that that calls an interception.

But he has been very, very accurate this year.

See how many his passes knocked down either coming from the six foot six arm slam and give it to Setzer.

Fetzer will take it down to the nine yard line, picks up two yards on the play to bring up a third down now for Fayetteville third longs.

Obviously the down and distance you want to stay out of it.

Fayetteville faced with one in its opening drive, Lindsay calls for fakes.

The handoff to look to throw goes across the middle of the field in and out of the hands of his intended target that Trump that time trying to hook up with his wide receiver.

McKinney.

And that's going to play up fourth down Bentonville defensive back did a nice job of just dropping back into coverage and undercut that round And fables really fortunate that one wasn't picked off and now they're have to put it away from their own ends.

Enzo on the punt and he's give me Nathan catching and he's going to fake it going to take off running He's got the first down and more as he got past the 20 yard line.

I don't think that was a designed play.

Bobby because he was about to have that punt blocked and he pulled it down.

Ran at has great awareness by the Fayetteville punter Catch Hill You're exactly right RJ that that rusher from his right is just pretty much came on blocked and so he just tucks it and sees a lane and picks up the first down A huge huge break for Fayetteville and a heads up play by the punter so it's first and ten now with the ball at the 24 yard line Drake Lindsey comes back out onto the field with 851 to play here in the first quarter.

Christian Setzer is lined up to the right of him.

He wide receivers on the near side fakes the handoff going to to throw this step up in the pocket going to look to run it's pass the 25 out to the 26 yard line what does it pick up of two yards that time looking down I guess that's a prime example of Lindsey not a huge threat to run the football and a nice job by Bitton fills coverage to to stay with the receiver and then when the play breaks down it's allowed time for the pass rush to get there and hold it to a gain of two second down and eight.

Patrick goes in motion.

Lindsey and the throw swings it out the center in the flats.

They get past one man and fall forward at the 29 yard line.

The really great play in the open field by Daniel McCoy in the junior linebacker for Bentonville.

That's a play that's tough to make out in space but he takes down sets in one on one forces favor ones with another third And this we call this a long distance six yards for wide receivers in the formation.

Setzer is going to line up to the left Drake Lindsey will take the snap going to look to throw marks the back left side and catch it.

No, he's out of bounds.

What a great job going up.

But just couldn't get his feet down.

Coming up with the reception that time was Mason Spencer, but he was out of bounds.

Great playing, great camerawork there.

Spencer elevates but can't get the foot and bounds comes down on the line now going to forcing another punt attempt see if you actually see foot on ball for this one Nathan Tatchell is the punter at the 31 yard average this year.

It's going to be a high snap, but hold everything we've got whistles and we've got a penalty flag down on their side and it's a false start.

On Fayetteville offense, five yard penalty got bailed out there.

The penalty likely saved them a disastrous play.

Now that the the ball went over the punters head and I think Casey Dick will take that penalty all day.

Yeah it was got to settle in.

You can tell that Bentonville is the more calm team.

There's no pressure on them.

We're up the undefeated team that back tickets away.

We'll take a nice farewell role inside the 35 still going down to the 32 yard line.

So with that point, Ben Bill, it was 726 to play in the first quarter.

You're watching the Centennial Bank state football championships in Arkansas.

PBS Sports, we all know the best ways to take care of our teeth, like brushing twice a day and flossing once a day.

But there's another small thing you can do that protects your teeth in a big way.

If you or your child is involved in contact.

Sports wearing a mouth guard is important to protect teeth, mouth guards, cover teeth and gums to prevent and reduce injury to teeth, lips and gums.

There are several varieties of mouth guards so you can find one that is affordable and easy to is a mouth guard should fit properly, be durable and easy to clean and not restrict speech or breathing.

Talk with your dentist about which mouth guard is best for you or your child's needs.

At Delta Dental of Arkansas, we are proud to be the champions of your smile.

For more helpful oral health tips and information, visit WW w dot delta dental r dot com.

Sanderson is the finest seaside resort on the whole coast.

I very much like to see it.

It's his brother Sidney.

Hey, what is your opinion of him?

I've never met anyone quite so confounding.

Everybody is waiting so they can have my money.

You have no idea what I'm prepared to do.

Not a good marriage should be based on mutual love and affection.

not that again.

Just be careful.

Careful of what?

On everything.

Send it and available now with PBS Passport and the Arkansas Department of Health is proud to support Spotlight and Sullivan, Arkansas student athletes in Arkansas.

PBS Sports Escape the Veep Learn more of the hazards of vaping at Project Prevent dot org Carter Nights back out on the field with his Bengal tigers as they lead seven to nothing, a fake a handoff and go with a quick pass.

But it was deflected away at the line of scrimmage and that'll bring up second down a great play by Trey Lyle.

Just get his hand up get out in the passing lane that that one away recognizes the quick pass to the flat left Paul up and swats her down so that brings up a second down and ten with the ball the 32 yard line Jason Gilmore now the running back in for Bentonville as well have two wide receivers to the near side they fake it to Gilmore going to look to throw nine across the middle of the field and JJ Spafford can't come up with the one handed catch and that'll bring up third down and ten they didn't hook up there.

That's a really impressive throw by Knight threads.

The needle right between the dropping defenders just can't make the play just a little too far out of the reach.

So it's third down and ten five wide in the formation for Bentonville and up as the Fayetteville defense is going to look to throw, he's under pressure.

He just throws it away and has nowhere to go.

And it'll bring up fourth down for Bentonville.

It's a really good job of Fayetteville's defense to the skies they look like in their coverage.

Zero just man across.

And as soon as they snap the football you can see a so many moving parts for fayetteville.

They just drop into the hook lanes, try to protect that line.

The game really impressive job by fayetteville's defense to get to three and out so Bentonville is put the ball at the 32 yard line back deep for Fayetteville is going to be landing hole tower on his way and it's a good one Holzhauer is going to take it in fair, catch it down to 32 yard line and so Perryville is going to have another shot at it with 706 to play here in the first quarter.

It just doesn't seem like either one of these teams, Bobby, can really get much more rhythm right now offensively.

I know Ben Gill scored that one, but the bowl teams, it seemed a little out of rhythm and good defense is going to do that to you.

You know this is the feeling out process.

really Interesting tidbit.

Chris Young The Greenwood coach, gave us.

You will see a lot of different things that teams haven't done in the first quarter, quarter and a half.

But after that, you're going to settle into really who you are.

And the reason why you're in the championship game is Lindsay flipping out left side as quick as I was able to get it over how to landed.

Jones and Jones will bring it up for about a six maybe seven yard gain.

It's a six long handoff there.

You swing it out to the short receiver, two receivers out in front the block for him.

You got three yards to get is they're going to bring it up and Setzer trying to go up the middle of the field he may have he got back to the line of scrimmage and that'll bring up third down so that brings up a third down and two with the ball to 41 yard line block rolling stacked receivers on both sides of the offense.

Fetzer will move up and stay on the left side of Lindsay.

Lindsay, looking to throw has a man across the middle of the field and stays on his feet at the 40 going to be drug down at the 32 yard line.

That's a great job by Jason Delamar, the wide receiver, the leading wide receiver for this Fayetteville team.

It's a great route combination by the Bulldogs.

They run the slot man deep that pulls the defense away.

They bring down Lamar back underneath, he breaks the tackle on the Razorback baseball commit, makes a big play.

There's another run by Setzer as he'll take it to the 30 yard line pick up of two yards that time.

Those are the kind of talent that Lamar has.

He leads Fayetteville in the seventh classification that team in receiving, and he's going to go play baseball at the next level second down and eight with the ball at the 30 yard line that's Lindsey ascend send a man in motion and he's going to look to throw back left side middle of the field.

He's at the five stretching it out Touchdown coming up with it for fair bill It was like McKinnie with the touchdown too much time RJ you can't not let Drake Lindsey drop back when you've only got a three man RUSH And he had plenty of time to dissect the defense and McKinney wide open down the middle on the post out and the Purple Dog strike back so on Do Kick is going to be Nathan Catch.

He's 66 of 68 on extra points this year The the extra point is up and good and we've got a tight ball game with 5 minutes remaining left here in the first quarter 77 between fair bell and Bentonville.

Let's check in with Kyle Decker bomb on the sidelines guys is bad Bill comes back out here expect a healthy dose of Mr. Brown their entire offensive meetings during that series we're focus on getting him the ball they're going to try to get it to the future hawks C.J.

Brown as much as they can, By the way, an athletic family, C.J.

Brown, his sister Jada, plays basketball at Vanderbilt.

And you guys were talking about Jason Lamar, who did Limp.

But we're going to check in on his injury.

But guys, future baseball commit.

He actually called Dave Van Horn like a cool uncle Might be the first time I've heard Dave Van Horn call it like a cool uncle they call And you know what's crazy is that there is a ton, whether it be baseball, football.

There is a lot of talent on this football field today, there's no doubt.

And that's what you expect here.

You're talking about the largest classification these two teams.

I mean, they're in the contention to play for a state championship every year.

Of course, Brian, is Conway crept to that conversation too late.

There was the North Little Rock for a long time and those are those are the four or five bluebloods, if you will, in our state in the last ten years.

You can pretty much pencil in one, if not both of those teams going to be playing for a championship.

Here is catchable is he'll put a foot into it.

It'll be taken at the two yard line bring it up is going to be C.J.

Brown for Bentonville and Brown's going to take it all the way out to the 34 yard line.

That's where Ben Bender will have it first and ten.

That return is not going to jump off the stat sheet, but this right here, you see after contact is why so many colleges want him.

The physicality of a wide receiver to pick up nine, maybe even ten yards after contact is what makes a good receiver into a great one and make two.

It makes him into a college player.

Always going to be on the far hash mark.

It'll be first and ten for 50 to play here in the first quarter.

Then Bill's going to line up with two wide receivers set to the left side.

Jason Gilmore is going to be a running back pull.

The Tigers quarter nine going to look to throw as a man cross the middle of the field.

That's brown.

He's going to be off to the races at the 40 going to be taken down at the 29 yard line.

He was wide open in the middle of the field.

Bobby in there, it was just going to be a footrace to get to him.

That great job.

First by Carter nine to extend the play rolls to his right and the breakdown rules.

C.J Brown finds his quarterback shows him his number and that's not the player you can leave uncontested if you're Faithful's defense handed to Gilmore he'll come right side bounces off two players goes forward out pass the 25 down to the 24 yard line we'll start to wrap up.

We saw a little bit of it on the kickoff purple jersey just bouncing off chance he comes in this lowers the shoulder doesn't wrap up there allows a couple more yards after contact and Gilmore is a thick running back or not going to look to throw going towards the end zone and he over throws his intended target trying to hook up with Luke Coon that time pressure finally got home.

Denied protection has been really good for Bentonville up to this point and I thought Fayetteville took another unnecessary risk.

Their goal pump fake from nine defensive back on the far side bit on it and almost got toasted for 6/3 down and five ball the 24 yard line Gilmore is now going to split out to the right side They're going to put C.J.

Brown in the backfield and a hand it to Brown for a run with the left side and he's going to get about a yard on the play, maybe setting up something for a little bit later.

Of course, you want to try to get the ball to one of your best playmakers as much as possible in the many different ways.

Maybe look for him to maybe go a little play action, try to sneak him out of the backfield.

Well, it's fourth down and they're going to keep the offense on the field.

It'll be about a 40 yard field goal attempts from here.

Flags aren't moving too much, but look, really between the 20 to 35 is really kind of no man's land.

Both these squads as well.

Roll the dice and go for it.

Gilmore is going to be the running back for Bentonville.

His wing backs it up the right side.

Two receivers in the formation.

the hard count gives it to Gilmore walks right side doesn't get the first down only got about a yard on the play fair bell holds and it's the turnover on downs Great job by Fayetteville defensively to stack up the point of attack They win the battle at the line of scrimmage the defense gets the football back for their offense and a chance to build off that momentum as they just put one in the end zone.

How many are you?

A little shocked They didn't try to hear it out there on third down, maybe a little bit them.

Yeah, maybe Trust your quarterback Carter not maybe go play action.

See if you can get those defensive backs to break up for a linebacker to break up just a touch and try to dump one over their head for in that intermediate 5 to 8 yard range.

especially with how how good they've been finding players in the middle of the field.

Here's a pass play that for Fayetteville as they work it into the hands of Jason Delamar and Del Mar is going to be able to pick up eight yards on that play.

Just a quick wide receiver screen is as good as a handoff.

That's really what would become accustomed to seeing from not only Fayetteville but a lot of teams in our state.

Why hands it off and he can snap it out to you receiver Let your playmakers get the ball in space.

Fayetteville is going to put three wide to the right side.

You're going to hand it off to Setzer and Setzer is going to take it out.

Pass the 35 to the 36 yard line, goes up front, get a push for Fayetteville, move the chains Now we've got a drive going first down this job I 75 and purple Desmond Peterson to pull around, get a hat on a hat.

So it's first and ten with the ball 36 yard line three wide receivers in the formation wing backs it off the right side and move to the left There's Lindsey He's going to look to throw again and find Delmar and he has nowhere to go.

Wow.

Lost a yard there.

Lamar didn't read the block.

All of his other receiver.

He's going to taken that one to the outside as a receiver receiver going to head to the inside, but that's a bang bang play now Fayetteville face for the third long as they did get a yard on the play so it's Rex in second Yeah second down and nine now second down and on Fayetteville is going to put four wide receivers to the right side of the formation Lindsey alone in the backfield go look to throw going big ball right side and he's got it man he's out of bounds He caught it coming up with the reception was good Davion Taylor, the sophomore he had a step out there and you could see the big arm of Lindsay even back into the wind a little bit perfectly placed and a great catch gets two feet in bounds.

