Now.

It is an absolutely gorgeous night here at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas.

As we get to set for tonight's seven eight championship between Bentonville and Bryant, all the fans starting to make their way into the stadium for tonight's contest.

Westmore.

We have had some great crowds here at War Memorial Stadium, especially for that six eight game that we wrapped up with just a minute ago.

Greenwood and Shiloh Christian.

It was an absolutely great game tying Greenwood once again wins another state championship.

If you like offense, you're to love that game.

Those two teams were going back and forth.

The first half was absolutely fantastic.

Second half slowed down a little bit when Greenwood started running the ball a bit more, but Greenwood was a machine.

Kate Archer once again fantastic.

You know what Shiloh Christian had their plays to and made it a ball game.

An entertaining game until the end when Greenwood's holding up the state trophy one more time.

And Kane Archer was the MVP of the six eight state championship game.

But you know what?

State championships just don't end this weekend.

In fact, next Saturday, we've got the four A game and the three A game.

Very excited about for a game next Saturday at noon.

Elkins in Arkadelphia.

They've been pretty much one two in the polls all year.

Elkins and Arkadelphia, two of the best teams all comes down to them.

And then three.

Bismarck's had a great season undefeated winning a conference title.

They'll try to make it a season for the history books with one more win.

But of course Salem wants to spoil the party in the last high school football game of the season.

Kind of crazy.

We're already wrapping things up, but you know what?

We've got a game tonight.

It's A78 game.

You know, last year, seven eight game between Bentonville and Fayetteville was a heck of a ballgame.

We've got the highlights from last year.

Bentonville really they they they beat Bryant last year, made it to the championship game and the rest was history.

Bryant had won five straight state championships and Bentonville the last team to beat Bryant last year in the semifinals.

They get to the finals.

But it's Fayetteville that takes home the state championship.

And we know and we knew a couple of weeks ago that there would be a new seven eight state champion.

And we're going to find out tonight if it's Bryant or Bentonville.

Well, it's coming up next.

It's the Bentonville Tigers taking on the Bryant Hornets in the 78 state championship.

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Folks are making their way into the stadium here at War Memorial, and we are just about set for the seven eight to state title game here at War Memorial Stadium.

Jayhawk, along with Wes Moore and Wes, two teams, two elite programs in class seven a over the last ten years.

Let's look at the road for Bentonville and how they got to One Memorial Stadium.

The two conference champions both had the number one seed.

And, by that means then they get a home playoff game.

Bentonville matched up with their crosstown rival Bentonville West after West upset little Rock Christian here in little Rock.

Then Bentonville moves on and knocks off Conway 3634 across the field goal with one second left back and forth in the fourth quarter.

So that tested them.

They've played a close game in the fourth quarter.

So that helps out Bentonville Bryant we'll get to their schedule here in a minute.

But here are some key players or one key player for big for sure.

Yeah Trevor Grant the quarterback for Bentonville.

He's really a kid that 62% completion percentage this year over 2400 yards, 30 touchdowns, six interceptions.

But he can do a little bit of both.

West.

He can run and throw it.

They're going to need him in this ball game to to have a successful ball game.

Coaches saw it.

Yeah he's rushed for over 300 yards and three touchdowns.

So put it all together.

He scored 33 touchdowns this season.

He's a big player for Bentonville.

What are some keys for this one.

Well we just saw the quarterback.

He can run it.

He can throw it.

But they got to be a dual threat offense.

They got to be able to throw it.

They got to be able to run it.

You just can't do one thing against this Bryant defense.

You also want to make Bryant one dimensional.

You want to make the Hornets throw.

They can run the ball.

They've got to really good running backs.

You want to force Jordan Walker to throw the ball.

And then they can't afford to make him make any turnovers.

And that's a key for all these championship games.

Whoever wins that turnover battle usually wins the game.

Well let's take a look at the road for the Bryant Hornets and how they got to War Memorial Stadium.

Of course they won their conference the seven eight central and got a first round bye.

Then they hosted Cavett one of their seven eight central teams that they played earlier in the season.

Shut them out 45 to nothing to beat Pulaski Academy.

Another team from the seven eight central beat them 41 to 7.

So you look at it, only one team has been able to score in Bryant in the postseason so far.

Only seven points allowed.

And Jordan Walker the player.

The player we're going to highlight in this one I mean it once again much like Bentonville quarterback he's thrown for over 2000 yards 2200 yards to be exact 36 touchdowns and three interceptions.

But he can run the ball too.

Just like Grant 417 yards rushing, seven touchdowns.

He is a dual threat quarterback.

But he you know he's not looking.

When he scrambles he's looking downfield.

Still he'll take off and run it some.

But he's also looking to throw the ball.

When you're looking at keys to the games for Bryant what would those be.

Well for for Bryant I want them to be able to run the ball.

But you got to get Jordan Walker into the game.

Throwing it a little bit.

Running the ball a little bit defense cause some turnovers create some issues for Bentonville.

Get those extra possessions and then wear down Bentonville with that running game.

If Bryant can establish the run and just start wearing them out while you're down the clock, I think Bryant could have a very successful night tonight.

Well, let's go to the third member of our broadcast team down the sideline.

Sierra Clark stands by.

Hey, Sierra, I don't Brian or Memorial.

Eight points.

Last year they fell in.

The stands for the in Arkansas having some technical issues with the microphone for Sierra.

We'll check in with her throughout the ballgame if we can get that done.

The captains are at midfield right now for both teams, and we're awaiting the coin toss.

See if we can get some audio from down there.

Keep an eye on say it again.

Keep an eye on Eli Hill.

Number two for Bryant.

You just saw him.

One of the team captains I know use the air is hot heavy after him.

Maybe a little undersized the defensive end.

But he's got these long arms I think you can see it right there.

Maybe only about six foot one.

But his wingspan is like six seven.

I've watched about 4 or 5 games of Bryant I haven't seen by block this guy.

Yeah, he is so much fun to watch.

Just keep an eye on number two at that defensive end spot throughout the night.

And I think you're going to be impressed.

And then Nathan Brown may be watching this game too.

And seeing it for what this young man can do in a state championship game.

Someone well, I'll tell you who was.

It's quite interesting.

He's like, I tell every coach, come through here, you need this guy.

But he says if you CAA gets him, they got a steal and he's going to be the next David Walker.

As a as a former UK bear, that being called Sanders, I would imagine he's trying to get any anybody that he can over to his alma mater.

And there are the Bryant Hornets as they make their way onto the playing surface.

They were a year removed from being in the state title game, lost last year to beat Bill in the semifinal game.

And they are.

They've made a return trip back to War Memorial Stadium and the Bentonville Tigers.

They were here last year.

They lost to Fayetteville.

And they're going to try to get some revenge here at War Memorial Stadium.

Glad to have you along, wherever you may be across the state of Arkansas.

We're glad to be here.

It's been a fun weekend so far.

Between, Thursday, you had the eight man games, and we had games last night, and now you've got the seven eight game and the six game, six eight game that happened earlier in this one.

Bryant they won the toss and they elected to defer.

And real quick before we go down to the kickoff, let's try one more time on the sidelines and see if we get Sierra Clark.

Go ahead Sierra.

Yeah.

So the Bryant Hornets are very familiar with War Memorial Stadium.

They've won five straight state championship titles.

However last year they fell in the semifinal finals to Bentonville.

And that was absolutely heartbreaking for head coach Claude Sanders in his first year as head coach for Bryant.

But he admitted to me that we could have prepped better.

But there's nothing wrong with failure as long as you learn from it.

As for Bentonville, they're familiar with this place as well.

They've competed at War Memorial for the past two state titles, but they haven't won a championship since 2014.

And coach Grant tells me that his team is confident and capable of winning a title.

Thank you.

Sierra.

We'll be checking in with you throughout the ball game tonight.

Back deep is Hayden Oliver for the Bentonville Tigers as we are just about set and ready to go, Jackson Cook is going to kick things off for the Hornets.

And we are just about set and ready to go here at War Memorial Stadium for this seven day state championship game.

And I said cook was kicking off for Bryant.

They've actually got Grayson King out there kicking off and so he'll stick a foot into it.

We are underway in the seven eight title game.

I don't carry the return man into the end zone.

And it'll be brought up by Bentonville, as bringing it up is going to be.

Hawkins and Hawkins will take it out past the ten yard line to the 12 on the tackle was Daniel Anderson for the Bryant Hornets.

Next time he may want to just take a knee in that end zone.

That Bryant kickoff coverage unit was flying down the field.

They did a fantastic job stopping him at the 12 yard line.

So Bentonville with poor field position to start this game.

Well this will give the Bentonville Tigers the opportunity to score or attempt to score early in this one.

Trevor Grant, as we talked about a 62% passer on the season, 2444 yards, 30 touchdowns, six interceptions.

And, this is a Bentonville team that's averaging 40 points a game, 420 yards of total offense per game.

Bryant defense ready to send a message early on one of their key guys 99 Malachi McDonald.

Watch him in the middle, too.

This guy is a disruptive force.

Grant just going to hand things off to start this one.

And a big running lane that time for his running back Allen.

And on the tackle it was Darryl Moore.

And you know what's one guy West that we didn't talk much about in the pregame Chris Vick 181 carries 1163 yards, 16 touchdowns.

Older brother played at Bentonville High School.

The Bentonville community familiar with the Oakland.

And that's a great start for Bentonville to pick up eight yards on first down.

Ball's going to be spotted at the 21 yard line just underway here in the seven AA state championship game.

Three receivers in the formation with the wing backs it off.

That right side.

Now here's Grant gonna throw it out in the flats.

They've got the first down and a little bit more as that time for Bentonville.

It was Mason Hawkins who was on the receiving end of that one.

And it's a first down the first first down the ballgame.

Good blocking in front of Hawkins.

Had a couple receivers out there.

Blocking foreign enables him to move the ball out to the 30 yard line.

You know that's what we've seen a lot of throughout these championship games.

Teams just going with that little five yard pass and letting the receiver work in space.

Greenwood wore out Shiloh Christian with that play right there.

Now the three receiver set pick when the running back.

And in motion that time at Schmidt.

Here's a big pass play downfield.

It's caught down the 49 yard line coming up with it that time for the Bentonville Tigers.

It was Mason Hawkins once again Matthew Ferguson in the coverage for the Hornets.

He was all over him.

What a great catch actually being pulled down while he was trying to make that catch.

Got there a little early.

Great concentration, tight formation this time as Grant's going to look to throw throwing on the run.

And he just overthrows the intended target that time trying to hook up with his wide receiver.

And that was Blair.

Irvin thought Grant was going to take off and run with that.

He had a lot of room to run.

Bryant was in man to man.

They're running with those wide receivers and once he escaped the pocket, there was nobody out there.

He could have picked the first and picked up the first down easily.

You know, the thing that I watched the Conway game with Bentonville last week, the thing that that Grant's got, he's got a strong arm, especially when throwing on the run.

The last two passes have been on the run and he delivers a nice ball.

Three receivers to the left side of the formation.

And a fake to Ficken working in the flats.

And the Hornets right there for a minimal gain on the tackle.

It's Jaden Welch as coming up with it was Conrad Schmidt.

Well it's kind of ran with his receiver for a second but settled down in zone.

And once he did right there he's there to make the tackle right away.

Gave the appearance of going man to man and running with his receiver.

But after about four yards he just stopped, turned around, saw the throw, made the tackle.

So now you've got your first third down for Bentonville.

And it's a third down and eight ball at the 47 yard line.

And emotion is Schmidt.

Grant's going to roll.

Throw on the run once again.

It's incomplete that time.

Trying to hook up with Schmidt on the coverage was Tristan Knox for Bryant.

