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Bryant mounts comeback against Bentonville to capture 7A State title





Mark T. Jenkins
12/08/2024



LITTLE ROCK — In a highly anticipated matchup between the Bryant Hornets and the Bentonville Tigers in the 7A state championship game at War Memorial stadium it was the Hornets who came out on top in the end.


The first quarter was a very hard-fought one as it was apparent both teams came to play. Bentonville got on the board first with a 43-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Trevor Grant to tight end Eli Brooks.


Bryant answered quickly. Dual-threat quarterback Jordan Walker hit receiver Keenen Latin with a pass to the

2-yard line. Walker took it in himself on the next play to tie it up 7-7 after the extra point which is the way the first stanza ended.


The second quarter’s first score came off the foot of Bentonville kicker Ryan Fernstrom, booting a 33-yard field goal to put the Tigers up 10-7. Fernstrom was on the mark again on the Tigers next possession, this time from 27 yards out, making the score 13-7 at the 3:20 mark.


On the ensuing kickoff, Bryant’s Jonathan Frost returned the ball all the way to midfield before fumbling during the tackle, turning the ball back over to Bentonville. The Hornets defense held the Tigers however forcing a punt.

Bryant’s offense took over on their own 10 yard-line and managed to reach Bentonville territory before launching a long pass that fell incomplete to end the half with the score still 13-7.


The second half got underway with an interception by Bentonville’s Julian Grundy who took the ball down to the Bryant 10. A couple of plays later, Chris Ficklin took it in from 4 yards out to increase the Tigers lead to 20-7. A couple of possessions later though, Bryant forced a fumble from Ficklin, recovering the ball on their own 45. The Hornets capitalized on the turnover by mounting a 55-yard drive that culminated with a 3rd and one touchdown run by Walker to narrow the lead to 20-14.


The fourth quarter started with Bentonville driving the ball into Hornet territory at the 17-yard line. On 4th and 7, the Tigers elected to try a 34-yard field goal which split the uprights to put Bentonville up 23-14.


The Hornets wasted no time in answering, moving down the field quickly on a drive that ended with another touchdown run by Walker that tightened the score to 23-21 at the 9:56 mark. Bryant’s Matthew Glover intercepted a Grant pass on the ensuing possession. Bryant took over on the Tigers 42. The turnover resulted in a 32-yard touchdown pass from Walker to Caleb Tucker that put Bryant ahead for the first time in the game 28-23 with 7:53 left.


Bentonville drove down the field on their next possession all the way to Bryant’s 23. The Tigers went for it on 4th and 8, but a pass to Hawkins came up short by a yard. The Hornets took over with 3:20 to play content to run the clock. Bryant all but sealed the win with a first down run to midfield by Walker on 3rd and 7. The Hornets were able to wind down the clock from there to win the 7A championship by a final score of 28-23.





Bryant quarterback Jordan Walker answers questions from the media following the Hornets victory over the Bentonville Tigers 28-23 in the 7A State Championship game at War Memorial Stadium. Walker was named the game's most valuable player.



Greenwood wins 6A state championship title in honor of teammate Isaiah





Mark T. Jenkins
12/07/2024



LITTLE ROCK — In a season that could be described as gut-wrenching for the Greenwood Bulldogs, the team pulled together in unanimous fashion today at War Memorial stadium with a high-flying 61-35 victory over the Shiloh Christian Saints to win the 6A state football title.


In late October, teammate Isaiah Arrington passed away in a house fire along with other members of his family. Just five weeks later, the team would somehow have to pull it together to capture the championship in honor of Isaiah. That, they did in convincing manner in front of their hometown fans who made the trip to Little Rock.


In a game that saw 96 total points scored along with 978 yards of offense, it was Greenwood who came out on top as “Swiss Army knife” quarterback Kane Archer used his arm and legs to move the Bulldogs down the field the entire game. Archer led the team in rushing with 131 yards on 18 attempts.


Archer had an army of receivers led by Grant Karnes and Champ Davis who had 134 and 106 receiving yards respectively. Combined with the rest of the receiving corps, Greenwood racked up a total of 321 yards through the air. Karnes picked up 75 yards of that on a touchdown pass from Archer in the second quarter.


In the end it was all-purpose player Champ Davis who sealed the deal with a 99-yard interception return to the end zone to make the final score 61-35 after the extra point.


Shiloh quarterback Jake Bodenstein threw for 382 yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Chandler Kemp accounted for 173 of that, while Zane Sluyter added 144 yards with 12 receptions and some remarkable plays. Running back Griffin Mason had 65 yards on the ground.


Archer was named the game’s most valuable player. Greenwood finishes the season with a perfect record of

13-0. Shiloh Christian completed the year with a 9-4 record.





Greenwood all-purpose player Champ Davis addresses the media after Saturday's 6A state championship game against Shiloh Christian. Davis accounted for 249 total yards in the game in which the Bulldogs came up victorious by a score of 61-35.



Parkview defends 5A title in convincing fashion against Farmington





Mark T. Jenkins
12/06/2024



LITTLE ROCK — The Parkview Patriots set out to defend their 5A state title tonight at War Memorial Stadium against the Farmington Cardinals. Both teams brought identical 12-1 records into the game.


Parkview wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard. After receiving the kickoff, quarterback Monterrio Elston hit Emmanuel Bunting on a 67-yard scoring strike on the second play of the game for an early 7-0 lead. After stopping Farmington on their first possession, Elston struck again with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Conway to put Parkview up 14-0 at the 8:59 mark. After another stop by the Patriots defense, the offense drove down the field ending with a 25-yard field goal to increase its lead to 17-0 with 3:42 left in the first period.