It's his audition tape for the NFL right now.

We need one in high school, but two will do as well.

So Fayetteville is in Bentonville Territory with the ball.

The 32 yard line.

Lindsey flings it left side in the graves hands and he has nowhere to go.

Got about a yard on the play Lindsey already over 100 yards passing here in this first half eight of 11 about as efficient as you can expect But again it's second down and nine we're down to a minute, ten remaining here in the first quarter of play.

A lot of pressure on these corners for Bentonville to make one on one place they've done so far.

That's what you want to do.

If you're Fayetteville offenses wear you down.

If you miss one of those tackles, if it was Dalton, the big play and he's going to look to throw it all day in the pocket, going to move around now.

He's going to be taken down, coming up with a sack for Bienville, it was Rivers Wiseman, 81.

The senior linebacker, comes around the edge and does a nice job of gathering himself, finding the football and getting Lindsay on the ground.

On yard loss of the play that brings up a third down and 14 with the ball at the 36 yard line.

They don't have heights and waits in the rafters.

Bobby But Wiseman's not he's not near as big as Lindsay.

That's like bringing down a house right there.

Rewind.

Go right to the right side.

They set the screen walking back left side into the hands of their wide receiver, J.J. Spafford.

And that's going to do it for the first quarter of play.

We've got a tight ball game between Fayetteville and Bentonville as you're watching the Centennial Bank State football Championship.

It's an Arkansas PBS.

It looks like we have some new help in the marketing department, Atkins High and the error with everything you can see, I think you do the work on here.

Fine.

Badgers, how about you do it?

Family and customer friends, my family.

I know it can be a very big GMC.

I guarantee Alabama Extra for my broadcast of this championship game is made possible by give your family a once in a lifetime experience at the Little Rock Zoo at Arkansas.

Largest Lantern Festival.

Go wild at the Little Rock Zoo after dark.

Then your family who are waiting at Wonderland where imagination inspires, discover 40 new light and mystical creatures and returning favorites at Glow.

Why a once in a lifetime experience.

The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas Over 2500 team members across 17 local electric distribution co-ops, powering homes, farms and industries somewhere across Arkansas.

We are the electric cooperatives of Arkansas Power and People.

When you choose Conway Regional, you're choosing a health care partner rooted in your community.

With nine primary care locations in five counties.

We believe in building lasting relationships centered on trust and personalized care.

But our family care for yours Vaping, addiction to nicotine and can prematurely age your lungs to those of a seven year old, don't get lost in the fog.

Learn more about the hazards of vaping at Project Prevent Air Dawg Southern Lock So proud sponsor of Arkansas PBS.

It is our mission to tell your story by adding color with our furniture.

And that's my Southern Moth is a different kind of furniture store.

For more information, go to my southern mom scum.

Our Care is a proud sponsor of Arkansas PBS Sports.

The R Care network of medical clinics and pharmacies helps to keep you in the game.

Playing best.

Our car, our care.

Excuse me so you can live your story.

Lindsay is back on the field.

They've got four wide in the bottom of your screen.

Lindsay going to throw across the middle of the field and these receivers stopped as Ralph fell down and that's going to do it for Favre on this drive.

Bengals defense hold once again.

There's some contact there at the top of the route.

James maybe some incidental contact.

One of the players down Lindsay was looking for the penalty flag no call and the big fourth down stop for the Tigers so it's first and ten now for Bienville.

You see both these two defenses hold on fourth down.

The court is going to be a little bit of a shootout for a little bit.

But now the defenses have stepped up in this championship game.

Crazy things happened in these two.

Look it up.

You go back the last 25 years, Fayetteville, Bentonville has been one of the best rivalries in our state.

And the only thing that's predictable is it's going to be unpredictable, very wide set to the mayor's side as they'll throw across the middle field to C.J Brown and he's very near the first down ten patients there by night trust his protection and wait for Brown to clear that initial wave right in the middle finds a slot.

He picks up a dozen or so and moves the chains first and ten from the 37 yard line.

He catches 46 yards already for brown five wide in the formation.

This time as Carter nine is going to look to throw nine going big ball down the middle of the field and it's caught down the 19 yard line Coming up with it was Kirsten Tate, the wide receiver Corbin built a big throw there.

You mentioned five why there's going to air out a beat.

The Fayetteville defense has to come back through the football a little bit.

What a great adjustment by page to make the play.

And now they're in the red zone.

Here we go, five wide to the right side.

Set it up.

But there's penalty flag movement on the right side of that offensive line, all star offense, a guard penalty for these officials.

You've got our head referee right there, Michael Caton, the center judge is Mike running house.

The umpires, Brant Jones Linesman's will put line Judge James Stephens and back just Brad Richard.

But here's a bit of trivia for you.

The linesman will put the Commissioner of the Great American Conference a punching bag in his corner nigh on an end around a C.J brown and he can't go anywhere.

Great job defensively Caden Spencer right there recognizes the misdirection gets in the backfield and now BINFIELD way behind the chains going the wrong direction as it's now to be second down for Bentonville from the 31 yard line 21.

They've got to get all the way down to the ten under nine now five of ten passing, but 134 yards, three wide to the right side.

Chris Fickling is the running back line, falls on it.

He's on the ground and that's going to be another big loss.

And I wasn't ready for the snap.

He was looking over to his right, left side of the defense and wasn't ready for it was down to an either try to pick up the football.

But he's rolled down the stranded.

It got it all the way down to the 20 to play back to the 37.

They've got to get to the ten yard line to get a first down.

It's third down and 28 you're thinking field goal, absolute worst on this drive and now you're the punter certainly in the equation.

So there we go back to that five wide set, three wide to the top of your screen around your top receiver to the far right of the formation.

Now I'm going to throw under pressure, under pressure, throwing it to the right side.

There was not a receiver over there as he was getting rid of it should be grounding.

Here it is.

And they throw the penalty intentional grounding off their guard punt, which is part of the foul down 45 yard penalty from the spot of the foul.

A loss of town in this drive went from the 20 and now it's going to be all the way back at their own 44 yard line.

Yeah, I don't have my abacus so I can't tell you how far this is.

This is going to be fourth and a really long Wembley.

They call this a big county line.

I've just got construction on it.

More than likely to be called the 43 yard line.

I think fourth down and 47 so long one that on your bingo card today you are a winner.

One is away from the fair court down at the 21 yard line.

Yeah so with 925 to play here in the second minute we've got a tie ballgame, 7 to 7 between Fayetteville and Bentonville.

You're watching the Centennial Bank State Football Championships on Arkansas.

PBS Sports for every moment, for every memory.

From that first car to your first home to your first child.

And all the highs and lows that tomorrow.

My break for everything that matters most to you and your family.

There's someone around the corner dedicated to helping you protect what you love.

Your local Farm Bureau insurance agent.

Farm Bureau Insurance, real service, Real people, Farmers and Merchants Bank and the Bank of Fayetteville are proud supporters of Arkansas, PBS Sports and of Bentonville.

Go high school football.

Join us on and off the field because at Farmers and Merchants Bank in the Bank of Fayetteville, we're always in your corner.

Learn more and your bank account member FDIC.

New documents are being digitized every day and every day the DNA databases get bigger.

Sometimes the most moving revelations come from the paper trail.

Sometimes some of the most shocking revelations come from DNA.

I think I found out a little bit too much.

That's what makes us special.

The magical way that we combine genealogical research with genetic research.

And we're the first program in the world to do that.

Without your support, there would be no finding your roots.

And without your support, there would be no PBS.

Well, our student athlete all star preview is here.

Terrence Brown from Jonesboro is a quarterback, a senior, and the most the best part, he's got a 4.25 GPA plans, play collegiate football, study sports, medicine and become a football basketball coach.

Congratulations, Terrence BROWN Here's Fayetteville as they go swing it out the flats do about a yard pick up Bobby I didn't even know you get a football in five GPA.

I thought it stopped at four.

Yeah.

Apparently the kids are smarter these days than they were when we were in high school.

I didn't go up that high back then.

It stopped at four.

But was it changed either way?

I had my last three semesters together when you could have had my high school and college together for five.

So it's second down and nine from the 22 yard line wins is going to look to throw off the middle.

Appeal has a man down at the 40 yard line.

That's Jason Delmore.

This play was made possible by the the blitz pick up by the running back I believe it was Setzer in the backfield picks up the blitzing linebacker from the outside gave Lindsey just an extra moment to get rid of the football and a perfect strike right down to see more receivers in the formation as well Swing it out right side to Spencer go out of bounds at the 49 yard line He's got a yard shy of the first down and not a long throw for a quarterback to make stand in the middle of the field.

That one comes out almost all the way to the sideline.

It's on a rope.

It's just a receiver chance to make a play second down and one from the 49 stops the clock as he went out of bounds walk a little wildcat right here as they hand it right side Our Taylor is going to take the direct snap and go right side.

He'll get into Bentonville Territories.

He crosses the 45 down to the 43 yard line until they want to find different ways to get the sophomore the football.

He made the great catch on the far sideline this time they go wildcat of the option Reed and he picks up another first down for the purple dawgs clock is moving down to 805 left here in the first half Rick Lindsey with two wide set to the left side going to hand it off to Setzer and Setzer is going to get a couple on the play.

You know did a nice job of trying to be patient kind of hide behind is is pulling offensive linemen just not a whole lot there it's a defensive a nice job but the verge makes a play so it's second down and eight ball the 43 yard line Lindsey's in the shotgun going to have Setzer set to his right with two wide set to the left side of the formation And we've got whistle able took the timeout for the delay of game timeout Fayetteville that's their first chance time out of the half Well with 708 to play here in the first half let's head down to Kyle Decker bomb he's got a little tidbit on Casey Dick Yeah you know guys I'm standing on the sidelines here in Fayetteville and I think you guys talked about sort of the nervous energy for this team early on, but they have certainly settled in.

I think you saw sort of a release of energy at that last big defensive stop there on fourth in half of field.

But you mentioned Casey Dick and I was talking to him before the game, guys, and he can't help but walk on this field and have his eyes drawn to a certain quarter of the end zone here at this stadium.

Of course, Casey Dick to London, Crawford on fourth and one.

And, you know, Houston not was a big part of the reason why Casey Dick was hired in this role.

It came at the nation of Houston, but it was said that he is here today.

And you think about kind of this journey so far for Casey.

Dick Fayetteville's, the head coach, six and four in 2019 four and six in 2020.

Course they had that harsh ending that was, you know, unfairly mocked on Monday Night Football.

And how about the way his team and his quarterback bounce back guys 29 and eight since.

Yeah pretty impressive actually saw Houston as well come on delivered today it's one of three Arkansas head coaches at one point or another that are here today.

Yeah one current one 1:01 in current coordinator here is a pass play on second down and eight and nice coverage that time by Bentonville as they were trying to hook up with McKinney and then bring up a third down and eight It's good coverage by Bentonville Arkansas hands on the receiver for the incompletion and now it's third and long for Fayetteville in kind of a no man's land.

You think they don't pick up a yard here?

You might be looking at the punt team.

You get half of it.

The idea of going for it on fourth down starts creep into your mind five wide in the formation, third down and eight for man Box for Bentonville.

They're going to drop everybody into coverage when the under pressure steps up in the pocket trying to bounce around throws down the right side the field and it is intercepted It's intercepted at the 28 yard line.

Only the third interception of the season for Drake Lindsey Parker.

Shachtman, the junior, makes the interception there.

And Lindsey, maybe the first improvised throw of the contest kind of floats.

That one out there for his receiver didn't put enough on it, gave time for the defense to converge.

And you mentioned that earlier, RJ, How do you have a tip ball interception and their Bentonville defense comes up with a huge play.

What's been really impressive about this game for both teams is that they've been really good between the 20 Yes, there and then but once they're both know the defense is back is against the wall that's when they've really tightened down and have been really good for both both squads.

That's a sign of a very good defense as well.

I mean, it's supposed to be tougher to score points.

You know, teams all a lot of times will change up what they do offensively and defensively between the twenties and that time.

You've got to stiffen up.

And Bentonville defense makes the play it was Chris Ficken right there The sophomore got a nice run of eight yards, takes it out to the 36 yard line.

Boy I tell you, four guys like that that are able to get an interception and it's really kind of a badge of honor when get a guy coming in that's only thrown two picks all year and you're doing a state championship game.

Carter nine calls for it a fake the handoff going to look to throw.

I think that ball was partially hit and that'll bring up third down yeah Landon Jones got to the quarterback right when I was trying to let go of that one block That one just fell to the turf harmlessly because he took a shot in the back and almost picked off by a diving Isaiah Taylor So it's third down and two with the ball at the 36 yard line, you got an extra offensive lineman is Bentonville the hurry to get this one in play Clock's already down to 13 Carter nine is going to move his running back.

Pick one He's going to head straight up the left side and he'll get enough for the first down as he'll take it out to the 39 yard line.

It's just big on big right there.

Both teams brought an extra lineman into the game and Bentonville wins.

The advantage for the battle of the line of scrimmage moves the sticks.

Both these teams have been content with just three down linemen in rushing three.

We haven't seen many blitzes from either squad and I say that and Fayetteville going to stick with the four man front here first and ten and to hand it off, pick one and work the left side.