And that brings up a fourth down.

Knox read that round.

He was closer to making the catch than the Bentonville receiver.

Easily just flips it to the ground.

That's the first fourth down of this game.

And you know Bentonville can be aggressive and try to you know that's no man's land.

Try to go for it on fourth and eight or play the field position game.

And they're going to choose to play the field position game.

Try to pin Bryant deep and make them drive the length of the field for their first drive.

So back deep is going to be Jonathan Frost for the Hornets.

As the punt will be a nice high punt.

That'll be they're going to let it hit down at the six and took a Bryant roll back to the nine.

And so Bryant's going to have the football first and ten from the nine.

Probably a good decision by Jonathan Frost not to get that one.

Well the punter came through made it a great decision.

What a I mean that punt was high.

It was one of the best punts we've seen this weekend.

And not only was it high, it was long.

And then it checked up.

I thought the Bryant punt returner made a good choice, not going inside his ten, letting the ball hit, but it hit and goes backwards.

Had a little spin on it and that's perfect.

Their play the field position game the gamble paid off.

And now Bryant has to go 91 yards.

So now we'll see the Bryant Hornet offense for the first time tonight.

This is led by Jordan Walker as we talked about has thrown for over 2000 yards 36 touchdowns three interceptions.

The lead back is Myron Thrash in the backfield.

And I hand it to thrashes.

He'll go straight up the middle.

And the one thing thrash does he keeps those legs moving as he takes it down to the 15 yard line.

A little help there from Michael Rucker, his big offensive lineman, came in and just gave him a nice little push while he kept his legs moving.

He also got it all the way out to the 20 yard line or 15 yard line, six yard pickup, three wide to the right side.

Walker under pressure.

He'll stab him.

He's going to run with it.

Got a nice running lane out past the 30.

Stays on his feet to the 35 and he'll be taken down at the 36.

It was Will fossil men who came up to make the stop.

It was a great example of Jordan Walker being the dual threat quarterback.

Got out of a little trouble, found a hole, hit that hole and he's up the field to the 36 yard line before you can blink an eye.

You know talking with quad Sanders this week he said that you know early in the season he couldn't get Jordan to really run.

He was wanting to throw it a whole lot more.

And he said something clicked midway through the year where he started to just tuck it and run whenever he got in a bad situation.

Here's Walker, here's Walker out past the 40 yard line, and he'll take it to the 42.

And that's a it's going to bring up a second down after a nice seven yard pickup on the tackle.

That time it was Thornton Mead who came up to make the stop.

And being pinned down it kind of forced Bryant to go to that running game a little bit, be a little cautious.

But to me that's the strength of their team and this offensive line.

Those running backs, when they get that running game going they are very difficult.

Stop second down and three ball sitting at the 43 yard line.

Walker with a early blitz.

And he'll be taken down back at the 41 yard line two yard loss.

Come up with a sack.

It was Jonah Knapp.

Second sack of the season for Jonah Knapp.

He had 111 tackles coming into this season.

And you see him just shoot that a gap.

No one picked him up.

He's able to bring down Jordan Walker for a sack.

So that brings up a third down and five from the 41 yard line.

Three receivers on the right side of the formation thrashes the running back.

Walker is going to keep it himself.

He has nowhere to go.

He's buried down at the 41 coming up to make the snap stop once again was now well that time they brought Cam Thornton made in the blitz.

You see they're coming over.

The guard running back picks him up but he has two to go.

He's got no decision.

No other choice but to go.

And you see Knapp come in on the blitz to guard.

Misses him.

Pickup.

It's back to back.

Nice place for this Bentonville defense.

Aggressive to Grayson King going to come on to punt for the Hornets.

And back deep for Bentonville is going to be Schmidt.

And Schmidt's going to be swallowed up at the ten yard line.

Coming in to make the stop for the Bryant Hornets.

It was Tristan Knox on.

Special teams play coming up big for Bryant.

They covered the punt well that covered the kickoff well.

And Tristan Knox their starting safety goes down and makes the tackle now Bentonville all the way back inside the ten.

Both of them you know you think about Banville's original drive inside their own 20.

Bryant down at the nine now Bentonville at the ten.

So both teams doing a good job with special teams and flipping the field.

And nobody's starting with great field position right now.

As Bentonville got their second drive Trevor Grant the quarterback, is going to have three receivers to the left side of the formation.

Chris in the running back, his lone back in the backfield.

And I give it to Oakland straight up the middle.

We'll take it out to the 16 yard line.

Maybe the 17 as Gavin Moments came in to make the stop.

And that'll bring up a second down after a nice pickup of about seven yards.

He had a nice hold there too between his left tackle and left guard.

It makes one man miss before Gavin gets him after a seven yard gain.

So second down and three officially with the ball at the 17 yard line.

Grant going to give it to Clinton around the left side.

He'll pick up the first down and a little bit more about 3 or 4 yards after the sticks.

And so another hard run that time by Chris pick one.

What one is showing me something here.

He's elusive.

He's breaking tackles.

He's running hard.

The junior has been the story so far for this offense at Bentonville.

So Ben Bell going to go with the diamond formation on the left side of the offense.

There's five receivers in the formation now.

They're going to swing it out.

Right side.

And that time trying to hook up with Ervin tell you what they had it.

But that was the Bryant's default defense Eli Hill comes in puts pressure on the quarterback.

If he's if he doesn't do that they got a little something going there.

The receivers wide open with room to run.

Turned it up the field.

But you can just see how a disruptive defensive in a linebacker whoever putting pressure on the quarterback just throws off the play.

And that's exactly what Eli did right there.

So it's second down and ten with the ball to 24 yard line.

Going to hand it to Ficken.

Makes a stutter step and gets back to the line of scrimmage.

That time it was Darrell Moore for the Hornets who came in to make the stop.

It all starts with Malachi McDonald right there in the middle.

Big number 99 blows up this play in the backfield.

That causes Beclin to kind of stop find another hole.

By then the Bryant pursuit takes over and is able to tackle fake one without a game.

630 left here in the opening quarter of this seven eight championship game is the Bentonville Tigers.

On their second drive of a third down and ten.

So three wide go to the near side.

Grant going across the middle has a man that time was able to hook up with Hayden Oliver, who was able to get big yardage as he takes it out to the 44 yard line.

All the rolling had eight catches 96 yards coming into this, but he comes right across the middle.

Nobody there.

Good throw.

Good catch first down.

He's a big kid too.

As Grant's going to work.

Quickly throws it right side in the hands of Eli Brooks.

He made it move and takes it into brand territory.

Past the 45 and down to the 43 yard line.

Made a miss a tackle.

You make the tackle.

That's not much there.

Maybe loose something, but he shrugs off the defender, goes on down, picks up the first down and some.

So it's first down and ten with the ball at the 43.

Two receivers to the left side with that wingback.

Set up that left side of the formation.

Here's a pass.

Play works left side back to Brooks.

Makes a move to the middle of the field.

He's off to the races.

He's got one man to beat down to the five dives for the end zone.

Did he get in.

Yes.

Touchdown Bentonville Eli Brooks showing a little speed running away from the Bryant Hornets defense.

Ran all the way across the field and gets across.

Just cuts it back against the grain.

Comes across the middle I thought one of the Hornets had an angle to catch him but he outruns him.

Barely gets to the pylon.

And the score the first touchdown of the game.

So on for the extra point.

It's going to be Ryan Fernstrom.

521 left here in the first quarter.

Bentonville strikes first six to nothing.

The kick is up and good.

And it's seven to nothing after the 43 yard touchdown pass to Eli Brooks.

We've got more of the first quarter in the seven eight state championship game coming up next.

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Blue, black and white.

Well, Jody Graham has got to be happy as his team has struck first in the seven state championship game.

Seven nothing over the Brian Hornets.

And you know he's the guy West that knocked Bryant out from their streak last year in the semifinal game.

And they did that on the road at Bryant.

It was a very surprising finish for the Bryant Hornets last year.

Not only to lose to Meadville but to lose at home.

And then the final score was a little bit surprising of how Bentonville got away from Bryant.

But fantastic start for Bryant.

Had to just clean up the tackling.

Some poor tackling bad angles overran the last play on the touchdown score.

Bryant's just got to settle down defensively.

Here is the kick.

It's gonna be a short kick that'll be taken at the 27 yard line and brought up for the Hornets.

That time it was the up man who brought it up.

And it was Curtis Jones Zach Rice Curtis Jones will sit down to Cierra Clark on the sideline.

Sierra.

Mac host Jody Grant from Bentonville would be proud today.

And he's always going to be proud of his son Bentonville quarterback Trevor Grant.

And he's a senior this year.

However, coach Grant is really proud of how his son's been able to compose and improve throughout the season.

It's hard being a coach's kid, but he's handled it really well.

I also asked coach Jody Grant what Trevor calls him as he call him coach or dad, and he says, oh, he just avoids me when it comes to that.

And he just so proud of his son.

Thank you Sierra.

There's a run by Daniel Anderson for the Hornets and, Yeah.

Pretty cool to have your kid as your quarterback and and, but, you know, it's, I've known a lot of coaches that, have coached their kids, and they say he's still a player.

He's still got to be able to to to produce as here's Daniel Anderson on another big run as he'll take it down to the 45 yard line.

Should be enough for a first down.

Daniel Anderson the other day signed with northwestern.

And so another Brian Hornet going to play Division one football.

I love this, response from Bryant.

The play calling from Bryant.

Look at Bentonville is going to bring their linebackers and start blitzing.

You know what do you do.

Run the ball find one of those gaps.

They want to keep blitzing those linebackers and they miss it.

Then there's nobody on the second level.

Next thing you know these big running backs from third level they're gone.

So they're going to try to establish the running game.

Here's Daniel Anderson with it again.

He'll bounce it outside.

And just a nice job with vision.

You know he saw the inside hole start to collapse.

And he was able to bounce it outside pick up a big game that time it was Will Newman who came down to make the tackle.

It's three plays for Bryant and all three of been productive plays over five yards.

Starting to get that ground game running.

The Bengal pursuit was nice there though.

That could have been a much bigger play.

If he gets on out to the outside.

But Bentonville did a good job of tracking it down.

Daniel Anderson with it once again and bent right there is they'll drop him for a one yard loss.

Eli Pearson, who came in to make the stop and that was there to to stuff it and to cause him to bounce it in disrupting things.

So that's going to bring up a third down and four.

Now with the ball at the 49 yard line in Bentonville territory.

Bryant's a very aggressive team.

I'll tell you I've seen enough of them this season to know that they'll go for it on fourth down.

They they just had that mentality that running game.

If it's fourth and short most of the time they'll go for it.

This could be a two down territory for them.

Three receivers in the formation to the near side.

Walker going to keep it himself straight up the middle has the first down and much more.

Ran over three players.

Takes it inside the 30.

Still going all the way down to the 24 yard line.

Design quarterback run right up the middle.

I got to say though, he's got to take care of the ball.

He started getting downfield a little bit.

That ball was away from his body.

Ben Mills going to see that.

They're going to tell their players how loose this ball is.

Knock it out.

Try to reach for the ball.

Walker keeps those feet moving.

See the ball getting loose right there coming away from his body.

Big first down for Bryant.

First and ten.

Walker going to look to throw.

Comes back.

Left side has a man that's Lattin.

Lantern stays on his feet.

Dives for the end zone.

Is going to be taken down to the one Keenan Lattin 12 catches this year 104 yards.

Touchdown.

Almost got his second touchdown right there.

Did a good job finding little hole in the defense.

Sets down.

Walker sees him delivers a strike AJ Looney was there for the the stop.

So the Hornets have it down at the one yard line with Daniel Anderson in it.