The Cardinals defense then turned the tide, at least for a moment, when Dawson Keaton intercepted a deflected pass. Farmington capitalized on the turnover with a 35-yard touchdown pass of its own from Ayden Lester to Kambren Miller that made the score 17-7. That score didn’t hold for long. On Parkview’s first play after the ensuing kickoff, Cameron Settles took off on an 80-yard run to the end zone making the count 24-7 after the extra point. On Farmington’s next possession, Settles struck again — this time on defense. Intercepting a pass at the Cardinals 45, he returned it 19 yards down to the 26. A few plays later Dak Crosby rushed in for the touchdown from 3 yards out, putting Parkview up 31-7.


The Pats defense held again on Farmington’s next possession forcing a punt. After a nice return by Jermaine Penny, the offense took over and methodically drove down the field ending in another touchdown run by Crosby, this time from 27 yards out to put Parkview up 38-7. Following another punt, the Patriots offense mounted yet another drive, this one ending in a 32-yard field goal by Aguilar to make the score 41-7. Parkview added another score when Omarion Robinson intercepted a pass and returned it 37 yards for the score. The extra point was no good, making the score 47-7 at half time.


The second half started with much of the same from the Patriot offense as Settles scored early on a 27-yard touchdown run making it 54-7. The Cardinals got a much-needed spark after DK Turner intercepted a Parkview pass at the Farmington 43. On the very next play Lester hit Russell Hodge on a 57-yard touchdown pass to give the Cards their second score. The spark was short-lived however when Jermaine Penny took the ensuing kickoff 97 yards to the house. The third quarter ended with the score 61-14.


Farmington showed no signs of quitting in the fourth quarter. Lester’s pass to Kambren Miller to Parkview’s 9-yard line gave the Cards one last chance to score. Lester then hit Brady Richards in the end zone to make it 61-21, which held for the final score.


It was the third consecutive state title for the Patriots. Parkview’s Cameron Settles was named the game’s most valuable player. Burlsworth Award winners were Jeremy Edwards, Jr. for Parkview, and Taylor Conran for Farmington.



Conway Christian completes perfect 14-0 season with 2A State Championship





Mark T. Jenkins
12/06/2024



LITTLE ROCK — The Conway Christian Eagles completed a perfect 14-0 season with a victory in the 2A State Championship game over the East Poinsett County Warriors by a score of 18-8. The Eagles took an early 6-0 lead with a 3-yard touchdown run by Brady Domokos who would eventually be named the game’s most valuable player.


That score held for most of the game, as it was mostly a defensive battle complete with turnovers committed by both teams. The game finally broke open in the fourth quarter with their seasons on the line. EPC’s Jacob Gaines scored on a 14-yard run with 9:18 left in the game to give the Warriors their first lead 8-6 after a successful 2-point conversion.


It didn’t take long for Conway Christian to answer, as Domokos broke loose on a 42-yard touchdown run and the Warriors regained the lead 12-8 after a failed 2-point try at the 7:52 mark. The Warriors were attempting to mount a drive on their next possession but it ended with a fumble when quarterback Eli Bragg lost the handle while attempting to make a pass. Conway Christian took over at the EPC 37-yard line and scored a few plays later on a 5-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jeryn Thomas. The extra point attempt failed making the final 18-8.


EPC finished the season with a 10-4 record. The Burlsworth Award winners named after the game were Ashton Reel for EPC and Finn Brantis for Conway Christian.





East Poinsett County prepares to snap the ball in the 2A state championship game against Conway Christian at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas. Conway Christian won the game 18-8 to cap a 14-0 season.



Positively Sports
Mark T. Jenkins





For purist sports fans, fall marks the true start for college football



We have all seen it move up year after year. We’re so anxious to see the football season get under way that we don’t even want to wait for classes to start. Not too long ago, opening weekend usually fell in early September. Gradually, however, the start of one of our favorite pastimes has crept earlier and earlier. It started when a media exec thought up the idea of a “kickoff classic.” Schedule a marquee matchup and put it on television for a nation of fans that has been in waiting since last bowl season.


The “kickoff” game opened the door for schools to get their season started in August instead of September. Now there are several different kickoff games. What started in late August is now mid-August and it seems to get earlier every year. The participating teams barely have enough time to prepare for the game. If it keeps moving the direction its moving, it will be about as close to Independence Day as it is Labor Day. Of course, what has fueled the movement is television revenues and demand for the sport. Hey, we all understand economics and who really wants to wait for summer to be over anyway? These things aren’t going to change; so be it.


To the purist however, the true start of college football with all its fall color and pageantry, has yet to start. Football season truly begins when air conditioning is turned off in favor of screen windows, when sweaters are pulled out of storage, and hot chocolate and coffee take the place of cold drinks. It is when we have to make the annual search for the stadium blanket and thermos. Football season is tailgating; it’s hot dogs and barbeque, firing up the grill, and getting together with friends to eat and drink before the game. It’s when the trees have turned colors against an autumn sky, and in the sound the leaves make as they crunch under our feet.


Football season is pep rallies and cheerleaders. Kids, attending their first game. It’s when the band strikes up the fight song as you walk briskly through the crisp, cool air. It’s when your heart starts to pound from the steady beat of the drums. You look around the stadium and see the home team’s colors for display on a clear, fall afternoon. There are the sights, the sounds, the feelings, of football. Yes, we can change the time, but we can never change the season. Only now is it about to start. Get ready. Enjoy.


This column originally appeared in the Benton Courier, circa 1998.

Football image courtesy of Freepic.



Conway Wampus Cat Dance Team



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