We've got penalty flags at the 36 yard line and it'll be taken down at the 45.

Now it's going to be coming back.

That old is pretty obvious to everybody in the stadium.

I have been going behind the chains holding offensive in yard play from the previous spot, three play first down.

Let's start to see these teams to run the football a little bit more now as I mentioned that such a light box, three or four, maybe even just five players within the tackle box Bentonville attempt to just ten rushes has negative three yards in the contest.

Fayetteville nine carries for 32 yards, its first down and 20.

Now we're going to the pistol set.

Nine is going to look to throw across the middle of fields got a man and he's going to walk it back up the left side It's case and pate Kirsten Page scuse me who's able to get the deflected pass and make the most out of it as he takes it all the way down to the 36 yard line pass.

I was almost intercepted right through the hands of the Fayetteville defender Jaydon Holton and Paint did a nice job of adjusting to the football making defenders miss and they're inside the 40 as a handoff.

This is going to go to Gilmore and Gilmore is going to pick up a couple on the play provider.

A swing of emotions for Fayetteville.

You think you're about to get a big play defensively and all of a sudden you've got to rally up and chase the football down 169 yards through the air for Bentonville.

Offense, second down and eight with the ball in the 34 yard line He receivers to the near side on the fair bell side some movement all star stop in front of them High guard penalty knock it down a little back about five yards and that'll take it to second down and 13 now to put the ball at the 39 yard line or he has two receivers to the near side fakes the handoff going to be under pressure steps up throws left side has a man down at the 29 yard line that time was able to hook up with JJ Spafford great poise by Carter and by this he knows he's about to take a big hit but able to get all the way back to his left hand rolls, works all through his progressions.

Every receiver on the comeback.

But what it was going to be a six or seven yard loss turned into a nice gain and now a third and short.

The ball is resting at the 29 yard line.

It's third down and four jumped offsides and the outside linebacker came running up.

And that time for Fayetteville, that was Jaydon Holt who came running up and he just got the neutral zone defense.

Five yard penalty resulted a first down.

So that gives Bentonville a first down as it'll move the ball to the 24 yard line, ninth first down this first half for the Tigers, and that's the cheapest one they'll get just to have that.

They have to have more field awareness that jump into the neutral zone.

It's 45 yards running, backs it off the left side is going to throw has a man that's brown as he'll sidestep the defender fall forward down to the 12 yard line.

It's too easy for Bentonville He recognizes the hole in the zone.

Brown just sits down it and he hits him another first down down.

But Brown is a good player.

He he's able to find open spaces and the yards after catch are where he's pretty impressive.

Moving to the far right of the formation to top of your screen now I'm going to hand it off to Gilmore and Gilmore has nowhere to go.

Hayden Spencer is we've called his team more than already a handful of times here today.

RJ is really dominating up front and another play in the backfield there for Fayetteville.

They Carter and I was ready from football.

He kind of caught it in his belly and hit Watch this.

I didn't get it before the snap, but he just kind of got it and was okay, well, we'll this thing off.

Yeah it looks like the offensive line wasn't ready for the snap either.

They weren't even out of their stance by the time that Spencer was behind and making the play.

So three receivers bunched on the right side.

Nice.

Going to throw and he'll be taken down back at the 29 yard line 892 converge Landon Jones and big Isaiah Perez converge for the sack.

And for the second time, R.J., we've seen a drive for Bentonville get inside the 20 and get pushed all the way back because of penalties and big defensive stops.

And they're actually going to mark him down at the 30 yard line.

So now it's a third down and long, third down and 28 they've got to get down to the two yard line to get a first down, the last possession they face fourth and 47 and now third and 28, two receivers to the near side as.

Gilmore is going to be the running back If they bring pressure they're showing it out and I'm going to look to throw has a man across the middle of the field and he'll be taken down.

Coming up with the reception was Eli Brooks, the junior?

I did exactly what he was supposed to there.

He recognizes the pressure.

He finds the hot route just going right up the seam, easy pitch and.

Catch there to Eli Brooks.

And now it's fourth and ten.

We'll see if they drop the field goal unit out.

They're going to leave the offense.

They might just let this play clock roll all the way down and a time out.

Not give Fayetteville too much time on the back end of this fourth quarter.

All is at the 12 yard line.

Exactly what we're going to do.

See Coach Jody Grant kind of wander out there.

He's going to have to take a timeout when this one hits.

One down, two 6 seconds on the play clock and they're going to call the timeout with 58 seconds remaining here in the first half.

We've got a time ball game, but there is you're likely going to kick this field goal at fourth and ten, trying to take the lead.

But more importantly, you don't get a whole lot of time.

Purple dogs have all three timeouts left after a kick off and in the field goal attempts, likely you're looking at roughly 45 seconds for them to go potentially 75 yards.

So, I mean, Bobby, if you're if you're Bendel, you get the points.

So I mean right And then your defense has been playing really well you take the lead.

I mean the most important thing is you take the lead and potentially you're taking this lead into halftime.

You're the underdog.

No, nobody Thought you were going to be in this game, let alone have a chance to win it.

And so if you can take a ten seven lead at the half, it'd be really hard to pass that up because that's when the doubt starts to creep in, because you've got a lead on team who's undefeated, hasn't been tested really that many times all season long.

That doubt creeps in their mind as they're sitting there for those 25 minutes at intermission.

I'd say probably the biggest test for Fayetteville this year come again when you Yeah, you know, South Side gave them a test in the second round of the playoffs as well.

Of course, Fayetteville always schedules a tough non-conference They're battle tested and Greenwood you put it on them pretty good and the benefit game way back and then of course, those don't count.

But so they played some really good teams.

Here's the field goal and it's up and good.

They got a 25 yard field goal and it's good.

And Bienville takes the lead 10 to 7.

Nice job by Niko Martin Indyk Boots that one through Bienville takes that ten seven lead can Our regional health system is proud to support Spotlight and celebrate Arkansas student athletes and Arkansas PBS Sports.

Since 1921, Conway Regional has provided complete health care services to the growing communities of North Central Arkansas.

For more info is go to country regional dot org.

Well, don't forget hearing about 50 seconds.

Going to have a good halftime for you.

Stick around because the folks at Arkansas PBS have put together some really good packages that highlight different in the state of Arkansas.

And I'll stick around for that during the halftime show as that'll be coming up here in about 53 seconds.

Right now, Bienville, a 10 to 7.

And Martin Quick is going to kick this one off.

It would to put into it it'll be taken down at the four yard line, picked up and brought up the right side here.

Fayetteville, bring it up.

Was Taylor and Taylor's going to take it out to the 19 line with 45 seconds left and all three time outs.

We'll have to see how aggressive Fayetteville wants to be.

Of course, you've got one of the best quarterbacks in, the state and Drake, Lindsay and an explosive offense.

It's averaging well north of 40 per game.

I'd expect that Fayetteville to take a couple of shots.

Of course, you always have to play other side of it.

You got to quicken completions, maybe you get bitten, build the football back and good field position that's five wide in the formation of the start.

This drive as Lindsay is going to call for it, I'm going to go with the swing pass left side, put it into the hands of Jason Dallimore and he'll get eight yards of it.

Just the drive starter, start the clock and get the chains moving so that way you could put yourself in second and short.

And maybe if you pick up that first, first down, that's when you start to use those timeouts for one, the formation Lindsay call for it looking to throw steps up in the pocket, still looking the man as a man down the 45 in the Ben built territory and he's down at the 41 with 6 seconds remaining and it looks like Babel's is going to call the timeout.

It took a lot of time before that play was snapped.

And you're going to see right here the video defense just kept the rise in the backfield too long and that allowed Mason Spencer to kind of sneak out from behind and Lindsay puts it on him a big gain.

And now Fayetteville is going to have maybe a chance at a quick out, maybe four or five yards or they've got to take a shot at the end zone.

And Bobby, I think Drake Lindsey was trying to get the ball.

He kept calling for it, and you saw him at one point.

He kind of rock backwards thinking he was getting ready to get the football.

And I don't think his offensive line could hear him because he called for about three times before he actually got it.

That play took easily 20, 25 seconds.

Fayetteville is going to be tasked with something quick.

Got to get down.

If it gets caught in the middle of field, call another time out or or take a shot at the end zone.

It's all East Point set County score in the final play of the half yesterday, Lindsay, 14 to 25, 185 through the air.

Let's have the one tip ball interception and then pressure both his quarterback so far three wide you're going to be set up to the bottom of your screen.

Lindsay's going to look to throw going towards the end zone, throws it up, got knocked down, and that's going to take us to halftime, 10 to 7 first quarter as Ben Bill.

They lead Fayetteville here in the seven state game.

Kyle Doug is trying to find Jody Grant.

He's got him now Coach You guys keep knocking on the door there.

What do you do to sort of get out of that funk and finish a drive?

Well, we're move the ball, you know, in between the toes, but we've got to be able to move it once we get down in the red zone.

And we've had a couple of fourth downs that we got stopped on.

So we just got to keep operating offensively and find a way to turn those red zone appearances into touchdowns.

Thanks, Coach.

You bet.

Thank you, Kyle.

That was head coach Jody Grant for the Bentonville Tigers as they leave at 10 to 7 as we head to halftime.

Stick around.

You got a great halftime show for you as the Bienville Tigers lead at ten seven.

You're watching as the dinner by state football championships on Arkansas PBS Sports, The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.

Over 2500 team members across 17 local electric distribution co-ops powering homes, farms and industry somewhere across Arkansas.

We are the electric cooperatives of Arkansas Power and people.

1958 was the Year of Change in America.

The Hope Diamond was donated to the Smithsonian Museum.

The microchip was invented.

NACA was created by President Dwight Eisenhower.

And in Arkansas, deep in the recesses of War Memorial Stadium, a group of prominent Little Rock founded the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

The original mission of the Hall of Fame was simple enough to recognize and induct individuals and teams that have brought honor to the state of Arkansas.

And we do provide scholarships for student athletes.

It's a great place for young people to get inspired to come here themselves, to walk through and to read these stories and think, someday that can be me.

We inducted our first class in 1959.

We have over 500 inductees basketball players, football players, baseball players, archery and sharpshooter Trapshooting runners, golfers, horse racing, car racing.

It's a great cross-section of what sports is for more than 60 years, the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame worked to honor those most accomplished athletes who call the natural state home Arkansas for its Hall of Fame selection process is simple, but a little complicated.

You can go online and nominate your favorite sports hero.

If that person goes into a master database selection committee, comes up with those 50 people on the voting for each category that is mailed out to the dues paying members.

You pick your top five, those come back the top two vote getters in the regular categories automatically get in.

The top vote getter from the senior category automatically gets in and then the board votes on the remaining inductees.

And then you wait for a call when you get the call, it's a big deal.

You know, when I was inducted to the Sports Hall of Fame or however when I got received the call, I feel like I've reached something.

Being from a small town, rural area, which Arkansas has a lot of that way.

And when you get picked for something that's prestigious, it has a huge impact on your life.

Seemed to me it was cap, my athletic career.

I just seemed like all the hard work have paid off for me.

All the people you meet, all the connections you make, they welcome you.

It was remarkable to the night that I came to be inducted because the former inductees, they want you to feel like, Hey, you're part of us.

Now.

Clearly, sports in Arkansas isn't all fun and games.

Sports is a common ground that brings everybody together and we compete.

We want to see good battle, but we want to shake hands afterwards.

And if there's a respect for everyone that players athletics teaches you discipline, it teaches you teamwork, it prepares you for life.

It got me a full scholarship at the university Central Arkansas.

Eventually, the Hall of Fame had grown to need a new home, and by early 2007, construction was complete on the almost 14,000 square foot Sports Hall of Fame Museum, located in what is now Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock.

All the state have an opportunity to make sure their heroes remember.

And they do that.

Walk through this whole thing, see a helmet from some small community here, a smaller college maybe than the Razorbacks are jerseys, pictures, statistics, all kinds of memorabilia, like a picture of Scottie Pippen standing next to a polar bear.

For some reason, it's just like creating the milestones of the people who started and who laid the foundation.

Their favorite thing is always the bears back there in the car, the Martin Martin car.

But they actually get to see how sports in Arkansas started for everybody as they were growing up, had their favorite sports heroes.

We preserved those sports heroes for the different generations.

They can look here and say, wow, this person overcame this.

They came from maybe an impoverished background or maybe a beginning that wasn't necessarily headed toward sports, ended up there someday.

We have a great sports legacy here.

It's a great representation of what this state is about, hardworking people who endured, who achieved.

And so to have that legacy in a permanent place here, I hope people embrace that, hope they come here and enjoy it.

Look at the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame as motivation and say, hey, one day that's going to be me.

Now you know the history.

You can be a part of the future of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

just the way we end is, you know, it's called The City with a smile, whether it's a Friday night football game or it's a family in need, it's going through a hard time, or is the community going through a tornado?

The people that we can rally around each other, we have a serious situation.

A new tornado warning.

I have to say, the wind we're not here when you need to be in your tornado safe spot right now.

There's I grew up here, graduated from here in 2000.

A lot of memories here when high school.

There's a lot of tradition here.

I've been here my entire life.

All my family's went here.

It's been a very big school year, was going really normally.

I was actually in the middle of like, classes and stuff, not expecting anything to change.

You know, we were excited because it kind of felt like it was the first year post-college.

My senior year, I for college football, I was in off season football.

I was playing soccer too, and we were really excited.

Things were going along all the way up to the March 31st and the last thing in the world in our mind was have a tornado destroy our school and our kids yet again, not having a normal year.