Running back.

Walker going to keep it himself.

Cuts it back at the middle.

The Hornets score.

So difficult to stop if you're Bentonville.

All eyes on the running back.

And really good offensive line.

Walker just keeps him himself.

Finds a hole finds a crease again keen on 63.

Runs right off of 63 into the end zone.

It's a big guy to stop too.

Jordan Walker's a nice size quarterback.

A low to bring down on for the extra point.

Going to be Jackson cook up.

The kick is up and it is good.

And with two minutes and 22 seconds left here in the first quarter we've got a tie ball game seven seven between Bentonville and Bryant.

How about that response.

Yeah I mean and it was really done through the running game right.

You know that first drive they had Jordan Walker was trying to throw it around.

Thrash tried to run a little bit but Daniel Anderson was able to get in there and and run the ball a little bit and be effective with it.

And that's what drove Bryant down the field.

Yeah, I think they established the run.

And then they did a little pass play.

Found the receiver in the zone and was able to get a big chunk play there to set them up for that touchdown.

UAMs provides orthopedic care, sports medicine expertise, therapy and support to athletic programs, organizations and events across the state.

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You JMS, how about that right there?

Great shot of the building.

UAMs building towering over war Memorial Stadium.

So there's Quad Sanders, the head football coach for the Hornets.

Got to be happy that his team was able to tie it up.

With two minutes and 22 seconds left here in the first quarter.

And here's Grayson King going to put a foot into it.

He'll be taken at the five yard line and brought up for Bentonville.

Bring it up the right side for Bentonville.

That was Hayden Oliver on the stop that time.

It was Zack Curtis Jones.

So he hurt his shoulder right there with the way he fell.

It's coming off holding his arm.

Oh cold night.

That does not feel good.

Does not look good.

The collarbone.

Yeah.

He fell right on that shoulder.

Hope it's not as bad as it looks.

Here's a good look at the replay.

Watch how he falls.

RJ, that was just right on that shoulder.

There was no.

Usually you'll be able to get an elbow down or something, but he was able to go right down on that thing.

So hopefully we'll get maybe Sierra can get an update on on his status as here's a running play by fake one.

Fake one's got nice running lanes.

He'll take it down past the 35 to the 36 yard line.

And it's a first down for the Bentonville Tigers on the stop.

That time it was Jonathan Frost moving.

Fake one was following his left tackle Wyatt files big 66 leading the way.

And that was pretty smart.

Just get right in behind him.

Let him throw a block cut off of that block.

Picks up the first down.

First down and ten with the ball.

The 36 yard line three wide to the near side Trevor Grant, the quarterback.

Bring a man in motion.

That's Eli Brooks.

Gives it back to 51 and he'll be stopped at the line of scrimmage Malachi McDonald big 99 right there in the middle.

He ties up a lot of space.

It's a big man shot off of 99 that that is a he takes up his West a ton of space.

But look at that I mean that looks like a grown man right there at 99.

Could you imagine running right into that?

Well, I mean, if you're pickling you're like, oh boy, y'all need to block him.

Yeah.

Three wide to the right side.

Trevor Grant looking to throw.

Goes across the middle field.

Threw it behind his intended target that time trying to hook up with Mason Hawkins on the coverage.

It was Jaden Welch that time.

It was Eli Hill putting some pressure on the quarterback.

Maybe affected the throw a little bit.

Throw was off target.

But once again pressure on the quarterback.

299 those are my guys on Bryant that you keep an eye on.

They they are disruptive players.

So that'll force a third down and ten with the ball at the 36 yard line.

Stops the clock at a minute eight left here in the first quarter.

I notice a couple times been delayed obvious passing situations.

They're double teaming Eli Hill.

They realize and they've seen on tape what he could do.

Here's Grant throwing on the run again has a man.

And it's going to be should be enough for a first down as they're going to spot him out of bounds at the 46 yard line.

That ought to be enough for a first Conrad Schmitz nice route.

Gets open.

Picks up the first down.

Yeah.

They're going to move the chains and say it's a first down.

That's a great job throwing on the run by Trevor Grant.

And Schmidt's coming back to get the football.

So it's first and ten for the Tigers as Ervin will go in motion.

Grant's going to get it out to Irvin.

And on the coverage that time for Bentonville it was or for Bryant, it was Jonathan Frost.

If Frost read that route, he was coming.

If that ball's a hair later, he may intercept that ball and take it back to the house.

Or if he throws it behind the receiver, Frost was there.

But you see, he was there.

Make sure if that pass was caught, he was going to make a tackle as soon as it happened.

So it brings up a second down and 1050 nine seconds left in the quarter.

Three wide going to the left side.

Vick won the running back.

And they give it to him straight up the middle.

And look at get nice yardage.

That time on the tackle was Matthew Nelson.

Pineville offensive line gets credit for that.

They created a nice hole court Bryant a little bit will start see 57 just pushing his man the center Philip mills just lets him go.

That way.

If you want to start that way just pushing that way opens up the hole.

They call Bryant stunning and took advantage of it.

Pick up about eight yards on second down.

Brings up a third down now with the ball at the 47 yard line.

Clock running.

Trevor Grant changing the play.

Gives it to fake one who worked outside.

He's got good speed.

He's able to pick up the first down and go out of bounds to was Nicklin.

Made little something out.

Nothing that was kind of designed.

They had two guys pulling to the right side.

Nothing was there.

So he just bounce it outside.

Bryant lost containment on the outside so he just bounced it outside.

Takes it to the sideline and picks up the first down.

They're moving the chains.

And since he went out of bounds they stopped the clock.

The may have one more play here in the first quarter.

So it's first down and ten.

As fake one's going to get it straight up the middle.

He'll be able to pick him about four yards.

That should be the final play of the quarter as he'll take it down.

Just shy of the 36 yard line.

That'll do it for the first quarter of play.

So we've got a good one in the first quarter.

Tie ballgame seven seven between the Tigers and the Hornets.

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This is the end of the road for football season, but the guys that play on the hardwood, they're just getting warmed up.

Here comes game.

He's going to slam it home and inside.

Good passing and look at the cutter.

Before you know it they'll be invading Bank Ozk Arena in Hot Springs for the Centennial Bank state basketball.

Final 12 championship games in three days.

Mid-March is going to be elect.

Tipoff is set for March 13th and is going to run all weekend long.

For all the ways to watch this, log on my AARP PBS.org slash sports.

Our Arkansas PBS All-Stars.

Rhett Tidwell from Fayetteville look at pulled that state championship trophy from last year.

The linebacker has a 3.8 GPA, plans to attend college and major in business.

Congratulations, Rhett Tidwell.

Good looking kid.

3.8 GPA.

Smart and a good football player.

Yeah, and a state champion.

So it's second down and seven.

They faking the fake one?

Grant going to look to throw.

He may have to pull it down and run.

As it is going.

He's going to take it out of bounds at around the 33 yard line.

Nice grab scrambling play right there.

I was looking downfield.

There wasn't anything open.

The Hornets had everything covered up.

So he just tucked it and got what he could.

Now it's third.

Very manageable.

Just underway here in the second quarter.

I'm going to go with the tighter formation.

Fake ones the running back.

They'll bring him in in motion.

That's Brooks back to fake one.

And he'll be able to get a first down as he takes it inside the 30 yard line.

Just about a yard shy of the first down.

Sticks on the tackle that time is Tristan Knox.

But RJ fake has been very impressive.

I do not want to take anything away from him.

He's got nine carries, 54 yards.

But this offensive line has been the story of the game for me.

This Bentonville offensive line is creating holes.

They're getting a push.

They are effectively running the ball against this Bryant defense.

I haven't seen many teams do that this season.

It really if any.

Here's the handoff back to Clinton.

Nice cut.

Move back up the middle of the field.

Inside the 20.

And he's going to be about a yard shy of the first down.

It was Gavin Moment who came in to make the stop.

And he's you know you're talking about Bentonville.

This is a team that started over three on the season.

They lost to Tulsa Union.

They lost to Conway.

And they lost at least somewhat out of Missouri.

A very tough non-conference schedule.

But you know that's what they got them ready.

Here is a nice play by the Bryant Hornets coming in and knock it down.

It was Eli Hill.

Eli Hill came in untouched.

That's probably not a good idea to leave him unblocked.

And he uses those long arms that I was talking about.

That long wingspan to knock down the ball.

Yeah.

Reach out there.

And he was he was trying to flip it around him.

He was still able to reach out there and knock it down.

He's a big Ole kid.

It's a UK bears.

Get him and they're going to be lucky to have him.

Puts him puts some weight on him.

And and having playing defense for the bears.

About like a player that got hurt and he was.

So it's third down and one where I can find out.

And I went over and here's the handoff.

Traffic one straight ahead.

And he ought to have the first down as he takes it down to around the 18 yard line.

Once again a good push from that offensive line.

That left side gets a push and gets right in behind them.

Tough running from Fickell and the junior running back.

He picks up the first down.

Well it looks like they're going to bring the chains on.

That'll give us an opportunity to check in with Sierra Clark.

About the injured player on the Bentonville sidelines.

Sierra did you get an update?

Yeah that's right.

Hayden Oliver, the player that was earlier hurt from Bentonville.

He was holding his shoulder a little bit and then in pain.

Family members were asking if he's able to stay in the game, and they're still trying to figure that out.

But at last, look he was on the bench and just watching his team.

So hopefully everything's okay with him.

Thank you Sierra.

Appreciate that.

As they stretch the chains across and.

I think he's one we can't quite see.

But they're going to say it's a first down.

Just had enough.

There it is AJ I think this is the first time all weekend they've had to do a. I think you're right.

We've had a couple reviews you know and that's for for those tuning in.

There is replay and and challenges in the state championship games.

We've had a couple but we've not had the chains that have come across the field.

We'll take a look at turnovers and then they can take a look at calls with two with less than two minutes to go.

It's great to have the replay group here to make sure the calls are made right.

It's important game.

It's the game.

You want to make sure you get it right.

Here is fake one running on the left side and minimal gain is Malachi McDonald was able to make a stop.

And you know it's not just it's not just the Arkansas PBS replays.

It's the DV sports guys that you see in college games and things of that nature.

They're the ones handling all the all the, replays down the far end.

It's a good replay of Malachi McDonald getting off of his block, reaching out, making the tackle.

Short gain that time for Bentonville.

Two receivers to the right side.

Grant going to look to throw a pump.

Fake goes left side as a receiver but he hold on.

No trying to hook up that time with Conrad Schmidt.

On the coverage for the Hornets it was Tristan Knox.

Schmitz ran a great route.

Had a step.

Trevor Grant put the ball on the money.

Maybe just a hair long reaches out.

Almost gets it.

What a great replay.

Yeah.

Got his hands on it.

Just couldn't make the leaping diving catch.

So that's going to bring up a third down and nine as there's three receivers on the right side of the formation that.

Grant looking for the end zone.

Looking for Brooks.

Did he catch it.

No.

They're saying it came out of his hands Eli Brooks the intended target Gavin Momen right there on the coverage.

Trying to make the One-Handed grab just a little outside.

Couldn't bring it in.

Good job for Frost there in coverage.

Pretty tightly covered.

Would have been a great catch and a great throw.

So now for Armstrong is going to come on for the field goal.

He's three of seven on field goals this year.

He's missed from 29, 28, 40 and 46.

I saw Bentonville make a pretty big field goal last week with one second left.

Now they were in the middle of the field and that was a 40 yarder, wasn't it?

Here's the kick.

It's up and it is good.

He's able to give the Bentonville Tigers the lead 10 to 7 with ten minutes and three seconds left here in the second quarter.

And that's a big kick right there.