That radar is showing you the hook echo that just now went through when that is a debris ball just to the east of when one of my maintenance guys called said, you got to get down here.

These are the schools go.

You know, the tragedies happen.

You know, the storms here, we we can't we had our moment of, you know, just breaking down.

We can't stay in that moment.

What do we do to help our community?

I got a call from one of my buddies and he told me the turf was in his front yard from the football field right out there here, that the tornado hit the field and there is no football.

And I'm thinking, okay, what's the next what's the next still like?

What are we going to do?

We were right out here on that field and there's debris everywhere, there's tile.

The first time we really got to meet with the team there, got bulldozers behind or bulldozing their school.

You know, the kids look on their eyes is like, what kind of nightmare if I woke up to it was a it was a surreal feeling, something I'll never forget.

We have to find a way to make sure our kids don't lose anything.

They don't lose prom.

They don't lose graduation.

Obviously, with the field being nothing but gravel, we went to a church field for spring football practice because we didn't have turf.

We've been out on grass.

We just kind of made the most of what we had and we could have easily sat back and just said, Man, what do we do?

But that's a testament to our leadership and it's a testament to our teachers, our students to put the extra work it took to get us to that point.

Once the temporary campus got done, it was an easier transition.

It was more of like a normal school feeling.

They did a great job getting our facilities back.

I was in pass.

It was it was an amazing feeling to, you know, turf from the difference from turf to grass.

It was it was an amazing feeling.

I always, you know, live through the kids and well, they were teared up.

You know, it was it was it was a big, big day for sure.

Looking in their stance in.

The wind clearly all of that together, right at State University.

It was all they very come together.

And then it's an awesome community.

We're living here.

We're playing pretty good.

So many fans out every game.

And it's just not that they show up when there's loss, when there's when there's grief, they show up for everything.

That's what they do in white all.

Mr. Dawes, our superintendent, then brought him in.

You know, you think that someone that played in the NFL and big star quarterback, but he didn't come off like that at all.

You could tell he was getting ready.

He was ready to get to work, and he was excited to be the head football coach.

He just comes in and he introduces himself and he immediately flashes huge smile and corrects a joke.

And it's his laugh.

He always had this laugh.

It was a working relationship, but then it turned into he was literally my best friend.

Well, you knew he was when he got here, but he didn't want that.

He wanted to just be Ryan.

What he brought was Big Heart for kids.

A huge personality, just a simple, humble man is what I saw.

He want to get back to kids and get back to the sport that he loved.

But my dad said being was the first football player that he met.

When he came to the house he ran.

It was right across the street from Barnes house.

He knew that Beam was going to be special.

He said, Man, I love that kid.

Please join me in a moment of silence.

As we remember Benjamin here, except maybe you mentioned all of this.

His mother, I woke up that morning with some text messages and calls, and a couple of those calls were from Coach Mallett.

When Ben passed away, that's when I really found out how close they were because of how bad it wrecked him.

It changed him.

I really, really did.

I cared for him a lot.

I was like my son, basically.

It's just it's tough when you lose a kid like that and know that he was going to go off and do great things and that when that would hit me hard.

It's just sad seeing Coach Mallett react way he did even on the field and hug everybody in the field, start crying and tell us all that he loved us.

We all use each other to kind of piggyback on try to look to each other for comfort.

Everybody Was there for each other.

Mallett being the name that he was, you know, fake media or whatever, posting stuff when we text, you know, it was this real.

I was like, there's no way.

So I called him.

I was like, There's no way it's true.

Let me call it.

He pick up.

I was like, Wow, this is real.

I was in shock.

I just talked to him for about an hour and a half before I just melted to the ground.

The feelings and the emotions were so raw.

You can't hardly describe it unless you're in that moment.

To be honest, it didn't seem that it could possibly be real.

Our had lost students.

We had lost a coach that our kids adored.

It was more than what we could handle as a district, as a whole community.

I think they came together to help us football players out.

They had counselors from every school, even elementary schools there, knowing that they were there for us, helped out a lot.

It's just the outpouring of affection and and love that they show in this community for years.

It was awesome.

It was about.

What do you expect from.

Well, they they were there.

Just that outpouring of love that was felt in not just our community, but surrounding communities in the state, just the love that was shown to us.

It's healing.

And we as a community can get through this.

We've gone through all these things and every day we are moving forward.

The electric cooperatives of Arkansas, over 2500 team members across 17 local electric distribution co-ops, powering homes, farms and industries somewhere across Arkansas.

We are the electric cooperatives of Arkansas Power and people.

You've spent years exploring Arkansas with us.

Did you know Arkansas?

PBS is also here to help you explore your financial options to be more prepared for the future.

Almost two thirds of Americans don't have a will in place yet for planning of a will or trust can help protect you and your family.

It can also help guide the future of public television in Arkansas.

Explore your options.

Request a free estate planning booklet from Arkansas.

PBS Today, we're back here at War Memorial Stadium.

Bentonville leads 10 to 7 over Fayetteville.

In the past seven eight state championship game, Bobby's Wal Mart Jayhawk as we've come to you high above war memorial on this beautiful Saturday.

And let's look at our first half the you know both these teams compared in the first half and look at that bear bill 217 total yards of offense meant that 190 passing game meant those got that 209 to 185 and then payables ran the ball a little bit more 37 to 26 first downs are in favor of Bentonville 10 to 8 and on third third down Fayetteville converted more time of possession is in favor of Bentonville as well.

Bobby surprised by any of that?

You know, the one thing that really jumps off the stat sheet and I think it's probably throwing the system for a loop is Bentonville has -19 yards on the ground because you got to remember a lot of that has to do with sacks and the fact that they still have a lead and they're negative in the rushing stats, it's really hard to fathom, but that's where the passing game has been so effective.

Well, let's head down to Kyle Duck real quick as he's got head coach KC Dick for Fayetteville, North Coach, these are two teams that clearly know each other really, really well.

Give us a sense for the main message in there.

We just got to go finish.

You know, we got to be better on third down offensively, I think we're one for five right now.

So that's hurting us a little bit.

But you know, defensively we're playing great.

We're not you know, they get down here and we were able to force them to turn the ball over, stop them on fourth down.

We just we just got to go finish.

We're playing good.

Good things happen.

Just got to go finish the game.

Thanks, Coach.

Thank you, Kyle.

As that was, head coach Casey Dick as his favored Bulldogs trailed by three.

Well, let's look at the stat, the highlights for this first half between and there's really not a whole lot of them but it all started early in this one and look at that big catch right there for Bentonville is coming up with it was pate and pate got the scoring started it was seven or nothing.

Then Bevel bounced right back.

Coming back up was McKinnie and he got the touchdown.

Boy, it's just you saw wide open receivers Bobby by both these two touchdowns.

Yeah there was a lot of movement in the passing game.

Both his quarterbacks have been pretty effective Carter nine for Bentonville nine of 15 over already over 200 yards Drake Lindsey 14 to 21 185.

But you mentioned in the first half, there's a lot of stuff on 20 to 20.

There's not a lot of stuff happening in the red zone.

These two teams are buckling down once they get inside the 20 yard line and making points at a premium.

This is how you have a game that's got over 400 yards of offense, but only 17 points out.

And so it'll be interesting to see how both these two teams do to really bring their offense back to the field.

Justin, a lot of defense there in the first half.

Bobby, give me some keys for both these two teams.

To me, the first thing for Fayetteville is they've got to get after quarter nine.

They've got to get more pressure, whether it's let's bring in extra well, let's bring in four down linemen on a consistent basis, whether it's bring in linebackers on a blitz, they've got to get some way to get Carter and Guy out of rhythm because he's picking them apart in the passing game.

And then the other side of things.

I think Fayetteville needs to run the football.

Bentonville is doing the exact same thing with a light box.

I think Fayetteville needs to trust that offensive line.

Try to go to Christian Setzer a little more.

Only five carries for just 13 yards.

Maybe get the ground game going.

That'll soften up the secondary, get their eyes, maybe come into the backfield.

Bailey to an open receiver to you know, the Fayetteville offensive line has done a really good job protecting Lindsey so far It's just getting guys open downfield.

The secondary for Ben.

Bill's done a really good job.

Yeah, I mean this is almost a an exact blueprint of what we saw last night, what Bentonville is doing the same thing that Greenwood did against Little Rock Christian.

They're just dropping eight and saying, Hey, our three guys are going to get there eventually.

And we think our our eight guys in coverage are going to do a better job than your receivers are.

And right now that's holding true.

So both teams are done with their warm ups and we're just about set and ready to go.

We'll go down to count one more time.

Kyle The weather seems like it's warming up a little bit and the wind is really not been a factor in this one, has it?

Not at all.

I can't remember, guys.

A state championship weekend this warm.

It just feels like it's always you know, we've had some great weather at times, but it just feels like we're always in, at the very least, some heavy coats.

It got warm out here and you guys can take a look at the the flags above the scoreboard virtually still.

It is just perfect, perfect conditions to see who wins the seven eight championship.

Thank you, Carl.

And we're just about set and ready to go as both teams are making their way back out.

Glad to have you along wherever you may be across the state of Arkansas as we've got more state championship football tonight, as it's the five day state championship game between Park View and Shiloh Christian, that'll kick off at 630 tonight.

You can watch that right here on Arkansas PBS.

Bobby and Wes, you guys will have that game tonight, right?

I'm not on that.

maybe Brazil, maybe, maybe Brazil.

Yes.

I'll debut for the season here in the West are going to be on the call.

I'm going to put on my other job hat and do some things here at the stadium.

Yeah, there are two jobs at one time.

It's going to be one job.

That baby is going to receive the second half kick off as Bentonville started the ball game with the ball.

And so Fayetteville will have it as kicking off for Bentonville is going to be Niko Martino, Vic will put a foot into it and it will sail down on the right side and it'll be picked up at the 11 yard line for Fayetteville and brought out past the 15 to the 17 yard line, bringing it up for Fayetteville, it was Caleb Johnson.

Now that's where they'll have it first and ten start the second half.

The one thing that both of these teams have really done a good job of and this was why you're seeing it's only a 10 to 7 game there.

There's been no short fields.

Even the one turnover that we had in the red zone on the tip ball.

So any time you make a team March 85, 75 yards, good things are going to happen because more times and on and off it's going to break down.

We've seen a pair of Bentonville drives get to the red zone and get pushed way back because of penalties and lost a place to hand it off to.

Stetson said she's going to go to the 15 yard.

He went backwards.

They tried to draw the outside zone there.

I want to go north and south.

You know, it's a three man box trying to attack the open lanes of.

They're already right there.

Try to take advantage of the numbers that you have because you get more than east and west.

Now, you've got to give time for the rest of the defense to converge.

So it brings up a second down and 12 after the two yard loss.

Gregg lindsey, the quarterback seems to both sides faked the handoff, got with the throw pump fake comes back out.

We have a penalty flag down and lindsey is going to be taken down at the ten yard line.

Luckily a hold they are talking with the Bentonville staff.

They're going to decline this big play by the bentonville defense here in the opening drive of the third holding offense.

The penalties decline, third down.

So they're going to have it at the ten yard line.

It was a two yard loss to me.

It was a five yard loss.

And now you've got a third down and 22 for Fayetteville, three wide set to the right side.

Lindsey look to throw steps up in the pocket float one close to the left side That little love excuse me and love goes out of bounds at the 34 yard line.

Great route, great row at the first down for Fayetteville and a protection held up just long enough.

And Lindsey finds luck on the deep crosser.

A perfect throw hits him in stride and they convert to third and long.

So it's first and ten from the 34 yard line.

Lindsey throws in the flats out to Delmar and Delmar gets out to the 34 yard line.

No gain.

That time for Fayetteville has done a really good job of reading those wide receiver screens, those quick swing passes that's on the even fake the counter in the backfield and swing it up the Dell Lamar but he's shut down right at the line of scrimmage second down and ten wing backs it off the right side for the federal offense Lindsey the to throw going big ball has a man down at the 35 yard line he'll fall out the 31 coming up with the reception was Mason Spencer that's where those swing passes those screens come into play.

They fake the screen there, they sneak the would be blocker out on a go right on the outside.

And Lindsey places a perfectly thrown ball.

He brings it down, fights the defender off and the purple dogs who are backed way up third and 17 are now in business ball at the 31 yard line it's first and ten three receivers set to the right side fake the handoff again looking to throw goes right side has a man at the 21 yard line the big time for right there are they just a goal hook right at nine yards and he just puts it on on his numbers as he's going down to the ground low and outside where only his player can make a play on it.

That's just that's high level football.

It was Mason Spencer again making that reception.

Not always the 40 or 50 yard throw that gets you a college scholarship.

If you can do that on a consistent, you're gonna be playing on Saturdays.

And now we've got whistles response the ball just a touch screen for one second stacked receivers on both sides and formation Setzer comes to the left side of Lindsey Lindsey going to look to throw comes back left side never saw his receiver never turned around that was Delmore Fables picked up the pace just a little bit offensively, maybe trying to wear it down.

This is Tiger defense that's on the quarterback and receiver, not on the same page.

Well behind his intended target third down and one ball at the 21 yard line, three backs in the backfield with Lindsey.

We're going to hand it to Setzer catcher just has nowhere to go.

He may have gotten back or he may be at the first down.

Mark Rhodes This is all going to depend on the spot.

Another really nice play from Rivers.

Wiseman stretches that out, tries to prevent the Fayetteville rusher from getting the edge.

I think we're going to have to bring out the chain gang.

Those guys get some steps in.

Yeah, I mean, it's I think that he's got the first down but being that the ball is on the Fairfield sign, the chains are on the bend Bill side and bring all the way across it is what it is I did get the first down so it'll be the first two downs for Fairview but we're going have to pull out the throw index guard who's like he's there to really pull the index card out of his pocket and we're good to get that number one index card.

The new referees keep those kind of things.

So it's first down and ten ball at the 21 yard line.

This is where these two offenses have got.

I've got to figure it out.

The defenses have owned the red zone and they're just a half a yard outside of Fayetteville.

We've got to kind of find a way to come out, put Lindsay and handed off on the end around.

That's Delmore.

And Delmore got past the 20 down to the 19 yard line.

Daniel Cohen again makes a great play in space.

We saw the hesitation, the stutter step out there by Lamar.

He didn't fall for it, and he makes a great play and then holds that to a gain of one second down a93 wide set to the left side of the formation.

But then he's going to take the snap look to throw across the middle of the field and and now the hands of his receiver that was Mason Spencer good coverage that time by Bentonville.

Yeah Daxton Horton was right there it looks like 41 in coverage and just excuse me 31 but Wilf Fuss Allman just makes contact as a receiver right when the football gets there Outstanding job by the defensive back and forces the incompletion 751 to play here in the third quarter then built in Fayetteville seven well it's third down and nine Lindsay looking as a man down at the nine yard line gets past the five stretches out to the one we're calling out two yard line the first down and goal now for Fairfield excellent execution there from Lindsey this rifles one right the whole scheme not lot of space there for Lamar to get open but he makes the play a handed off to Setzer Setzer trying to get to the end zone they're going to say he's down short really long drive for Fayetteville trying to wear down that Booneville front.

But they still hold him out.

But second and goal from inside the long back in about 5 minutes maybe by the time they snap the football and of course all potential scoring plays are automatically reviewed in the booth.

So if they feel like they got to the goal line, they'll stop it, review it.

But the officials are good with that call.

Going back off the right side sets are set to the left and now here comes the whistles and the review.

Previous play is under review.

So the booth called down and said, Hey, we want to take a look at this one.

So any potential scoring play or any potential turnover is automatically review throughout the entire championship game.

Well, there's Setzer.

You see him, he puts head down Bobby and is that second effort did he get the ball across the line right there.

That's a really good angle so if we can roll that back where is the knee at?

It may be hard to see because that of the Bentonville defenders are right on top of it right there.

The ball is on the goal line.

You remember, it doesn't have to cross.

Just has to touch that initial goal line.

We'll see if his knees are before that ball does indeed touch the plane.

Now his so his knees were still up and the ball was stretched out over the white line.

I mean it's a bang bang play right there And look if you're doing it in real time, that's hard to hard to call and he's got 81.

He's right in the way of the the official who's on down line from this angle, I might say that's a touchdown.

Yeah, I would agree with you.

Yeah that that is a but is that conclusive.

That that's that's the where the officials are going to look for it.

It has to be conclusive evidence that he did in fact cross the goal line.

Well, here's your call.

The really on the field second down.

All right we'll say it stands a no score.

So it wasn't conclusive.

Well well, I'm once again the what To your point, they've got to have enough evidence to overturn and the angles not perfectly down the line, which makes it tough as well, except it's going to go.

Lindsay got to hand it to Setzer and he'll get it in this time.

Lowered his head, lowered the boom and got in really, really impressive drive for Fayetteville.

Take the opening kickoff.

They're back that all the way third and 17 before they pick up a first down.

They get the long throw across the field and they just methodically march it and now they take the lead in the contest.

So Fayetteville leads it 13 to 10.

Now.

And on the kick for Fayetteville is Nathan Cassell at four point is up it's good and Fayetteville they lead at 1410 650 to play in the third You're watching the centennial Bank state football championships on Arkansas PBS Sports broadcast of this championship game is made possible by Southern Lock.

The proud sponsor of Arkansas PBS.

It is our mission to tell your story by adding color with our furniture.

And that's my Southern loft is a different kind of furniture store.

For more information, go to my Southern Monster.com.

Give your family a once in a lifetime experience at the Little Rock Zoo at Arkansas's largest lantern festival.

Go wild at the Rock Zoo after dark, bring your family to a radiant wonderland where imagination sparks discovery.

40 new lighting, mystical creatures and returning favorites at Glow.

Why a once in a lifetime experience.

The Electric cooperatives of Arkansas over 2500 team members across 17 local electric distribution co-ops, powering homes, farms and industries somewhere across.

We are the electric cooperatives of Arkansas Power and People.

When you choose Conway Regional, you're choosing a health care partner rooted in your community.

With nine primary care locations in five counties.

We believe in building lasting relationships centered on trust and personalized care.

But our family care for yours, dating addiction to nicotine and can prematurely age your lungs to those of a seven year old, don't get lost in the fog.

Learn more about the hazards of vaping at Project Prevent Fraud and raising Cane's chicken Fingers.

As a proud supporter of Arkansas.

PBS Sports Close looking for communities looking for meal options, racing games is known for their hand batter, chicken fingers and special sauce, raising Cane's chicken fingers one love castle to be on to kick off for Fayetteville after they take the lead 14 to 10 and for Bentonville they're going to have C.J.

Brown, Conrad Smith and Luke come back to receive this kick off.

The kick off is away and it will sail into the end zone and it'll be a touchback.

Well, we've talked about all the coaching, the coaches that are in attendance today and the one that is here to see the big quarterback, Drake Lindsey.

PJ Fleck is in the house.

Bobby is he's out here walking around watching his future quarterback.

Minnesota's head football coach P.J.

Fleck made the trip down and hit Drake.

Lindsey, he's putting on the show for his potential future coach, 19 of 28, passing 271 yards and a touchdown.

There's a reason he's coming down to make sure that his prized possession still coming to be a gopher.

So Bentonville is going to have it first and ten as they're going to hand it off on his first play, give it off over to Gilmore.

Gilmore is going to get out to the 24 yard line, check in with Kyle knuckleball him real quick.

What's up, Karl?

I had one thing there.

I'm not sure many people realize the connection between the Lindsey family and Minneapolis.

It's I'm not sure how many people realize Jim Lindsey played for the Vikings after his Razorback career.

Running back special teams actually was on the team that lost Super Bowl four to the Chiefs.

So that's the connection to Minnesota.

And, you know, a lot of people have asked me, they're like Minnesota, of all places.

Why there?

And it makes sense now, Kyle And you got to believe watching film for Drake Lindsey And that's why they've offered C.J.

Brown as well to go see here's the big running play by pick one and pick one's going to take it down to the 39 yard line.

Got the first down first two plays with on offense in the second half.

Matt tell you what the conversation was at halftime for Bentonville.

You know, they go into the locker room with -19 yards rushing that didn't sit well with Jody Grant and company so they go back to back plays on the ground and pick up the first down.

So first down and ten with the ball up 39 yard line puts him at 15 carries of the game perfect zero yards and I tried to do something with it He found a man and that's pickling and pick one's to get out of bounds What a play by Carter nine second time we've seen Carter not have to go all the way back to his left and it's as soon as he's about to take a big shot able to dump it off and pick one does the rest.

That was almost a potential disaster turned into a seven yard game.

You know, seeing some of these quarterbacks play last night, we say we saw Kayne Archer make a play as he was falling out of bounds to get a first down.

Carter and I right there almost takes the sack and he's able to get rid of that ball.

That's a great talent here in the state of Arkansas.

Second down and three and we've got penalty teams at 505 yard penalty stick it out teams had five penalties in that first half six they're on Bentonville.

They've all been the five yard variety, though.

So I guess you can live with that sort of flinch.

But a left guard.

So second down now for Bentonville is second down and eight.

All the 41 yard line and a hand at the third one, pick one works left side.

There's a penalty marker down back at the 40 and he'll be knocked out of bounds at the 46.

This is this is what killed Bentonville in that first half.

They mount big drives and penalties would would push them way back.

And now we've got back to back flags on these last two plays and this one likely going to move the Tigers back even further open offense ten yard play from the previous spot replace take it out I'm 25 to play here in the third quarter and Beck Bill's going the wrong way at the 31 yard line now they've got to get to the 49 to get the first down.

So it's second down and 1849, look at the throw.

Has a man crossed the middle of the field?

That's T.J. Brown.

And Brown's going to be taking down at the 47 yard line.

We're about two yards shy of the first down every time Fayetteville brings extra rushers.

Nice.

Did a great job of getting the ball out.

Perfect and finds Brown on the skinny post and it's two yards shy of picking up another first down 16 yard gain that time by C.J Brown.

What's his numbers look like today?

Scroll down a little bit farther Brown full catch of 74 yards third down and two the big one is the running back.

I'm going to hand it to him if he'll be caught and drug down right at the first down marker, it'll be a first down.

What a great job of Bill overcoming that 18 yards to get the first down and the time the extra effort he's kind of spun by the defender and that actually allows him to pick up the first down right just shy of the midfield strike first down and ten ball at the 49 yard line Barton on blitz comes in, got picked up and he throws it away Boy that time I'll tell you what pick one picked up a line backer that was coming straight up the middle and he did a great job with the blitz pick up Vick Linda's takes on Landon Jones head on and Knight does a smart job of getting rid of the football as quickly as he can and throws it before his receivers out of his break.

But that's that's a play that circles that's not me nothing right now but the great blitz pick up by the running back saves this quarterback Well Jason Gilmore checks in at running back now and they'll have to wide receivers to the near side they're going to give it to Gilmore works left side he'll be spun down he'll get about five yards in the play to bring up second down so third down and five with the ball at the 46 yard line in the Territory And now we've got penalties.

Now hide Matt Jackson Jackson Oliver knew it.

He's already jogging to the sideline encroachment defense by guard penalty third down.

So that's going to put him just about a half yards shy of the first down.

So it's going to be third down and one now for Bell.

Gilmore is in it, running back is going to fake the handoff and look the throw going big ball has a man and he drops it.

I love the fire.

You go play action.

Most people thought it was just going to be a simple handoff on third and short a perfectly thrown ball by Carter Nigh, but his receivers could not make the play.

It was Luke Koon who had it go off his hands and now he looks like he's hurt.

That's that.

You can't ask for a better throw in there in that situation.

That should give Bentonville a lead.

It could make the play up and hopefully Luke Coon's okay down there in the end zone.

I think he landed on the football and knocked the breath out of him.

Let's hope so.

That's all it is.

Carter 911 of 19 232 yards through the air.

Those two quarterbacks have already combined for 500 yards passing and we've still got a quarter and 3 minutes to play.

Now it's fourth and short.

You got to believe this is go for territory.

If this isn't handed off to Fickling or Gilmore, I'd be really surprised.

Fourth and inches.

You've got to trust the big boys up front to move the line of scrimmage just ever so much.

Allow yourself to fall forward, get a first down stage for just the two defensive tackles with two defensive ends for in front.

They're going to walk the linebackers up fourth down and one Vic runs in, they're going to give it to him, gets the first downs, he crosses the 40.

Well, he is a hard runner in and what's crazy is Chris pick one The sophomore came in carry the ball 46 times for 308 yards this year.

Yeah Get Jason Gilmore has carried it 124 times for 867 but this one's been the better running back today.

Gilmore has been the workhorse all season long, but sometimes you got to go with the hot hand and maybe is this a too for the unheralded play of Pick it Up the Blitzers you know obviously pass protection that's important as well.

Sometimes you do the little things, you get more chances at doing the bigger things.

Luke Coon Just check back in the ball game as they swing it out.

Left side over to Eli Brooks.

Brooks is able to pick up a good chunk of yards, about seven yards on the play, and that'll take the ball down to the 32 yard line.

It's the second possession of the quarter Fayetteville put together a five minute drive.

Now Bentonville is doing the exact same thing.

Now to 2 minutes left here in the third quarter.

Vick wins in that running back.

They're going to hand it to him straight up the middle.

He'll get to the 30 yard line, the third and short coming up, stress free play calls.

Yeah, you can do it.

You can throw it, you can run it.

You're an offensive coordinator.

This is a situation you want your offense to be in.

You know, you would think that you would see more teams do like the Eagles do and go with touch push.

Yeah you just about everybody has got a quarterback who can squat £600 now True but they all have big offensive lines they can get a push like that third down and one pick wins in it running back and they're going to not go to him, but they're going to air it out.

C.J.

Brown's wide open touchdown, This one, the battle of the line of scrimmage.

He won the release, got a step beyond the defender and the old Randy Moss saying, I'm leaving him.

I'm leaving C.J.

Brown, Shaun White, he's an SCC caliber receiver, so bet they'll retake the lead 16 to 14 with a minute ten remaining here in the third.

Nico Martin a big is going to be on and the kick is blocked It's it was blocked and the extra points no good so it's a two point game that could be big later in this ballgame.

Bobby I could be absolutely massive.

We've seen special teams be the demise of more than one team here at war.

Memorial Stadium can't return it back.

That's why it's blown dead.

But that point looms large because remember last week they will be cut away by a may field goal.

So now a field goal would put the purple dogs back out in front.

And you know what's interesting and we'll go down to Kyle here in just a moment, but Marjanovic has been the backup kicker because Ryan Fernstrom has been their kicker all year.

He was 71 of 70 for an extra point.

I'd be interested to see why he's not kicking today.

And Martin to begin.

So let's go down to Kyle real quick.

yeah, guys.