And that's a good a good utility for the Tigers to have.

Well that's two big field goals.

The two we have I want to send you to the state championship and then one to give you the lead in the state championship game.

So they got to be very proud of what they're getting up there.

Field goal.

Officially, it was a 33 yard kick.

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We've got some Wendy's chili up here.

I love how all the sponsors are surrounding the stadium.

Yeah.

Had, several helpings of Wendy's chili, and it's it's good on a cool night, like tonight.

And then last night, it was cold.

Yeah, yeah.

It's been it's been a little chilly.

And Thursday night was really, really chilly up here.

And so, either way.

But now you've got a ten seven ball game.

The Bentonville Tigers lead the Hornets with 1003 left here in the second quarter of play.

That last drive for Bentonville 17 plays 80 yards in four minutes and 19 seconds.

And then you see the defense gathering there on the sideline talking looking over some video right now that's two straight drives for Bentonville.

Drove down scored a touchdown drive down kick a field goal.

Bryant needs to, find a way to get a stop.

They're going to win this state championship game.

Here's a high kick.

It's going to be taken at the 18 yard line brought up by the Hornets as working the ball up for Bryant.

That time believed that was that was Jacoby Boone who was able to get that one.

And he was taken down by James Pratt double team that he got a decent return out of it as he takes it out to the 28 yard line.

And that's where the Hornets will have it first and ten.

Well, the Hornets answered the last time Bentonville drove down and scored a touchdown.

They got the ball marched right down the field.

Got the running game going.

Hit one big pass play and then Jordan Walker punches it in from the quarterback spot to see if Bryant can answer again.

Walker we're going to go with the toss.

Sweep left side to us to Myron Thrash.

Brash has got a nice running lane.

There is a penalty flag down as he takes it into Bentonville territory.

The flag is back at the 35 yard line.

I thought thrash had something going.

He made the cornerback miss.

Cornerback, had a chance to make the tackle near the line of scrimmage, and thrash put a little move on him.

Got to the outside and picked up the big play.

But there's a reason why he had some room to run.

Apparently someone for that Bryant on the outside was holding, and that enabled him to get to the outside.

By the way, our officials today for the seven day state championship game, you've got Larry Steadman, Ryan Jacks, Blake Crawford, Tanner spikes, Brian Tackett and Landon Trusty.

Speaking of UCA, we've talked about them a couple times.

UK great and Landon Trusty on the officiating crew.

Can't miss him out there.

He's the biggest one.

Here's a pass play by Jordan Walkers.

He'll put it in the hands of Kamari Austin and Austin will take it past the 30 yard line to the 32 on the tackle.

That time it was it was John.

And now it's gone.

That's a big play for Bryant.

Second 13 or first and 13 and pick up about half of it.

He's a big receiver Austin is a legit 6364.

Had a couple of really big games here.

He's a touchdown machine for those guys.

When he catches a lot of times it goes for a touchdown 15 touchdowns this year he's gone.

And here's Jordan Walker running with it.

And he's going to get back to the line of scrimmage.

Is Luke Tillman was able to bring him down that time.

Yeah.

Austin's got 35 catches for 15 touchdowns.

How about coaches.

He's getting a touchdown about every two times he touches it.

Why don't you give him the ball more.

And he's like well that just shows you the depth we have at wide receiver.

We'd like to get the ball to a lot of different guys.

But no mistake that Junior's their guy and I think he's going to be playing no.

I know he's going to be playing on Saturday somewhere in a couple of years between him and Carter Ratliff and Caleb Tucker, and then even throw in Jacoby Boone, they've got a on a plethora of of receivers for this Bryant team as they go for wide this time.

Now here's Jordan Walker going to run with it himself.

And he'll take it out to the 34 yard line on third down.

And six.

Was able to get two yards.

And that's going to bring up a fourth down.

Right now Bentonville is winning the the battle of the trenches.

Bentonville offensive line is getting it done for their offense that you just saw right there.

Bryant trying to run a couple of times.

No success.

Couldn't run it with that quarterback keeper.

And they get the holding call on first down.

That was really the big play.

That set the gap.

Bryant behind the sticks.

Here's the punt as Schmitz is going to wait for it.

It'll take a Bryant roll.

Go out of bounds around the 31 yard line.

And so that's where Bentonville is going to get it first and ten as they are able to start their next drive with 751 to play left here in the second quarter.

Bentonville leading 10 to 7.

It just saw the Bryant defensive coaches meeting with the defense a couple minutes ago, challenging those guys because of what has happened the last two times.

Bentonville has had the ball drive for a touchdown, drive for a field goal.

Look, you're down 10 to 7.

You need to get a stop here.

You need to get the ball back to our offense.

We can't afford the 751 to go in the second quarter, but you don't want to have a time consuming drive right here.

That takes up most of the quarter.

So here come the Tigers on a first down from the 32 yard line.

Kind of give it a fake one.

Try to get to the edge.

May have gotten a yard out of the play that all got bottled up because of Malachi Moore.

Once again great push.

You see these defensive line or the defensive line getting penetration and the offensive linemen getting backed up in the backfield.

And that one had nowhere to go.

And so finally he just used his ability to bounce it out to the outside just to get back to the off, get back to the line of scrimmage.

Sam Nelson and Bryant Davis there to make the stop.

It brings up a second down and ten after the no game.

Stacked receivers right side man in motion from left to right is Irvin here on the throw is to Irvin.

And a big head knocks the ball loose.

Coming up to make the hit was Jonathan Frost for the Hornets.

We've called cross name a couple of times I was talking about a Wendy's Frosty a minute ago.

Well this is not a frosty.

It's a frost.

And he took he had made a lick right there to knock the ball loose and make sure that this is going to be third and long.

You know, Frost is a guy that transferred in from Maumelle and he was a they were thinking he was going to be a dual threat guy.

In fact, the opening touchdown of the season was thrown to Jonathan Frost in the Salt Bowl.

And he hasn't seen the offense ever since that point.

He's played nothing but defense with that since that point oh receiver move.

So now we've got penalties and that'll back up Bentonville five yards I didn't think they were going gonna call it I was just watching Frost because you were talking about him I saw him lined up out there over the start.

Wide receiver the five yard penalty.

He was on Irvin the third once again.

And you were talking about him.

And what I thought of just watching him and man to man coverage.

All of a sudden receiver moved and jumped.

And I'm like he move.

There's no flag.

What's going on in the ball with snap.

And I'm like, I cannot believe they're going to let that go.

It was a delayed flag, but they got it.

I don't think the officials were expecting them to jump, but either way it's a third down and 15 with the ball at the 27 yard line.

Five wide receivers in the formation.

Grant going to look to go.

Big ball.

Left side overthrows his intended target.

Trying to hook up with Jack Dunn.

That time penalty flag.

And they're right.

Coaches aren't happy at all.

They're saying holding on the receiver penalties at the 49.

He threw it from way back there I don't know if he grabbed that on the defense.

That's a 15 yard penalty first Brian Cornett coaches are letting them have it right now.

Tell you what I didn't see much from up here.

I'd love to take a look at the replay, but there was something obvious for him to throw that flag.

I don't think they needed to do that because of the way the ball was thrown.

It wasn't going to be corn.

It's going to be at the bottom of your screen, off the screen.

So we can't see anything.

I mean, he looked like he had some separation between us.

It happened, you know, earlier ten yards earlier.

Well, either way it's a first and ten now for Bentonville as Hawkins is going to go right side throws it downfield.

Did it get intercepted.

No they're going to say incomplete pass as he caught it out of bounds that time it was Jaden Welch who came up with the catch.

But he was out of bounds.

And it brings up a second down and ten.

Yeah not a great thrown ball.

But that's what happens when you're running the trick play.

That's not a quarterback.

He under throws it.

He's there to pick it off.

But he's out of bounds.

Well out of bounds as you can see.

Could look at the replay right there.

He hasn't been practicing his dragging of the feet as he was going out of bounds.

That would have been incredible.

That would have been pretty interception.

Yeah that would've been pretty good.

So it's second down and ten.

Hicklin going to get it.

Got hit initially.

And he'll be brought down the backfield with McDonald again McDonald was one in the backfield that stopped him.

And then he couldn't make the tackle.

But one of his teammates was quickly there to get the tackle for loss.

That's about a three yard tackle for loss.

Man Malachi McDonald has been a disruptive force at times.

I do want to see I want to see Boonville get back to what they were doing earlier.

They were running the ball successfully and just really getting five, six, seven yards.

And trick play kind of got them behind the sticks.

Second and ten right there Malachi Moore blows up the place from third and long.

So you've got a third down and 13 625 and counting left here in the second quarter.

Ball at the 39 yard line.

Here's Grant looking to throw.

Has a man inside the 50.

And it depends on the spot.

Pretty sure going to be short about a yard.

Be interesting call here I don't know maybe they're giving it to him.

It's close.

They're going to signal a first down.

They're not going to bring the chains on.

They're going to say that's right 48.

And it's a first down.

I tell you what, with the naked eye I thought he was short.

But I replay right there that that's a good mark right there by the side official.

It was the 48 yard line but a great throw from Grant.

I mean he stood there in the pocket, delivered it on time, finds his receiver.

That's a big play on third down.

So here's a first down run by Nicklin.

And he's going to bounce it outside.

And coming in to make the stop leading the charge.

That was Jonathan Frost.

And he actually lost his helmet.

But not until thick one got a good six yards out of the deal.

And he pushes it pushes the middle, pushes the middle and there's nothing there.

And he just bounces it out to the outside.

Brian has lost containment a couple of times to the outside and it was taking advantage of it.

Working quickly goes Bentonville is they've gone three wide to the right side.

It's a second down and two officially.

They gave him eight yards.

Ball at the 40 yard line.

Here's a pass on the flat traffic win.

And he'll get it out to the 40 yard line.

Got a moment there.

Makes a good app.

Open field tackle and catches it.

And you're thinking well he can pick up the first down.

But that was that was a very good tackle on the open field.

Stops him for maybe a gain of a foot.

They can take it from the 40 just inside the 40.

And that'll set up third and short for 40 and counting left here in the second.

And you're right.

I mean 51 has been kind of the game changer for this team.

They've moved the ball when when the ball's been in his hands and you've seen on the last two drives he's really he's really done a good job trying to find the open holes.

Here's a third down.

And two they're going to give it to him again.

Fake one left side has the first down and much more as he goes out of bounds at the 30 yard line Ferguson ran him out of bounds, but not until he got the first down.

And it sets him up with a first and ten from the 30.

Bryant was kind of slanting to the inside and just a good play call.

Just caught him.

Went off the tackle and picked up the first down easily.

Now Grant's going to look to throw.

Goes downfield has a man and it's in and out of his hands that time trying to hook up with Blair Irving.

He had a step on the corner that time Jaden Welch but just couldn't haul that thing in.

Yeah, it's one of those plays.

I'd like to see the receiver almost stop and jump, and then the cornerback who's trailing never turns around, runs into him.

Is easy, obvious pass interference, but he just kept running it and tried to catch the ball low.

But if you kind of stop as a receiver, try to high point it.

Well, that quarterback is just going to run into you and interfere with you.

So it's a second down and ten from the 30 stops the clock with four minutes and 12 seconds remaining here until halftime.

Two receivers, right side.

Now we've got penalty flags and a false start.

Now the Bryant defensive end jumped.

You see him coming out of the game right now.

It's not encroachment on the defense.

It's a five-yard penalty.

Everything is not going the way Bryant had planned for this one.

And for Bentonville I mean you get you get a free five yards against this defense.

You'll take it all day when especially after a first down incompletion, they're behind.

The chains are second and ten.

So second down and five two receivers right side fake it to fake one.