The messaging, the messaging from the Bentonville defensive coaches there.

This is a fourth quarter game and that is exactly what we wanted.

They said our offense is going to score again.

And you know what?

They were right.

They said, show some resolve.

This is exactly what we want.

A fourth quarter game.

Martin Harvick is going to kick off for Bentonville as it's going to be taken at the 11 yard line and brought up to the 30 to the 40, and he'll be taken down at the 45 yard line with the football running it up that time for Fayetteville.

Caleb Johnson was Caleb Johnson Nice job by the kick return unit creates a lane right down the hash kick up about 3540 yards on that return and fayetteville's got good field position for maybe the first time all afternoon.

Yeah at least at the start of the drive.

You've still got a minute left here in the third quarter with.

Great field position.

They could easily get a score here right before the fourth quarter starts.

There's three wide receivers in the formation, fakes the jet sweep and is going to get out of one tackle, but he finally goes down for a loss.

The sack by Bentonville.

That's what the third time today they've got the Lindsay and that'll bring up second down now and 13 for Fayetteville and Fayetteville is going to come out with four wide receivers in the formation There's a pass play across the middle finds McKinney and McKinney is going to be taken down right at the first down marker at the 45.

Give it to him, Jeff.

Fayetteville wants to run another play.

Just 14 seconds left.

The clock now runs the your let's get another snap.

Just take this to the fourth and let it run down as we're down to 3 to 1.

And that's going to do it for the third quarter.

So put the four fingers in the air.

We've got a good one in the seven nine state championship game.

Fayetteville lead that 16 to 14 over Bayville.

You're watching the Centennial Bank state football Championships in Arkansas.

PBS Sports and looks like we have some new help in the marketing department at the high end of the area.

With everything you can see, I think you do the work out here.

Fine standard.

How about you do it?

Family and customer, Friends.

Family.

I know it can be a big DNC.

I exit the sports.

This is so important to this state and the fabric of the state.

And I appreciate Arkansas PBS doing all the state title games that makes it available for not just the fans in central Arkansas, south Arkansas, but fans around the entire state.

I can only think of the kids in small towns and this is biggest moment maybe in their sports careers and they have that keepsake of having that game on TV to have with them the rest of their lives.

Farmers and Merchants Bank in the Bank of Fayetteville are proud supporters of Arkansas, PBS Sports and of Bentonville and Fayetteville High School football.

Join us on and off the field because at Farmers and Merchants Bank and the Bank of Fayetteville, we're always in your corner.

Learn more at Bankrate.com member, FDIC.

Fayetteville and Bentonville duking it out in a67 state championship game.

But here's how we got here.

Spafford, with the touchdown catch forbidden goal, started things, but the Purple Dawgs answered right back like McKinney touchdown pass from Drake.

Lindsey tied things up at seven apiece in the first half and the first big turnover of the came this tip ball was picked off by the Bentonville Tiger defense the third interception of the season just for Fayetteville.

These two teams haven't been able to put any distance between themselves.

Lindsey Today, Lamar set up a short run here for Christian Setzer and that put Bevel out back in front.

But just a few moments, Bentonville goes to the old reliable C.J.

Brown, his 16th touchdown catch of the season wide open.

And that's how we start the fourth quarter at 1614.

Bentonville has got to leave at the Purple Dogs out the football on the plus side of the 50.

So Fayetteville is going to come out here on first and ten from the 45 yard line with four wide receivers in the formation.

Lindsey fakes to the left side of the football.

Football, the football.

Big Bill's going too good at the 50 yard line.

He'll try to double move out to the left of the offensive formation.

There was an open there.

Looks like a little bit of miscommunication by the receivers and Lindsey had nowhere to go with the football hit from behind and the Tigers forced a second turnover.

Right.

To see who got his hand on Lindsey.

Watch this.

The edge rushers coming around and he just lost it at Ben Pearson Pearson was able to put pressure on him, knocked the ball out he land he didn't stand a chance for 42 for Bentonville.

Jonah Knapp with the recovery.

And that's the first big, big turnover here this second half.

Now the Tigers with a two advantage chance to add to it, 1614 Bentonville lead spare bill and the fourth quarter.

T.J. Brown in motion from left right corner and I'm going to hand it off.

Gilmore got a big running line He bobbled it picked up by Fayetteville baby comes up with it it was Moore back to back turnovers that might have been the longest run of the game for Bentonville or close to it.

The ball security not there in the another other balls got duplicate numbers and so sometimes it's tough to figure it out.

Eli Rose Yeah covers the football and what a huge break for the purple dogs as back to back turnovers because bingo might've had a chance to put some distance between.

Yeah I apologize to Eli because he got the recovery you know that's the one thing and sporting events you should outlaw the double numbers because what when when you have big plays like that, you see the first one.

But boy, Eli Rhodes comes up with a big one for Fayetteville.

100 options 0 to 99.

And so Bevell back in business with three wide receivers in the formation lens going to look to throw come back right side with it and he's got a runner that's Spencer and he'll run out through the right side pair those one uphill the flag and here comes it comes in from behind a late hit out of bounds to the 12 yard gain is going to turn into 27 yards for Fayetteville.

But when you get that penalty on your home sideline, personal foul, unnecessary, make it out of bounds 15 yards.

They were going to get that call, weren't there?

I mean, everybody on the sideline was asking for it.

I believe if this will be a glass case of emotion type moment, if you're Fayetteville, you're you're down about turning the football over, then you get the recovery on the other end.

Now, a big play and a penalty.

You're inside the 35 good block on the outside by the wide receiver for Fayetteville.

yeah he was three four.

There wasn't much contact there but it did happen three or four steps the white in Fayetteville that maybe maybe because it is on their home sideline they get the call all at the 32 yard line give it to sets Fetzer is going to take it down to the 31 one yard gain with a second down.

We'll say hello to my buddy Danny West, who's watching this game.

He covers high school sports all over the state.

He and his family are watching it tonight here on Arkansas PBS.

Great job by Pearson to not be fooled by the counter play Somalis him up for just a gain of one brings up second down and nine with the ball at the 31 yard line.

Stacked receivers on both sides.

The formation has great lenses in the shotgun Lindsay going big ball across the middle of the field and in and out of the hands of Mason Spencer perfectly thrown ball and Spencer couldn't bring in as Spencer just might have lost the ball a little bit and the son had to kind of readjust That's a perfectly thrown passer behind the defense just off his fingertips those throws right there.

The reason why Drake Lindsay's being so highly recruited so 39 now I've got to believe this is four down territory for Fayetteville so we'll have to don't have to get it all here on the chicken with the sideline so it's now third down and nine from the 31 yard line Lindsay tunnel screen left side and coming up with it was McKinnie but he's going to lose yardage on the play You're hoping just to pick up three or four yards there again to a fourth and manageable situation but that time the pass not handled cleanly and the defense was there either way for Bentonville and now it's fourth and ten.

It's great coverage again though by Bentonville.

They've done a great job on these new screens the wide receivers that time Christian Ferrell right as the catch was made fourth down and ten with the ball at the 32 yard line Setzer is going to line up to the right of Lindsay Rusher and take the snap roll right Lindsay under pressure gets out of one comes back, throws the middle upfield He's got a man down the 3025 He's going to be short he'll be short coming up with it for Fayetteville that time it was Christian.

So Setzer who was able to spring free and he came up just about two yards shy of the first down look like he had nothing but green grass.

But at the last moments, Parker Shachtman comes in and makes the play a first down, I mean, potentially a touchdown saving tackle, and it turns it over.

On Downs just through his right hand out there, trip him up.

It's a huge play.

He doesn't make that tackle.

KELTNER Maybe in the end zone.

So Bienville gets the football back at the 24 yard line.

Carter Nigh There's his numbers.

13 of 21 to 69 got two scores today.

They're going to hand it off.

This time it's pick, pick, one's going to get nine.

You announced attendance of 11,000 and all the millions of people watching in Arkansas.

PBS are getting their money's worth today.

Two heavyweights duking it out in a great game.

I mean, you see you've seen just about everything in this one with defense on offense, the two wide receivers going to line up on the near side and I hand it off once again, pick Clinton and he'll fall forward at the 39 yard line.

They get the first down and a fake Lynn is the go to guy here for the Bentonville Tigers.

You mentioned the numbers of really more so of Jason Gilmore in the regular season but that's Nick ones 10th gear he's over 50 yards more importantly and a drive extending run there as they pick up the first down two wide to the near side nine has fake one lined up to his right ball to throw rolls to his left got to receiver that's coon and he'll go out of bounds at the 47 yard line.

That's a quarterback who can extend plays put so much pressure on the defense Reed Lincoln it has perfect position on the crossing here out there but at the last minute he decides okay I'm going to cover the quarterback and now the receivers open behind him as they pick up a all the 47 second down and two and three receivers to the right of the formation is Carter nice give be in the shotgun Eli Brooks comes in motion and we've got a penalty fly tackle moved on the right side couldn't hold his water down in the stands for too long ball start offense five yard penalty knock it down going for the unbalanced look there after the the most of the tight end they didn't have an eligible receiver on the left side of the formation.

That's the time when you see that it's going to be runner a quick screen out to the right with the way the penalty pushes him back second down they're going to give it the big one straight up.

The middle bounces off.

One man crosses the 50, carries the ball on, the ball, comes out, favors.

Got it.

They just took it away from him coming up with it for Fayetteville that Rhett Tidwell, who ripped it away from him, R.J. Fickling lowers the shoulder, looks like it's going to be another big game, but maybe a sophomore and secure the football and great job by Fayetteville to get in there and rip it out.

Bobby, I feel like we've played the last half a quarter right here in the middle of the field.

It's just been back and forth right here in the middle of the field.

Let's head down to Kyle.

Doug Obama real quick, who's on the sidelines.

Guys, listen, let's make no mistake about it.

Pressure is on Fayetteville right there, the perfect team.

And I get a sense that's a real factor in this game.

And you can tell reading the faces of guys here on the sidelines, coaches were going one by one, high fiving every single player on that Purple Dog offense, trying to tell him, look, we're going to get the ball back.

Relax, let's go.

We just got to play.

Here's the purple dogs.

That's Del Amore who makes the catch, takes it down to the 41 yard line.

Just a short crosser there for Fayetteville.

Let the receiver do the rest of the work that's going to move the chains on.

First down just outside the 40, Drake Lindsey, now over 300 yards passing.

I really feel like you've got to pressure Lindsey for this Bentonville defense.

You've got to send some extra bodies trying to get hands off his face.

Three wide set to the left side.

Lindsey goes right side with it.

That's back to Spencer.

Spencer is going to fall forward to the 35.

That time Bentonville was bringing a little extra pressure.

Lindsey recognizes that pre-snap and slips it out to his wide receiver one on one situation picks up five so it's now second down and four ball at the 35 yard line We're down to 805 to play in the ball game on the road Drake Lindsey's in the shot dealt with four receivers now he's got five Lindsey go look to throw on the wheel route It's got a man now the 15 he's going to be taken out of bounds at the seven yard line coming up with it was good.

Davion Taylor That was a play I thought that Lyndonville might try to run.

We saw C.J Brown line up in the backfield, maybe fake it to him on a wheel route that time it was Fayetteville.

They lined up Batavia and Taylor Sneaky Mount runs a wheel right out of the backfield and now it's first and goal here Bulldogs ball at the seven yard line so easy just to forget about the running back in the passing game and that time he's wide open Lindsay going to hand it to of Setzer he's going to die for the end zone touchdown We got a big swing of momentum the last minute and a half Bentonville is got all of it.

They forced the turnover and now Fayetteville forces the turnover back, the boom boom down the field.

They've got a lead now.

We'll see if they go four two to push that advantage to six.

The difference between four and five point lead doesn't matter.

So Fayetteville is going to go for two.

Lindsey looks to Casey, Nick on the sideline for the call.

Two wide split to the right side Lindsay and look to throw fade route right side got his man in the back of the end zone touchdown that was what McKinnie great throw this was aiming for that back Pylon McKinney's right there holding the two point conversion now the six point lead for Fayetteville you're watching the Centennial Bank state football Championships on Arkansas PBS Sports.

The commitment it takes to be a winner on the field is the same as the commitment.

Centennial shows its customers patience, perseverance, commitment and resilience are key ingredients for success, both on and off the field.

Whether you're cheering on your home team or needing encouragement, starting A new business Let Centennial Bake help you make plans for your future centennial for all of life's moments.

Remember, FDIC for every moment, for every memory, from that first car to your first home to your first child, and all the highs and lows that tomorrow might break for everything that matters most to you and your family.

There's someone right around the corner dedicated to helping you protect what you love.

Your local Farm Bureau Insurance agent.

Farm Bureau Insurance, real service, real people at Wendy's.

We're focused on what matters and why we've made our Hamburger Square.

You want to experience the delicious taste of Wendy's hamburgers?

Where's the beef?

We have had a display of talent between both these two quarterbacks, both these two defenses.

Here's the scoring drive right there.

Four plays, 54 yards a minute, 12.

There's the kickoff that's going to be taking it, the one yard line out to the 2021 26, and that's where Fayetteville is going to get it.

Boy, Bobby, I got to tell you, man, I think about all the recruits that are in the state of Arkansas, Drake, Lindsey, you got to think, you know, Bobby Petrino and FAF and Sam Pittman are in the house tonight.

They got to be going, man.

We got to get an offer.

This kid, Hal, he doesn't have an offer to the University of Arkansas.

It is mind boggling.