Now Grant trying to throw it right side.

And the corner receiver got tangled up.

And there's penalty flags that came in.

Bryant DBS are aggressive I'll tell you this I've seen them play a lot.

They get after the receivers.

They're very physical.

That's interference is that if you they teach that they want him to be aggressive where he's up there first down.

And that time they got caught you know a little bit of a double move.

And almost looked like incidental contact I think he fell down.

And when he was falling down he grabbed the receiver out.

I mean I don't know, it seems like they got they got their feet tangled and but either way the officials got the call and it's now going to be the ball at the 13 yard line.

First and ten man emotions Irving.

Now we've got more penalty flags.

Down the court Bentonville moving a little bit.

There was some confusion on the Bryant defense that was there.

You see it.

Young penalty go first down.

What time you saw Blair Irving.

The third come in motion.

And the Bryant defensive back went with him.

And I think they may have been in the zone because the other DBS were yelling at him like where are you going.

What do you do.

You know, stay on your side.

So there was a little confusion and he was trailing that receiver by a lot.

And Bryant gets away with it now because Bentonville false start jumps.

It's first and 53 wide.

Go to the right side as Trevor Grant and they give it a fake one again.

He got stopped momentarily.

And then the Hornets come in and stop him just shy of the 15 yard line.

That was Matthew Nelson who came in with the job.

Now that's gonna bring up a second down.

No I sound like a broken record.

But that's 99 again Malachi McDonald.

That stops him in the backfield and disrupts the play.

Slows him down just enough for the teammates to come in to make the play.

And he picks up about two.

So it brings up a second down and 13.

Trevor Grant going to roll as a man.

Try to go with the one hand that drum time trying to hook up with Jack Dunn.

And so that'll bring up a third down.

One of the few throws that he's missed.

He just led the receiver by too much.

And he threw it and the ball hit the turf.

He's kind of slapped himself in the helmet like, what are you doing?

Hey.

Knew he missed that one.

Well, so far in this game West that the aggressors on offense have been the Bentonville Tigers.

I mean, they've been the more impressive on offense so far in this game.

Offensive has been fantastic.

It's a Malcolm Moore has been made a couple plays.

But for the most part Boonville is winning these matchup.

Yeah third down and 13.

Grant under pressure.

He's got to step up in the pocket.

Has an open running lane.

Left side.

He'll step out of bounds at around the ten yard line.

It's going to be well shy of the first down.

Yeah I think he had a pocket that time.

I don't know if Grant needed to to leave the pocket.

Kind of got a little happy feet and and scrambled out to his left.

So that's going to bring up a fourth down and seven I would imagine they're going to bring the field goal unit on.

They are as Ryan Fernstrom is going to set up to kick this one.

He already made a 33 yarder just a moment ago from the same hash mark.

It's almost from the exact same spot, just a little bit closer.

The kick is up and it is good.

So Ryan Fernstrom is two for two on the night as he extends the Bentonville lead to 13 to 7.

And as they take a break we will two.

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Well, there's the band.

They've made it in.

Hey, let's go down the sidelines real quick and check in with Sierra Clark.

Sierra made it in in the second quarter.

The band is not here before the game to warm up or play the alma mater, because there wasn't an accident on the interstate causing loss of traffic.

Luckily, at last check, everyone's fine.

The band is finally here.

They're not dressed out, but that's all.

Okay.

They're here for school spirit.

But it caused a lot of traffic amongst the fans coming here on both sides.

I even remember at the start of the game, the Bryant cheerleaders were sprinting in at the start of the game.

So it looks like everyone is mostly here, so should be a fun game for the rest of the night.

Thank you.

Sierra.

Yeah, you know, we look at we've got this big window outside the press box West, and you look out at Fair Park, and there was a line of traffic that was trying to get in, and that accident happened down the way.

So just glad everybody was able to make it into the championship game is we've still got three minutes.

And 20s left here in the second quarter as Bentonville leads it 13 to 7 and the Hornets bound to receive Ben Kendall.

Offense has just been dominant so far, as they have 226 yards of total offense to Bryant's 122.

Here's Jonathan Frost receiving the kickoff.

And he's got open lanes.

He's quick and he's he's he's got one man to beat out past the 50.

Slows up and allows for the Ben Tiger defense.

But it was there a fumble.

The Tigers were celebrating over there like they saw the ball lose.

They're giving up saying we got the ball.

The officials are going to say Bentonville Football.

Costly turnover there for Bryant.

Here's a look at the replay.

Frost gets hit from behind kind of turned sideways still fighting.

Yeah the ball's out right there.

Sure the Hornets could argue look that whistle should have been blown.

He was going backwards.

They had stopped his momentum.

Plays dead right.

They're dead now.

Now the ball comes out.

The Bryant's there to fall on it.

They had it.

They've got it.

Oh wait.

They may look at this.

Yeah you might we might get a challenge of this one because he's down on the ground has the ball.

Looks like he had the looks like there's a penalty flag down around the 47 yard line.

Replay does look at all Turner automatic.

Yeah.

So they're probably already looking play unsportsmanlike.

Number seven have been billed as a 15 yard penalty.

It'll be first down then Bill.

I think we look at this again.

You're going to see Bryant's I think it was number 49.

Looks like he came in front.

Yeah.

And has the ball and is on his knees.

And so the play would be dead.

Not sure how he lost it.

Look at the play now.

Here he comes in 49 scoops on it.

Falls on it has the ball gets hit loses it.

Looks like he still has it right there.

No we're not getting a a call from the booth.

So they must be happy with it as it's first down and ten from the 36 yard line.

First turnover of the ballgame as they're going to throw it out in the flats.

This time for Bentonville in the football it was Irvin.

And on the it was Glover who pushed him out of bounds.

After picking up about a yard on the play.

I guess I'm shocked that they didn't stop play and take a look at that.

Yeah, I mean.

You know on that.

No the coaches can't challenge that as well.

Right.

They get one half I think they're told that they take a look know he takes a look at oh yeah.

Second down and nine.

Are going to hand it to Ficken.

He just runs into a wall after gaining a couple on the play to bring up third down.

It's a huge drive for the Bryant defense.

You want to get to stop there and stop it and go in three straight possessions.

And following the turnover.

This would be very big for the Hornets to get a stop, force a punt and at least get the ball back to the offense before the end of the half.

Try to get a score.

Think about how long it's been since Bryant's offense has been on the field.

I mean, yeah, Bentonville went on a long drive and then they green out right for Bryant.

They ran the ball twice with the quarterback.

Yeah.

Wasn't able to pick up the first down.

So they went three and out.

This whole second quarter has pretty much been owned by Bentonville.

Third down and eight.

Grant going to look to throw going left side and overthrows the intended target.

Now there's a penalty flag.

Wow.

They are upset on that sideline.

Coaches are jumping up and down.

They're throwing their arms.

Over.

That's interference against the defense.

There's a 15 yard penalty will result in a first down.

And we'll look at the replay now he was they were running step for step.

Now he did have a hand on him.

But the throw was was overthrown.

Let's look right here.

There's nothing there.

Yeah.

It must have happened before.

So it's a first down and ten.

Here's a little bit more.

And there's some hand fighting going on.

Receivers got him.

He's got the receiver.

Here's Grant going to throw it out of the right side.

Finds Eli Brooks.

He hurdles a man.

And now there's a penalty flag down for that.

As you can't hurdle you can't hurdle players in high school sports.

And so now he takes it down to the 22 yard line.

Died on the field from the athletic move the I know you can't do it but wow.

Tell you what.

He's putting on a show tonight two here.

The touchdown catch earlier this early in this game in the first quarter.

But Eli Brooks may not like him.

That'll go on his huddle film for whenever he goes to college.

When some college coach you know what you can do that college.

You can do that for me young man.

Hardly.

You see it.

There's a 15 yard penalty on the house.

Here's the thing.

That's a big penalty.

Yeah, I didn't realize it was a 15 yard penalty.

I thought it was a ten.

It's a rough penalty too.

I mean, I know you got a coach and try to tell these young guys, but as a competitor and you're out there and you're just trying to break tackles, make something happen.

And they're just I mean, you see it on TV, it's glorified on TV.

Yeah I mean NFL college guys, well you're a TV guy.

How many highlights do you show when somebody goes and makes a great hurdle?

Did you hear me?

I mean, I hate interrupting when you do a play by play, but I was like, oh, I mean, that was awesome.

I mean, and you're penalizing the young man for it.

I it's to try to keep him from getting hurt.

You hurdled somebody, you get flipped up in the air.

But man, it just tough to tell a kid not to do that.

Here's Grant going to look to throw.

Sets up the screen on the right side.

Back to Eli Brooks.

And Brooks will be taken down around the line of scrimmage.

That time it was Jaden Welch who made the stop.

Brings up second down.

But Welch and a couple of his teammates did a good job staying home.

They rolled it to the other side of the field, throw it back.

A lot of times you'll catch guys all going to one side of the field and you're able to pop a play, but that Tom Bryant stayed at home, did a good job and we've got a timeout charged for Bryant with a minute 24 left in the quarter.

Charged timeout.

Let's go down to the sidelines and check in with Sierra Clark is and get to talk to Sierra a whole lot in this game because the pace of the ball game Sierra what's going on down there.

They're cuddling up right now.

And Bryant is really just kind of hoping to continue that momentum.

Coach Grant before the game again really was proud of how Trevor is able to really just stay composed in the pocket and to make those first down plays.

Thank you Sierra.

So you've got a second down and 19 and you know for Bentonville they've got a minute 24.

And I think for for them West is that you just want to keep chipping away at that clock.

I know it's early to say that.

But you know even if they don't score, if they if they can get some of this clock and get to halftime with a lead, I think you'd be pretty happy if you're Bentonville.

Yeah.

Their goal right now is to get a first down.

Yeah.

And make Bryant use their final two timeouts.

Bryant on the other hand is second and long.

They've got two timeouts left.

They're hoping Bentonville tries to throw it and get an incomplete pass that stops the clock.

And they could save one of those timeouts.

But I would imagine Bentonville is going to come out, run the ball a couple times, make Bryant burn those timeouts and then punt the ball and playable defense and see if he can't get a stop so far in the game.

Total yardage Bentonville 228 to Bryant's 122.

Chris Oakland, the running back for Bentonville, has already run for 89 yards in this one.

Here's a pass play by Grant and it will be swarmed under.

Is that time.

It was Hawkins who made the reception.

Eli Hill came in to make the stop.

There came from his defensive end spot.

You'll see him on the end.

He just has that speed to get outside.

Makes the short tackle, forcing him out of bounds.

Gives them a little shove just to say hello, and they get the job done.

You know that was as safe as a handoff.

That's just an extended handoff.

Easy pass out in the flat to the short side of the field.

Looks like he had him pushing backwards.

And that's why they can't stop the clock.

He was not going forward anymore when he pushed him out of bounds.

So they have to use that timeout.

Bryant is going to take their second timeout here as they as Ben Mills got a third down and 19 a minute 13 left here in the second quarter.

No I was going through the numbers west.

And then Bryce is not ahead of.

Just not had a good night offensively so far.

You know the 29 yards passing 93 yards rushing and on.

And Jordan Walker has done all the rushing court really.

Basically it's been one drive so far.

You know RJ it's been one drive for for Bryant that's gotten all the yards.

The issue for Bryant has been their defense.

They can't get off the field whether it's a you know a third down conversion for Bentonville.

Bentonville running the ball.

But here recently it's been the pass interference play they've had in some third.

And longs had a couple pass interference.

That's continued the drive.

But they just can't get off the field to get their offense back on the field.

Well Bryant's had five penalties for 66 yards.

Bentonville four for 34.