26 to 36 350 on the season on the day.

He has all the intangibles, he makes, all the throws.

He's got the frame.

The fact that he grew up literally miles, not not hours, miles from the University of Arkansas, he doesn't have often blows my mind.

Yeah, that's maybe that's why I'm going to say that.

Yes, there's Gilmore running with the football out of the 31.

But I mean, you got to get your own way sometimes.

I understand you've got philosophical differences, maybe with the scheme that they run or though the style of quarterback he is, the numbers speak for themselves.

Yeah.

88 touchdowns prior to today and four interceptions over the last two years as a high school quarterback at the largest classification that is a SCC caliber quarterback.

Well and I will say this nothing against the staff at the university but they didn't have Bobby Petrino and he knows quarterbacks and think that may change that he's in in the offense and there's a throw the ball short to look to but one thing they did get right T.J. Brown Yeah no doubt about it I yeah, you totally flip the script and go, well, they got that one right because P.J.

Brown's going to be a good one.

CUTTER And by that time had a little pressure in his face, probably threw it before he, wanted to, couldn't get enough on the deep out route to the long out routes.

He's played well, too, today.

I don't want to discount that Carter and eyes of he's a college football player as well third down and five as Carter Nice in the shotgun nine three step dropping off your throw a right side has a man been knocked out of bounds That was Luke Cone tough spot they're going to say they're going to show him out of bounds and that's going to be short of the first down.

It's going to be close.

He got the ball beyond the marker, but he does go out of bounds before it.

But is the defender pushing him out?

Maybe this is something that Bentonville takes time out to challenge this because they can challenge the spot where maybe where his four forward progress is halted.

I think Jodie Grant's going to challenge you.

Yep.

They are going to take the time out there and maybe have the officiating crew look at it.

Look at Coach Grant right there.

I'd be interested to see I want to see this replay because if he goes out on his own accord, then the spot's right, his contact and right there well beyond the marker.

So technically, he should be out at the 47.

Right.

Which would be the first down.

Yeah.

I don't think that's the view that they're going to look at it was the last it was the last shot is the one they're going to look at and try to see if they've got anything straight down the line.

Yeah, of course that's not straight down the line, but I think that tells you looking at the marker, looking where he's contacted by the defender should be where his forward progress is halted.

To me that's a first down to see if they not had a challenge overturned.

It was wrong earlier today.

So it's been known to happen.

Well, we have not had one challenge this weekend overturned.

I thought that the touchdown earlier was going to be a touchdown and I was wrong on that one.

So let's see what they come up with on this.

By the way, there's Landon Trusty, who was the head referee of the six day game last night.

He's helping out with the replay crew tonight.

You see a bear Denver Bronco.

This is the longest review that we've had over the weekend as well.

So here, look, they're dissecting they know how important this play is.

It's fourth and one for a first down, but the purple dogs have dogs having all the momentum.

They know that they need to get this one right.

And also, Bentonville is hoping that this call goes their way.

I just think that once again, he was contacted as long as he has the ball secured, that's the one thing we can't see from this camera angle is this.

He had the catch secured.

They had it on.

The other of the other view just a minute ago right there.

So he's got it right there.

So he has he has clear possession of it.

I think when you zoom in and slow it down, it's obviously the officials on the field don't have that luxury and it looks to be a first down.

It's just beyond it.

Again, they're taking their time.

They're going to try to get this one right.

And think of I mean, think about how good these defenses have been on fourth down.

I mean, the numbers the numbers on fourth down, one of two and one of three, Bentonville, one of two.

Here's the call.

The foot is reversed.

The ball carrier made the line again at the 37, it'll be first and ten.

Bentonville retains their challenge and, their time out.

Well, there we go.

We've had the first replay overturned this year or this weekend.

And it's good call.

I mean, and that's one of the challenge there.

That's why DV Sport and their crews are here because we want to get the ball right.

Championship games are the most important going on.

Obviously you want to make sure you get the calls right and they exactly that right there.

Well, it's first in Denver.

The 37 yard line uses the challenge, but they get it back so they can still challenge.

I mean a lot of plays are reviewed in the final 10 minutes automatically corner nine makes the snap and once the throw set up the screen left side and well that was almost intercepted yeah that was a tough spot there and I think the Fayetteville defender saying hey that's a pass interference with the throws within one yard a lot of scrimmage.

So that was off the table.

But Fayetteville read that one perfectly and it really wasn't a receiver really close to that looking productive and when it wasn't going the other way rings up second down and ten three receivers in the formation fakes the handoff comes back left side it's incomplete off the hands of JJ Spafford that's that's two throws on this drive RJ that have come up short from Carter nine.

I think the pressure his face is making him throw the football before he wants to play and that one just takes a nosedive right in front of his intended target.

Now it's third and long for the Tigers Ball is at the 37 yard line.

It's third down and ten 626 to play in this one stacked receivers on both sides of the formation quarter nine we go big ball across the middle of the field he overthrows the intended target trying to hook up that time with Carson Pate he was wide open just overthrew it that's been the big play receiver three catches 84 yards and that's how many he had the defense in his rearview mirror but just too much on it there from Carter Nigh the quarterback and that six points if he can hit his receiver in stride.

the opponent unit's going to come on back deep for Fayetteville.

They're going to put Holshouser back there to return this punt.

It is a short kick that went straight up in the air.

It's going to hit down at the 41, take a big Fayetteville bounce all the way back to the 40 yard line, 15 yard punt.

And so Fayetteville is going to have great field position with 612 remaining.

That's a huge, huge momentum shift for Fayetteville.

Again, bit Anvils got the receiver, the defense it's going to be a walk in touchdown Instead you have to punt it and now the short punt when the purple dawgs had the ball in midfield great field position and potentially based on the clock chance put this game away.

The six point game as Drake lands is going to line up in the shotgun wingback on the right side make the handoff going to look to throw Lindsey under pressure, bounces off one defender and now the second one's going to take him down back at the 36 yard line Cameron Thornton made was able to clean it up in the second man there to pull down the big Lindsey and that's a much needed first down stop for the Bentonville defense to put Fayetteville well behind the chains.

William Newman, the first defender in there.

So that moves the ball back to the 36.

It's now second down and 21/5 sack in the contest for being able to get after Lindsey.

There was a quick pass down low on the right side and got it to McKinney.

McKinney takes it out to the 41 yard line.

It's got to be smart here.

If you're Fayetteville, don't force anything.

If you are going to force it, make sure it's deep down the field.

A little forward, almost out like a punt can cannot afford to give and feel good field position in the momentum with the turnover five yard pick up it's now third down and 18 and Wilson is able to trust their defense last week and pick up a win in the semifinals against Conway.

Maybe they play that play it safe and you got to get again this week Lindsey getting the throw going big ball left side and it's intercepted down the 19 yard line coming up with the pick for Boonville it was Christian fall out like a punter RJ Fawcett You don't want that as a quarterback going to get the stat sheet in the turnover column, but essentially that's a 40 yard punt.

So Ben, Bill's got new life with 441 to play.

They've got the football down.

The 1941 yards.

The difference in field position, they're never going to be up till a high school defensive back don't it.

But maybe that's when you bat down and maybe you get better field position on the punt.

They're going to back it all the way up to the 16th.

So it's first down and ten to the 16 quarter nine got to hand to Fickell a quick one.

Scuse me this going to go out pass the 16 and be take it down at about 17 so a one yard gain second down and nine high takes a snap closes out on the right side pay the bills right there and now we've got a whistle or a penalty flag as he's marked out the 20 north penalty flags after wonder if the receiver was blocking too soon.

That's going to be offensive pass interference was there helmet to helmet contact made on it on the tackle Fayetteville crowds going to the video board here in the stadium as they show the replay of the hit.

Well, you they're having a big conversation about it right now at the 20 yard line.

The head official, Michael Caton in the line, Judge, are getting together to talk this one over.

There's going to be a look at the replay he completed shoulder to shoulder.

That's a clean tackle.

Any way you look at it.

I'm taking a long conversation about this one.

As long as this conversation is I what you have to believe.

It's about good.

The call.

Fayetteville defenders are clapping, so they're agreeing with what they're about to hear.

There is no foul for targeting.

I got that right.

Well, here's the thing.

This is why you've got a state championship officiating crew, because these guys, nobody's prideful enough to hang onto that flag and they get together and talk about it.

They got the call right.

And that's the most important thing.

They got that call right.

That was a clean hit, a great defensive play.

Harrison Ray, you know, they're not going to get every call right.

But the fact they're able to sit there and talk about it and make sure they get the ball right, that's the most important.

So now you've got a third down and 5/3 down.

Now I got to throw scrambles out of they pass the 25 and out of bounds.

They've got the first down.

That's a great adjustment by both sides there.

Favre has recognized that the quicker the quick throw in the middle, maybe that quick post has been there all day long.

They drop linebacker right to that passing lane and now tucks it back in, pulls to his left, sees all the real estate able to come out the backside, scrambles for the first down.

So it's first ten from the 30 to 342 to play.

All right I'm going to hand it to pick one, go straight up the middle out to the 36 yard line.

Let's look now at 330 and counting.

You have to start asking yourself, is this going to be a four down territory for Bentonville no matter what?

They do have all three timeouts left.

But as the clock continues to churn, you've got to believe that they're likely going to treat every play like you've got four downs to get a first down.

And I think that as we've seen pace the game it's yeah, you're you're not putting I mean at this point you're not punting at all to wide to the right side Carter nine throws it left side has a man heel step out of bounds that time it's Luke Cone you're right at the marker Give him a first down quick out to be an effective Bentonville fit so many big plays that so many receivers running open deep and they've got to give a little bit of a cushion.

They can take that five or six yard out any time they want it first and ten ball to 42.

Rewind to the right side 92 passing Carter nine I'm going to throw it again going big ball middle of the field got C.J Brown down the 46 yard line that's when you know you can trust your receiver going across the middle brown No he's he's about to get hit he doesn't carry secures the catch and the tigers are in Fayetteville territory big ones the running back wing back off the left side now looking to throw again under pressure going down field's a man that's coon and coons going to go out to the 35 yard line that'll be a first down right now Fayetteville's got to start thinking about some timeouts defensively, maybe save some, save some time on their end.

Clock's going to whines and see how quickly Bentonville does want to go.

Of course they've had to a23 drives get down to the 20 and stall out so nothing's guaranteed for and ten for the 35 nine calls for his the big one straight up the middle big running lanes going to be taken down at the 27 yard line Fisher at the 26 excuse me as they moved it up one and now Fayetteville is going to call a timeout are they not missing a player offer equipment?

I believe.

Well, Ben, Bill thought the timeout was called.

So the officiating crew sent a feeble player offer an equipment issue.

This is not a timeout by the purple dog so the clock's winding still we're under 2 minutes and counting Bengals going to have to hurry up and regroup.

Play clock's at 15 down to 8 seconds on the play clock.

Guy going to give it the pick one and he'll be taken.

He was hit immediately at the line of scrimmage and got back and first can bring up a third and two.

Now the two teams are content to let it play out their bills, trust in their defense.

Nine calls for it pass play goes left side tycoon Koons going to get out of bounds at the 21 yard line It's quick slants this whole skinny post have been there for four four banfield all day and Carter night is puts it on as receiver He's over 300 yards passing first and ten now in the red zone and they officially mark him at the 20 a minute nine left in this one family the 2216 and in motion from left to right that's pate nice looking to throw finds pate at the 15 he'll step out of bounds at the 14 Sam all day to throw the football cutter Nice is benefiting a great performance by that offensive line.

He does have two sacks but 33 pass attempts that's a pretty good percentage for that offensive front in it three wide receivers at the bottom of your screen Carter and going to give it to pick one he's going to work the right side at the ten goes out of bounds at the six but hold everything we've got a penalty flag down at the 15 yard line.

This could be a massive massive call against the Bentonville Tiger offense holding offense north of the previous five three second down Boy that that's a killer right there is a back yup ten yards and so now rather than being down at the nine line that backs them all the way up to the 28 or 23 excuse me on lines here is nine going to look to throw.

He's under pressure and he down coming up with the sack for Fayetteville that is Jason Hall having done it many times, RJ But Fayetteville finally brings pressure.

He's unaccounted for and takes down now in the backfield.

Just when I said Fayetteville hadn't got a lot of pressure on him, they dial it up.

Their big sack has been Bill takes a timeout please reset the game clock untouched sorry runner nine Nothing to do with the football.

They're going to add some time to the clock.

They're going to add 2 seconds up to 51 seconds here in the fourth quarter.

But now, Bobby, I mean, how big was that penalty you're looking at?

A second and four, maybe second and three from inside the 15 yard line.

Now you're back all the way up to the 31.

They can't get a first down.

They've got to get all the way down to the ten.

In the next two down here, you're talking third and 21.

Got two timeouts left.

Fayetteville, their full allotment of time stoppages.

Bobby, how many times has Bentonville gotten to this area of the field and then just started going backwards?

The defense for Fayetteville in red zone is not been the same defense we've seen the other 80 yards on the field.

It's been really impressive to see what the players on the field and the adjustments from the coaching staff for the purple dogs inside the team.

Okay, so here's corner nine this Bentonville offense thick ones the running back and the fake it to him Go with the throw go ball left side and it's going to be incomplete so I've got to come down to one final play for Bentonville.

They're trying to get C.J.

Brown on the sideline.

I like it.

One one with your best.

And the one thing that Fayetteville's corner Casey Lehman did was he used that sideline as a as an extra defender.