But a number that we always talk about that it's kind of irrelevant is time of possession.

But in this case Ben Mills had the ball 15 minutes 30s to Bryant seven minutes and 17 seconds.

Yeah, that was my question for you.

How many plays have they and the Bryant Hornets run compared to how many plays between those run.

All right.

That's got to be a huge difference.

So you want to know that number Bentonville 45 plays well now 46 to Bryant 16 now.

And Bryant's going to take their final time out.

But you know I mean 45 to 16 that's kind of the telling tale of this really this first half for the Hornets I figured it was 2 to 1.

But it's more than 2 to 1 a 3 to 1.

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Okay, so you've got a minute seven left here in the second quarter.

It's fourth down.

Ben Mills going to punt.

So if you're Bryant you have no timeouts.

And I mean you work some things to the outside get you know get a couple first downs and taking it take a shot at the same try to you know at least get a field goal out you know right.

Oh no no doubt they're going to be aggressive.

And how aggressive they are all depends on this punt and the punt return where they take over.

Look Bentonville does a good job gets a good bounce.

And that thing goes inside the five.

And yeah is going to be very conservative.

Just go to the half and say hey we're down six and we played as bad as we can.

We're going to regroup and win this thing.

Second half.

But if they get a good punt return here, maybe a punt block we saw low snap earlier.

You know then you become a lot more aggressive.

Two backs back for Bryant Ron Rico Simmons and Jonathan Frost.

And Simmons is going to let it hit.

And it'll roll inside the 15 and all the way down to the ten.

That's got to be frustrating for the Bryant coach.

You got two punt returners back there.

And you watch the ball bounce right and right between the two.

And then it rolls and rolls and rolls to the ten.

Why did you send two punt returners back to catch the ball.

That's why you're back.

Your punt returners catch the ball.

If nothing else just catch it.

But they let it bounce and now they got to go 90 yards and 54 seconds.

So I don't know how aggressive they're going to be.

This coaching staff is aggressive.

So I feel like they're going to they're going to try to make something happen here.

Well they're going to go five wide to start this drive as they'll come back and it's in and out of the hands of their intended target that time.

That was Caleb Tucker receiver.

He's Caleb Tucker.

You know one guy that they have not targeted at all tonight.

Second down.

And that is their big wide receiver Carter Ratliff.

No I think Kamar Austin just one catch.

Yeah.

You just told me how many plays they've they've run that many plays.

That's that's only the third pass that Walker has had all night.

Here's another pass play.

That time it's caught by Zac Curtis Jones.

It's not enough for a first down.

He's going to pick up about eight yards on the play as the clock rolls down to 40s working quickly they swing it outside to Tucker.

He'll get out of bounds as Tucker is going to take it to the 25 yard line.

They do pick up the first down down to 36 seconds.

Boonville is playing their two safeties very, very deep as they should.

Nothing get behind him.

Here's Walker now looking to run with it.

Has a lane past the 40.

And now he'll take it out to the 46.

Down to 28 seconds left in the quarter.

It'll stop the clock momentarily for him to reset the chains.

That's one of the things that can happen when you have those safeties so deep.

It gives the quarterback room to run.

Once he gets past that first wave of guys and he was able to do that, Walker picked up, what, about 2530 yards on that scamper up the middle.

Yeah.

And you know one thing about that Bryant you know two minute huddle.

They got to the line of scrimmage really fast.

They were running with him as he was running down.

Yeah that was impressive the way the offensive linemen were there but was there ready to spike the ball.

Diamond formation for the offense on the near side.

Walker going to step up in the pocket and he'll be dragged down past the 50 yard line at the 49 down to 15 seconds on the tackle is Peyton Lowry for Bentonville.

Third down and five.

And Walker's going to spike it.

So now you've got a fourth down with seven seconds to play here in the quarter.

Throw this one in the end zone I'm sure seven seconds he can maybe do a little quick out.

Pick up the first down.

That's it.

That's chancy.

You know because you run a little out route.

And if it's incomplete they get the ball with the two seconds left in midfield.

They can throw a Hail Mary.

I think if you just line up, go deep, throw it in the end zone, there's not any time left.

When Jackson put their field goal kicker, his long is from 40 yards.

Well they need about 20 yards and six seconds.

I don't think you're going to do that.

Here's Jordan Walker.

Looking for the end zone.

Heaves it downfield and it's incomplete.

And that's going to do it for the first half.

So after one half of play the Bentonville Tigers they lead it 13 to 7.

Sierra Sierra Clarke's trying to catch up with head coach Jody Grant.

And Sierra's got Jody Grant.

Now take it away Sierra coach Grant, how has your team been able to limit this?

Bryant offense is known for being really strong on on their credit.

Yeah our kids are just playing really good on defense.

Oh we got to be a little bit better with the quarterback run game.

I think we're doing a good job with our coverage.

We just got to find a way to keep him in the pocket kind of force him to throw it.

I mean, he throws it.

Well, we just, you know, we're going to try some different things, like to get some more pressure on him.

But overall, I think our kids are playing pretty good.

You guys head into the locker room with the lead.

You guys haven't won a state title in ten years, but how do you still keep your team focused to the second half?

Well, our team's focus.

They're ready.

We got to tell them just to keep playing each step it takes a it's a four quarter football game.

They know that.

We know that we've been in we've gone in at halftime here before with a lead.

We got to keep playing and playing hard.

Thank you thank you Sierra.

As that was head coach Jody Grant for the Bentonville Tigers as his team leads it 13 to 7 over the Bryant Hornets and, West.

It's, you know, looking forward to the second half because the way Bentonville has played offensively, it's going to be a good second half.

Yeah.

Who steps up that Bryant defense gets some stops.

And then the Bryant offense gonna get their running game going.

The running game that was effective was the Bentonville running game.

And they have the lead 13 to 7.

We've got some good Arkansas stories coming your way at the half.

David Bazzle is going to introduce us to a football team at the university level in Searcy, doing some great things and a great year at Arting.

Cristina munoz will introduce you to the Arkansas PBS student All star team, plus a lot more.

Stick around.

Halftime show.

Coming up next, you are watching the Centennial Bank State Football Championships on Arkansas PBS sports.

Broadcast of this championship game is made possible by 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.

Hey, everybody, David Bazzle here.

It's halftime at war memorial.

That means we are back here at Arkansas PBS Studios to share with you a little bit of what we've been working on.

In a few minutes, Cristina munoz will introduce you to some All-Stars both on the field and in the classroom.

We're going to check in on a hot spot in Arkansas football, and we're going to learn a little bit about some Arkansas sports history.

But first, starting from scratch can be a struggle, but teamwork makes the dream work.

Solid springs begin this year with their first practice ever for their Special Olympics Unified Cheer team.

It took that collaboration all the way to the state finals.

Take a look.

Being a cheerleader requires you to how to raise your voice and be as loud as you want.

The first year is always in the supporting year.

You know, it's great.

You got to get our feet wet.

Okay, let's go to our.

Just for a minute.

Okay.

I was one of the stars, so I really want to get some unified teams going in our in our community.

Because cheer has always been kind of a big thing in Siloam Springs.

Well, unified team is special Olympic partners and peer partners, and they work together to build their routine and compete.

Oh.

Oh, okay.

So I really fan base for a cheer for the short stay.

Yeah.

It's like I'm base and, like, someone climbing on my rooftop ladder, and then, like, on my way.

It's pretty cool, though.

So there's dancers tumbling.

There's the cheering aspect, there's the stunting.

I feel like our cheerleaders sometimes work the hardest because there are so many components to it, and they all have to be synchronized, and they all have to work together and have a flawless routine.

Do you like the practices?

You like how challenging they can be.

You know, it could be the lifting and the tumbling.

What do you think the two of.

And from the first practice to state every single one of them, just take ownership of it.

And it was like how sports bring people together.

That's exactly what cheer has done.

And it's great.

Oh yeah.

Yeah.

Oh yeah.

Oh my my brain.

Oh come on friend.

You know, the kids were so nervous because they had never competed before like that.

I mean, I knew that they were good and I knew that they had a good routine, but I just didn't know what the scoring would be like.

But there wasn't anything that we were expecting.

Getting out in front of everyone and doing our routine, what we practiced, we didn't really know what to expect going in, and they were often.

The one to say competition in Benton, Arkansas, and took home the gold.

They had the skills, but they also had the drive to be successful.

And they all work together as a team.

And it was like our first year.

And so, like, we pretty much people that you can do something in a short amount of time.

This team, this high school team, had the overall highest score out of the entire competition.

And I think that's what shocked us all the fans.

And watching them win together was incredible.

And now now it's like, okay, we got to win again.

Like we can't stop now.

Now we got to defend it one, two, three, four and here we go.

It's hard to win if you don't practice and chances of winning are low.

That's why we practice.

Otherwise you will be at the competition underprepared.

What I feel like makes the practice the most important.

Is that where the relationships are built.

And that's where you trust in sports.

It's always important to hang out with the players that are working with it like Haley.

She's always been my friends.

I always do that with friends and I just love her.

I love you, too.

The relationships that we made.

Outweigh any metal that they'll ever win.

I mean, don't get me wrong, those gold medals are precious, but I think just the idea of inclusion in the team brought all these kids together from different backgrounds, from different grades.

They are so welcoming.

They're so loving and it's just incredible to watch how they have been impacted by this experience, and to see those friendships and to see that joy on their face.

That's what makes it worth it.

Salon Springs will be hosting their own Special Olympics cheer competition on February 27th, 2025.

We wish all the teams the best of luck.

Now let's turn to the student athlete with the emphasis on the student part.

Christina, what do you got for us?

Thanks, David.

We reached out to schools all over the state looking for athletes who not only excel on the field, but in the classroom, too.

Here's the Arkansas PBS student All Stars class of 2024.

We're going to start with our eight man honoree, Hunter Mae.

Hunter is a senior linebacker and tight end for the Midland High School Mustangs.

He has a 3.7 grade point average following high school, he plans to go into the Army out of two AA.

Let's meet Jaron Thomas.

Jaron is a senior quarterback for the Conway Christian High School Eagles.

He maintains a 3.2 grade point average, and following high school, he plans to attend college.

Moving on to three AA.

Here is David McKinney with the Charleston Tigers.

This senior offensive and defensive lineman boasts a 3.4 GPA.

After high school, he wants to attend college and teach and coach our four.

A all star this year is Creed Vega.

Creed is a junior quarterback, running back and linebacker for the Dardanelle Sand Lizards.

He has a 4.0 grade point average following high school, Creed plans to play college football and coach football as well.

Coming around A5A, we have Maddox Hampton of the Nettleton High School Raiders.

Maddox is a senior quarterback and has a 3.85 grade point average.

After high school, he plans to attend college at UA Rich mountain to play baseball.

The six A representative this season is Magnus Golden, this senior defensive end and fullback for the Russellville High School Cyclones, maintains a 3.8 grade point average.

Magnus plans to go to college and play football while earning a degree in engineering.

And finally, we wrap up with our seven, a all star threat kidnap threat is the senior linebacker for the Fayetteville High School Bulldogs.

He has a 3.8 grade point average.

After high school, he plans to attend college and major in business.

Congratulations to all of this year's honorees.

Way to go.

You know, we may see some of these faces again in April here on Arkansas PBS for Quiz Bowl.

Now, if you haven't seen Quiz Bowl, you'll want to make a note to watch.

This year, some of the smartest high school students in the state meet up right here in this studio and square off not only for bragging rights, but for some pretty big checks, too.

And it is all live right here on Arkansas PBS.

Now let's throw it back to bass for a look at another hot spot for Arkansas football.

Thanks, Christina.

You know, they say big things come in small packages.

In the town of Searcy, there is one school proving that to be even more true.

The Harding Bisons, a small school breaking NCAA records and making national headlines with their very unique brand of bison ball.

You know, there are some things that I think you know should be told.

We've got a special group, and, But it's hard to win.

You know, the path certainly seems easier once you've been there.

I can tell you that, you know, we got a fantastic coaching staff here.

You know, when everybody in America talks about culture and brotherhood and family.

It's something that we refine on a daily basis.

And I think the success came from the guys buying into the culture.

And that and seeing reflected into the way we played, because at the end of the day, it's about the guys out there in uniform.

I know that's the biggest game I've played in my life.

I've never played for something that important.

You know, we're playing for more than just us.

The plan for the Searcy community they're all pulling for as they rooting for us.

And we just we want to make them proud.

Yeah.

The.

Wishbone was invented by, who was Emery before the Texas A&M?

And taking those wishbone backs and putting them up there and slots and what?

The difference between wishbone and Flexible were emotional and didn't put them in routes and stuff.

And the flags on is 11 guys, committed to executing their specific detail every single play.

If one guy is off, then the play won't work.

And so it is.

It's really a reflection of how everybody has to do their job every single play.

And, you know, there's a lot of things about this offense that make it a home world success for us.

But probably the biggest thing you know, it is a perfect fit for who we want to be in our culture.

We.

Would coach up made that decision.

You know, he sought out, the best and coach weight and this is widely recognized is is one of the best, if not the best, option, in the country.

Coach Hawk reached out to me in 2010 and he said, hey, we want to bring you in and and install offense.

And we think it would fit our kids.

And, you know, he was right.

A couple of months later, he reached out and said, after watching your practice and being around your young men and, and great taste in that culture, I'd love to come coach with you guys.

Wow.

It's amazing.

The Godfather, you know what can be with us?

But at the time, we we didn't we didn't have a spot available.

We didn't have a salary available.

And coach waiting said, it's okay.

You all come work for free.

He definitely is a big deal.

But, you wouldn't know it just talking to him.

One thing I really appreciate about Coach Weeden is just the way he holds us accountable.

If you have something you need to get better, he will tell you straight up, and he won't sugarcoat it.

What do you want to do in in a way that's demeaning either.

And that makes you want to play harder for him because he expects a lot of you.

But it's a good thing.

It's about much more than just being a football player here.

You know, we always talk about unity.

We only talk about stuff that unites us.

We don't talk about stuff that divides us.

You know, we don't want it in the locker room.

We don't want it out here on the practice field.

You know when you have guys a bias or that, I mean, especially the success that, that, we have received is a is a product of young men loving one another, being selfless and working like crazy to all our.

No, no, kids are more deserving than our kids.

You know I'm I'm very excited for this program.

Mainly because, you know, people know who we are and.

Good things are definitely brewing in Searcy.

Now let's take a look at a bit of Arkansas sports history.

In the early 1900s.

The University of Arkansas Athletic program was still finding its identity.

That all changed when a young coach named Yugo Best Dec arrived on campus, bringing with him a fierce competitive spirit that would transform Arkansas sports forever.

Check out this story of how one man's passionate outburst gave birth to the legendary Arkansas Razorbacks.

The University of Arkansas hasn't always been the Razorbacks.

You go best.

His association with what would change our mascot that once a moment will always be part of the history of the university.

You go visit.

He immigrated from Bohemia.

He and his parents moved to Pennsylvania and then later to Chicago, where he literally fell in love with American sports.

He'd been mentored by his coach, Amos Alonzo Stagg, at the University of Chicago.

Looking for something to do in American sports really fill that void in his life.

Hugo Best Dec was selected really as the first paid coach, full time coach here at the University of Arkansas, and he arrived in 1908.

So he became the coach, which means he coached whatever they were playing.

You know, they were the Cardinals and the Cardinals, not the birds, but the color.

And those days, it was football in the fall and baseball in the spring.

He was equally prepared to coach.

Both had successful careers in both sports.

It's very likely that his baseball players were more fundamentally sound than his football players because he, you know, baseball was kind of the town sport in those days.

He did produce great baseball teams.

There was a lot of success heralded on the football field, obviously for his teams were like quick and furious.

They were swarming.

It was a very disciplined team and their style of play was, very successful.

With an undefeated season in 1909 and really helped define a style of football that wasn't seen, predominantly around the country at that time.

I think his wins and losses and his accomplishments as a coach were all secondary to the fact that he was in the right place at the right time to form a new image for the state that in 1909, when the University of Arkansas traveled to Memphis via train to play the mythical championship of the South, and coach Best Dec led Arkansas to a shutout victory.

And they returned to the train station and the train depot on Dickson Street.

So when they arrived, everyone knew what the score was, and Ole Hugo stepped down off the train and spoke to the crowd.

He proclaimed that his team played like a wild band of razorbacks.

Everybody thought, what's better than being a cardinal?

And then in 1910, the University of Arkansas student body officially voted to change the name from Cardinals to Razorbacks.

It's not true that mystic invented the name.

They'd been called the Razorbacks prior to that, but it certainly wasn't embraced.

And so the name was more derogatory.

Arkansans who looked upon by their opponents as a bunch of rural hillbilly, noncompetitive guys.

But I think what people quickly realized in this state is the Razorback represented the attributes of Arkansans is fierce, is tireless, is very passionate.

I think they really identify with the attributes of a razorback of the hogs and having to work harder and having that success.

So I think when you look at an animal and you look at a mascot that represents the spirit of Arkansas, I think the Razorback is a perfect fit.

He was the first person to give that name significance.

I think that's a very important part of his legacy, setting us up for this competitive nature that goes far beyond what we might expect, and not just in athletics.

That stems across the academic institution, campus community.

You know, best, perhaps biggest contribution to the University of Arkansas was the adoption of the Razorbacks and a whole sense of pride for this state and for this university.

You know, Christina, from that memorable day in 1909, the Razorback has stood as a symbol of Arkansas pride and determination.

Absolutely.

You know, that is one of the things I love about sports on Arkansas PBS.

We get our dose of sports, of course, but we learn along the way.

That is a great history lesson, right.

And the Arkansas PBS student All-Stars.

That is one less you want to be on.

Well, that's it for us on the halftime show.

Now, let's get you back to War Memorial Stadium for the second half right here on your home for the high school football state finals.

Arkansas PBS.

Broadcast of this championship game is made possible by 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 easy to.

And you got the energy.

Well, we get ready to start the second half here at War Memorial Stadium where the Bentonville Tigers.

They lead Bryant by a score of 13 to 7.

Westmore I'm RJ Hawks here.

Clark down on the sidelines for this one.

And, West, when you look at that first half, it was really dominated by the Bentonville Tigers.

Really in almost every phase of the game, to start this ballgame.

Yeah.

Very impressed with the way Bentonville was able to run the ball.

But then you look up and Trevor Grant was 12 of 23 in the first half.

They were very we talked about their offense and that's what they they're very balanced and they were balanced in the first half.

Ran the ball 22 times.

They threw it 23 times.

So a balanced offense for Bentonville and it all started early with Eli Brooks I was impressed with Eli Brooks.

He had a 43 yard touchdown run.

There's a little catch for him, but later on he goes 43 yards for the first score of the game.

Bryant did respond after that touchdown.

They drove the length of the field and finally got in right there on Jordan Walker's two yard run to tie it up.

But then Bentonville right back down the field.

Long drive results in the field goal.

They get the ball back.

Marched down the field get another field goal.

And they're up 13 seven at the half.

Bryant tried at the very end of the half to get something going, but to no avail.

They couldn't put up any points there in the second quarter.

Only one touchdown for Bryant.

And that came in the first quarter.

Well here your halftime stats.

Total yards 225 to 163 for Bentonville.

Rushing right now Bryant leads in that that category.

But it really it comes from Jordan Walker.

He had ten carries for 81 yards.

And the touchdown passing department.

Bentonville has the one 2844.

Tom are the lead on that.

And then those penalties four for 34 for Bentonville five for 66 for Bryant.

Let's head down to the sidelines real quick.

And our quad Sanders here.

Clark's got him.

Now coach Sanders are down at the half.

And your team hasn't had a single passing touchdown.

How has Bentonville posed a threat to your offense.

They're just doing what they're supposed to do right now.

They're standing over the top and they're doing a good job at it.

We got to execute a little bit better.

We got to get off the field faster on defense.

We just got to get this thing figured out before the next 24 minutes.

Bentonville offense also has been really productive on those first downs.

How do you limit that?

We gotta make the most opportunities.

We got too many pass.

And it's not the real fault.

Is our fault.

We got hands on.

They're supposed to call it.

So we got to do a better job of getting off the field.

Thank you.

Coach.

Back to you guys.

I'll tell you what.

Quad Sanders always he he shoot straight and, you know, you could tell that he he was not happy with the way his team performed there in the first half.

And they do got to get better.

That's.

I was talking to some folks up in the press box that cover high school sports.

They said that may have been one of the worst halves Brian's played in the last couple of years.

And, but that's to the credit of Bentonville.

They got to get off field.

He nailed it right now.

Bentonville.

Time of possession 15 minutes and 49 seconds.

Yeah, Brian had it for eight minutes and 11 seconds and hardly any at that time.

In the second quarter, they had a three and out.

And then there at the end, they got a big chunk of their running yards from Jordan Walker when he scampered up the middle 25 yards.

Besides that, Boonville would have held them under 100 yards rushing in the first half.

But you know what, Bryant they can make him go in the locker room and say, guys, we just played poorly on defense.

We didn't get anything done on offense.

But one drive and we're down six points guys.

Put it together and you can win this game.

Now Ben on the other side they they know what they've been doing.

Look we've had three drives against this defense.

Touchdown two field goals.

Keep moving the ball offensively.

And you're playing keep away from Bryant's offense.

You're a half away from winning the state championship.

Well Brian's going to get the football to start the second half as they won the coin toss.

And elected to defer.

And so they will have the football to start the third quarter as they trail 13 to 7 to Bentonville.

And you know, on paper going into this one, you were you were kind of wondering, you know, how was this one going to turn out because, you know, Bentonville, they kind of they've been on a real good run over the last nine games.

And once they got out of that non-conference schedule, they they've just gotten better and better.

And I think you saw that in the Conway game last, last week.

And and they played Conway earlier in the year.

They lost to Conway in the in the non-conference schedule and then came back and beat them in the semifinals.

So, we'll see what the second half has to hold for both these two teams.

As I said, Bryant will be receive the ball here in the second half.

Jonathan Frost is back deep to receive along with Jacoby Boone here on Bryant's been a good second half team this season.

Two I remember the Conway game that was a close game.

And then in the second half Brian just goes on the run.

I think they scored 35 unanswered points.

This is a team that's been able to make adjustments and come out in the second half and play better.

Came in.

Latin is going to return it for the Hornets as he was the up man that went back to get it.

He'll take it out to the 33.

And that's where the Hornets will have it.

First and ten to start their first drive here in the second half a good open field tackle by James Pratt for Bentonville looked like he had some blockers in front of him.

Maybe room to run.

But Pratt makes the one on one tackle, brings him down before Bryant could get a better or longer run on the kickoff return.

So Jordan Walker brings his guys out as Myron Thrash is going to be the running back to start here in the third quarter, and they'll go three wide receivers to the near side and they give it to thrash.

He'll go straight up the middle.

Ball came out still on the turf and Ben, Bill and all.

They're going to say actually the runner was down.

They called him down.

And so he's going to get the ball out to the 34 yard line.

Thrash just got submarine.

The defensive lineman just came in kind of falling down a little bit backwards.

And that's nap.

Nap hitting that whole linebacker blitzing in again and disrupted the play.