Absolutely.

That's a good observation.

Fayetteville going to take a timeout now to regroup, talk about things on this side are two sticks if you want to let a receiver once that gets ball five or ten yards from the line of scrimmage and let everybody rally to the football, that's what Coach Casey, Dick and his defensive unit go tell his guys, keep everything in front of you.

Guard the ten yard is going to be really obvious to us, at least up here.

The ten yard line is the line's a game.

It's like the yellow mark on the fancy television.

That's just the goal line mean essentially because you just don't get there.

Hey, let's get down to Kyle Knuckleball ball down the field.

We're having some issues with Kyle's headset.

We'll check in with Kyle here in a moment.

All 11,000 in attendance today.

I feel like the crowd's gotten bigger since halftime.

Yeah, it does seem like it's gotten a lot bigger.

Certainly gotten louder.

So here we go.

Fourth down and 21 Babel has five defenders at the ten.

That's the line, the game to keep the drive going.

And now it looks back and even more up.

They've got three rushers, probably two going to come, maybe one singing as a spark, five one quarter and I'm going to just throw this one and it's going to be knocked down and fair bill that's a turnover.

On downs with 38 seconds remaining.

I'll tell you what, Bobby, though, there was an opportunity for Carson Pate to catch the deflection as he was coming up that outside he had an opportunity to have it deflected to him.

Favorite player down might be cramping up it's warm on the field Kyle talked about it in the pre game.

You know this is December it's supposed to be cool and you know maybe even cold and these guys are out there sweating on the turf at 60 degrees across the field temperature.

But the purple dogs are just a couple snaps away from kneeling.

It Fayetteville does air excuse me Boonville does have the two timeouts but the 42nd play clock all it's going to take three nails from Fayetteville and the championships going back to Harmon Stadium, Harmon Field and Phaedra.

What a game.

Yeah.

I mean this has been every year though.

The seven eight game has always been a really fun game to watch, to call.

Lindsey is going to take the snap and nail it down and then we'll just take time out.

But again, it's only one more after this.

It's going to take two knees and this one's going to be over the rock.

The 35, 35 seconds is going to be put on the game clock.

Boy, I tell you what, though, two great quarterbacks, corner nine and Drake Lindsey, I mean Carter nine, he played just he had 329 yards passing two touchdowns today Lindsey 350 a touchdown in two picks Yeah two interceptions You know one's off a tip ball one's essentially a punt So I mean a high level quarterback play.

We saw it last night with Kayne Archer played outstanding.

That's why Greenwood won a state championship.

Both these quarterbacks played well enough today to lead their team to a title.

But red zone defense for Fayetteville is the story.

It really is.

You know, we talk so much about the running game, really no running game for either team.

I mean, Ben, Bill had 68 yards, Fayetteville had 11.

If you take away the sack yardage and numbers look a whole lot better.

I put them up at about 100.

But you're exactly right.

The defenses for these two teams, this came they showed up when it mattered.

And now Ben Gill takes the final out and it's just one more kneel down and we'll do it.

So Gatorade watch begins.

That's our final time out of the half.

You just can't say about the way these two these two teams played on this stage against your biggest rival.

I know Bentonville West, as it has kind of arrived the last ten years or and become a rival for Bentonville.

But these two have gone back for the last 20 years.

Back is maybe is the cream of the crop in class seven or eight, and it's going to be the purple dogs.

We're going to raise the trophy in about 5 minutes.

Look at Casey.

Dig down there on the sidelines.

Maybe we get a shot of him.

Boy, he's fired up.

You know, think about everything.

Okay.

I'll mention it a little bit ago.

But, you know, the controversy that was that last year made ESPN.

And, you know, he had to go out and defend his players and for it to come full circle.

And now he's here at the state championship to raise the trophy.

And we've got 24 seconds on the clock.

What it's all about right there, just the joy and there's so much work that goes into it.

This team was in the championship game a couple of years ago.

They felt like they should have won it.

Now.

Three turnovers in the red zone had a blocked field goal, return for a touchdown and still had a chance to win the game.

I talked Casey about that earlier this week that they really felt like they needed redemption based on that.

A couple of years ago today they found them.

Yeah, well, the coach was meeting at midfield.

And you know, one thing Cal talked about, they've got great respect for one another.

They both texted this week after they both won their semifinal games to congratulate one another and just to outstanding programs between Bentonville and Fayetteville is minute.

You expect these teams to be here and Fayetteville and Vinton Ben they'll put on a show and it's this is the best that Arkansas has to offer.

But the largest classification on the economy was really good.

This, you know, Bryant's going to really good today was all about Bentonville and Fayetteville.

And they proved while they were in the state champs can be quite honest.

Yeah, it was a lot of fun.

We're going to break down the rest of this game is fair.

Bill are class seven state champions, they win at 2216.

You're watching the Centennial Bank state football Championship on Arkansas PBS for an tell me why people would come for miles around, come to ninth Street just to see what it was like.

I'm saying this was the mecca of entertainment in the South.

Long after supper, we thought we was on top of the world.

Download the PBS video app or watch online broadcast.

This championship game is made possible by the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.

Over 2500 team members across 17 local electric distribution co-ops powering farms and industries somewhere across Arkansas.

We are the electric cooperatives of Arkansas Power and People.

When you choose Conway Regional, you're choosing a health care partner rooted in your community.

With nine primary care locations in five counties.

We believe in building lasting relationships, dinner on trust and personalized care.

But our family care for yours vaping addiction to nicotine and can prematurely age your lungs to those of a seven year old.

Don't get lost in the fog.

Learn more about the hazards of vaping at Project Prevent Fraud.

Give your family a once in a lifetime experience at the Little Rock at Arkansas's largest Lantern festival.

Go wild at the Little Rock Zoo After dark, Bring your family to a radiant wonderland where imagination sparks discovery 40 new lighted, mystical creatures and returning favorites at little one, a once in a lifetime experience.

Southern Lofts and proud sponsor of Arkansas PBS.

It is our mission to tell your story by adding color with our furniture.

And that's my Southern is a different kind of furniture store.

For more information, go to my Southern Monster.com.

Do you have any idea what the book is?

Daniel Musselman here, host of Arkansas Treasures, where we share wacky, weird and wild collectibles and antiques from around our state and find out what they're worth.

Now that adds up to a little money watch on Arkansas PBS.

The PBS app, or on the Arkansas PBS website said, I was not going to say wow, but I did anyway.

A real life mystery in Mulberry Springs.

Who is Sammy the Slob?

My science teacher is a robot.

You've got to be kidding me.

Troublemakers from another planet.

From another planet.

We're on the case.

Thank you, Mystery League, for solving this mystery.

During the past year, we've been traversing the natural state with our cinematic drone from lakes and rivers, waterfalls, scenic byways, mountains, overlooks, and towering rock formations.

This unique documentation of all four seasons from all four corners of the state with an aerial cinematic perspective will give you, the viewer, an Arkansas adventure like never before.

Exploring Arkansas from above.

Download the PBS video app or watch online.

I think it's important for Arkansas PBS to have sports because it provides sports on a great platform to the entire community and it also gives people in other communities an opportunity to see other schools and other athletes and have a greater appreciation for not just their own community, but the sports that are available, the state of Arkansas.

There are so many lessons that sports provides, and it's one of the reasons why it's so important to the next generation of athletes Coming up.

For students, it's always more fun than the arts when you're learning.

I mean, just to have expression, to see different forms of entertainment, it always just makes it more fun.

And when I heard that my mother was reporting different sections that teachers were going to see, I was excited for the students and we'll get to use it in the.

Arkansas PBS is a place where everyone can see themselves, where everyone can find themselves, where everyone can be a part of something bigger than themselves.

Hi, this is Christopher Kimball on the set of Milk Street Television.

Not for profit channels like Create or Bound by Mission.

That's to inform, educate, enlighten and also enrich.

So please support create by also supporting your local public television station.

Simply click the donate button at Creative CNN.com for more information.

And that's about all there is to it.

I told you, it's easy.

You see, it doesn't take so long.

And by the way, thank you.

This month on Arkansas PBS, I think that our greed and our industrialization would boink this thing out.

We've got treasures that are haunting and maybe haunted.

I was terrified of this chair.

This is a good photograph of Lizzie Borden.

He was a cultural musical phenomenon that passed through the nation's dance clubs.

But not everyone was a fan.

Only on Arkansas PBS.

Well, the Farm Bill, Purple Dogs, they are your 10,023.

So they they champion.

They went 2216 over Bentonville Hill.

The hug their trophy presentation right there.

Casey Dick here, that thing right amongst all this teammates and athletes.

Look at that.

They look at that group right there.

First time we've had a new seven state champion in six years as Fab.

The purple dogs are the new 70 state champion.

We checked in with Kate Dick here in a moment, Bobby, but some final thoughts on this one.

Yeah, that's super heavyweight match all you can say.

I mean, slugfest after slugfest, body blow after body blow.

But you look at the box score, 397 yards for Bentonville, 60 for Fayetteville, and you think it's going to be so one side of that let's go to the scoreboard is going to go through the roof.

But it's all about defense.

I mean, you look you look at the third down conversions that were for solid fourth down stops came up on both sides.

But red zone defense was was the name of the game in Fayetteville was able to come up with stop after stop after stop inside the 20 yard line that not only kept Fayetteville out of the endzone, it kept them from putting points on the board kick, knocked them out of field goal range.

And that's what it's all about.

Complementary football in that just played it just a little bit better.

Well we are just about we just got the MVP named as Drake Lindsey is your 2023 MVP four Class seven eight.

And let's head down to Kyle now as he's got head coach Casey.

Dick, Coach, I hope you don't mind me sharing, but you were down on one knee.

Tears hit you.

Describe what hit you in that moment.

just emotional for the kids.

I know they were just to this point.

It's something that obviously everybody dreams about winning.

And we were we've been once didn't get the job done, but man, just signing finished.

Proud of our kids.

That's how we've been all year.

We just we found it when Britney found a way to finish.

Just just a gutsy performance by everybody.

There's winning a title.

Then there's perfection by beating your rival.

Pretty special on this field, too.

And honestly, I got to tell my wife, I got some good memories here.

We got some ones, but there's lots of really good ones, especially down there in that corner.

We just flip sides.

Just unbelievable performance for our guys, man.

How about defense wins championships?

Just.

Just found a way to win while we can just go find a way.

Don't matter.

Don't have to be pretty.

Just go find a way to do it.

Congratulations.

That was head coach Dick for the Fayetteville Purple Dogs.

They win it today.

Let's go and check out some highlights real quick of this game.

Bobby is there was plenty of them between both these teams is it all got started early has right there you see for Bentonville they were leading the way on this one as they got it done early and often.

Stafford got it done with the first touchdown.

Then Lindsey came right back, came back with McKinney's touchdown back and forth.

They when it was really a low scoring affair for the first half of this ballgame as the defense played big between both these two squads, both the Fayetteville and the Bentonville, all defenses were just all over the field.

You see the third interception of the year for Lindsey.

But then Fayetteville got back in the end zone after a running.

Really just it was one that was written review.

They got back in the end zone and C.J Brown came back and said, hey you know what?

I am a Division one receiver as well.

And then Fayetteville came right back.

Boy, I just tell you back forth you talked about just a minute ago Bobby it was just a heavyweight matchup going back and forth between these two.

It really was.

I mean, it's just a blow for blow as we're going to get get the MVP, Drake Lindsey.

But these two offenses put up yards in the twenties, Fayetteville, they would punch one more in the endzone.

So back down to Kyle He's got Drake.

Lindsey Holy cow, Get your breath now a little bit Yeah that was pretty crazy.

You know that last drive.

The defense is the best defense in the state by far.

You know they've cut it up multiple times for us and I couldn't ask for anybody anything else from them.

I sense you got sort of a nervous energy throughout the game.

But but, but how did you sort of finally get the job done?

The touchdown?

Yeah, we just kept on, you know, the defense got some turnovers for us and we just didn't give up for you to go out like this family name and everything.

Pretty special.

Yeah, it's super special.

God's crazy, I don't even know what to say.

I'm at a loss for words right now.

I'm just blessed to be here and blessed to have my teammates with me.

Congratulations, right?

Yeah.

Thank you, Kyle.

That was Drake.

Lindsey, the MVP of today's game for Fayetteville.

As Fayetteville winds up by a final score of 22 to 16.

Well, Bobby, we've got one more for this weekend, and it's the five state championship coming up tonight at 630.

You've got the Parkview Patriots defending state champions in class five.

They're taking on a really, really good Charlotte Christian team rematch from last year's championship.

The only rematch we've got this weekend.

Parkview handled the Charlotte Christian last year.

But Beau Williams, the running back for the Saints hoping to change things around this time.

So it's the defending champs coming up at 630 tonight right here on Arkansas PBS.

Well, glad to have you along.

Wherever you've been today, make sure to come back at six tonight for that five state championship.

Your final win, this one, Fayetteville, 22.

Benfield, 16 four.

Kyle Zuckerman, Bobby Swafford, I'm RJ Hogg.

You've been watching the Centennial State Football Championships on Arkansas, PBS Sports.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7sa7SZ6arn1%2BrtqWxzmiYq2Wgl8Buv8%2Boqa2rXZu8sMDBmqOlZaOprrWxjJ%2Bgp5mcYoSiedavaaKckWQ%3D

 Share!

• Share on Facebook
   
• Tweet
   
• Share on Google+
   
• Post to Tumblr
   
• Pin it
   
• Submit to Reddit