Threw off the thrash.

Threw him off of the speed.

One yard pickup.

Second down and nine and Walker's going to be swarm swarmed under.

The ball is going to be incomplete.

He just kind of backhanded it to his wide receiver and got real lucky right there.

Wes.

Yeah, that was a dangerous play.

Nothing down the field.

He was trying to make something out of nothing good.

Look at the replay here.

He's just trying to shovel it for.

And he had a receiver right there.

So Daniel Anderson was there.

But dangerous play for Bryant.

Now they're facing third and long.

Not the way the Hornets envision coming out of the locker room here.

They tried to establish a run that blows that up.

And then the pressure on the quarterback.

Third down and nine.

It's intercepted.

And it's taken by Bentonville.

Coming up with the interception for the Tigers it was Julian Grundy the defensive end.

Grundy with the big time play stayed home was right there.

Walker pump fakes.

Look that was telling Grundy here comes the ball.

Get ready for it.

He goes up.

Athletic play tips it to himself.

Comes down with it.

He wanted to score.

Look at that.

Got his hands on it.

Comes down with the ball.

Tell you what.

That was just two bad decisions by Walker right there.

He got away with the first one trying to shovel it to Anderson.

Second one.

Nothing there probably should just zone that one into the dirt and punted the ball.

That is the second turnover for the Hornets so far in this one.

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

Vigeland straight ahead and he'll be taken down at the eight.

Boonville defense does their job on first down.

They got to find a way to force a field goal here.

Don't want the been.

There's already got all the momentum right here.

You can try to steal some of that momentum back here with a field goal attempt.

That's their job right now.

That's the task at hand.

Make them kick a field goal.

Second down and goal ball at the eight yard line four receivers right side.

They're going to go with the end around this time in the hands of Hawkins.

And Hawkins will be taken down at the four.

Hawkins was trying to get to the outside.

Had four blockers out there.

I think that was Eli Hill at the defensive end spot.

Got up the field that made him cut it back in and once he cut it back in, there was a lot of Brian Hornets there waiting for him.

Tristan Knox led the way for the Hornets.

It's now third down and goal from the four yard line just underway here in the third quarter.

Keep an eye on my guy Eli Brooks will be a good target down here.

Eight touchdowns on the year.

Had one earlier.

And they give it the fake one straight ahead.

And he's going to dive for the end zone.

Touchdown powerful running by Chris Backlund.

Looked like he was stopped about the two yard line.

And that was just sheer power breaking a tackle.

The second effort from fake one big time run for Bentonville.

And Bentonville is going to extend their lead to 19 to 7.

Just kept his legs moving.

The strength of pick one to reach the ball over the goal line.

Now on for the extra point.

It's going to be Fernstrom.

Three plays ten yards in a minute 12.

He's crossing that going for two here.

Kick is away.

And it is good.

And with 957 to play here in the third quarter the Bentonville Tigers they lead at 20 to 7.

Maybe a little early to try to get that two touchdown lead.

Just take the extra point.

The defense has been playing really well I mean you right now you're at a two score lead for the Bentonville Tigers.

And so Bryant's got to figure it out.

They are there at the point that nothing offensively is working for the Bryant Hornets.

Hey time for some football trivia.

Now here's here's the question.

Since its inception in 2006, who has had the most appearances in the seven eight championship game?

Brian had that little five year run.

So this a six for them.

North little Rock had a good run.

I'm trying to think of Central Team since Springdale had a run for for a little while and Fayetteville has been here a lot now Bentonville a little bit.

I'll tell you after the kick off of that Bentonville, Fayetteville Central had a good run, but nothing since Bryant's at six.

Is anybody more than six?

That would be my question.

Here we go and give you the answer.

No I'm still thinking okay okay.

Well while you think we're going to go down the sidelines and check in with Sierra Clark.

Yeah.

One one thing about this Bentonville team is that they're extremely close and they can really trust their coaching staff.

They feel like they can tell their coaches anything, whether it's football related or school related.

Coach Grant says that his team just he opens as he welcomes and just coming at him whenever.

And that really has helped their bond on and off the field.

Here's Myron Brash running the football for the Hornets, as he'll take it up past the 25 yard line and out to the 22.

I think that's really this is what Brian started to get back in the game.

They got to reestablish the line of scrimmage.

They are good running team.

What do you do best?

What does Brian do best?

They run the ball best.

Get back to running the ball three wide to the left side.

Second down and three going to give it back to thrash.

And he's going to be hit right at the line of scrimmage.

May have gotten a yard on the play Eli Pearson in there to make the stop.

But they're going to run the ball.

You got to get all guys blocking that time and all.

It was one guy missed a block.

The freed up Bentonville linebacker.

The end to come in and crashing it a mess that play up.

It looked like it was going somewhere.

So it's third down and two.

Walker is going to keep it himself, works it back into the middle of the field trying to get to the 30 yard line, and it's going to be all dependent on the stop for the spot.

They're not going to give it to him.

He was really close to that 30 yard line.

Yeah.

You know what?

Look at that.

The official at the top by Bentonville did not give it to him.

Let's see here on the replay.

Does the ball get to the 30.

And the white hat saying it is a first down and down here at the bright spot.

That official ran in the spot of the ball gave him the 30.

So it's a follows first and ten for the Hornets.

Gordon Walker going to give it to Daniel Anderson this time Anderson takes it past the 30.

Out to around the 33 Eli Pearson in there for the stop for Bentonville.

But Pearson came from the backside came in from behind.

Kind of grabbed him by.

Not really the the horse collar wooden horse collar kind of grabbed him from behind and threw him down.

The seam coming in from the backside right there.

Grabbed him right one hand in the head, that whole backside.

Here's the toss.

Sweep to Daniel Anderson as he'll try to get to the edge.

And he just has nowhere to go man.

The pursuit of this defense.

It's like their play.

Here comes a late flag.

It's like they're playing with 12 guys out there.

They're just swarming to the ball doing a great job of attacking the other.

This is a crucial call here.

This was on Bryant.

That's going to set them back.

Move way past the change.

It's on Bentonville.

Could be a first down after the play.

Personal foul against the offense 15 yard penalty.

Well there was a player that lost his helmet at the end of the play live.

Is that number 67 right there for Bentonville.

But had his helmet come off.

And was Will Newman.

So that'll bring up a third down and 22.

Now Jordan Walker, can you try to do something with it.

He'll run with it now past the 20.

But the ball come out.

They're going to say it's fourth down.

They did.

He got back on it.

No.

That was seven team house thrash that came up with it.

So I think the ball did come out.

But Bryant recovered it though he was able to get about five yards on the play and that'll bring up come down RJ he was carrying it loose again.

Remember we were talking about that earlier in the game how he was carrying that ball.

He got hit.

Ball came out and thrash.

That was huge for Bryant to recover that ball.

So King is going to put a foot into it and it'll be fair.

Court is going to be called for by Schmitz and Bentonville will get the football at the 48 yard line.

708 to play here in the third quarter.

Bentonville leading 20 to 7 here in this seven eight state championship game.

Well this is a big drive for Bentonville.

This offense.

They go down and get some points I mean even a field goal 23 to 7W.

It's still a two possession game.

But if they get a touchdown here make it 27 to 7.

That means Bryant's got to find a way to shut them out.

The rest of the game and score three touchdowns.

They've only been able to score one.

So hey by the way going back to the seven eight trivia question, I'm going to give you the answer.

The Tigers since 2006 have been to the seven eight championship game ten times.

Here's a run by Vic London.

He'll take it out to the 45 and Bryant saying they've got it.

They do.

And it's a Bryant footballs first turnover for the Bentonville Tigers.

Coming up with it was Matthew Glover for the Hornets.

Let's look at this.

Make sure it's a turnover.

First of all they're going to check it three play.

Yeah the ball was coming up for I think he before he hit did not see him sneer could not see his knee but he was in the air.

This may be a better look at it.

Yeah.

Ball.

Ball popped out in right place right time I tell you what 18 just fell on the ball.

He was started to get up.

He even realized that he was on the ball.

And then he fell right back on top of the ball.

Yeah, that was Matthew Glover, who it was just right there for him.

So the Hornets get the football back and they're going to go five wide in the formation with four to the top side Jordan Walker going to look to throw.

Going big ball middle of the field.

Trying to find cam but trying to find Caleb Tucker.

It's incomplete I really thought they'd come out running the ball here because Walker's struggle a little bit just fumbled.

It had the ill advised pass shovel pass under pressure to his running back.

The next play will throw back screen.

He throws the interception just to help him.

You know get back in the throwing thing.

You know maybe if nothing else an easy pass not a deep pass down the middle back to a five wide set for the Hornets.

Walker going to try to run with it himself.

Gets to the outside.

He'll be slung out of bounds at the 49 yard line.

Will design quarterback run right there Paul Simon was on the drug him out of bounds.

It's a four yard pickup.

So now you've got a third down and six.

Here's the thing Jordan Walker passing the ball tonight four of 11 for 44 yards and an interception.

You know you talked about in the pregame trying to get him into a rhythm early.

And he's just not had a rhythm all night five wide.

Here goes.

Walker looking to throw again comes back left side and the officials are going to say it's incomplete.

Trying to hook up that time with Kamari Austin.

We never set his feet that time.

And he was still running.

And he just quickly just tried to use his athleticism and toss the ball out there.

And he threw it low.

And the receiver had to try to go down to catch it.

And even if he had it caught, it wouldn't have been a first down.

You got to throw that where he can catch it, turn up the field and get the first down.

Brian's going to go for it on fourth down.

It's fourth down and six.

Walker going to look now has an open running lane out to the 45.

Got the first down as he's going to be taken out of bounds at the 41.

That was a very athletic play from Walker.

That's what he does best.

Scrambling around making plays running the ball a little bit.

Bonneville got a little too far up the field that allowed him to run out the right side pick up the first down.

So fresh set of downs for the Hornets.

Look at Anderson back there in the backfield right now a pound of with Anderson three straight plays.

See what we can get here.

We talked about Daniel Anderson signed with northwestern a couple days ago.

Now they're going to put him out as a receiver.

Walker's going to keep it himself again.

Straight up the middle.

He'll get all the way down to the 35.

So it's a six yard pickup for Jordan Walker from a numbers game.

There they take Anderson put him in motion.

And when the linebacker goes with him they know they've got some numbers in the inside.

Just do a little quarterback right up the middle.

Good productive run on first down 14 carries 102 yards.

So far running football 0607 and counting.

You're eating up a lot of time though.

In the third quarter.

Three receivers in the formation.

Thrash is back at the running back position and he'll split him wide.

Walker going to run takes it down to the 31 yard line.

Another four yard pickup that time Robbie Dewberry came in to make the stop.

Very close to a first down.

They're looking at it.

He's a yard shy.

We're going to have our second measurement of the game and the second of the weekend.

Oh yeah.

All in one game.

And it's happened when the ball was on the sidelines.

So, West, it's on your side of the press box.

We'll let you eagle out this thing and see if you can figure out if it's a first down.

Or I wasn't sure how far down the chain gang or had the ball had stretched all the way out on that far side.

I thought they marked it on the 31, and I felt like they had to get it to the 31.

I don't think you'll be able to see it.

No.

See it on TV.

Oh, the officials in L.A. Oh, he's a half a yard away.

And so I'd say about six inches away.

They're going to carry the chains all the way back over.

I can only imagine that Jordan Walker is going to get this one in.

Try to try to be able to get the yardage.

Wouldn't you agree?

I mean, he's he's pretty much done everything so far on this drive anyways.

Well third and one is third and short 13in to a quarterback sneak.

I'll tell you what I've been impressed with Bentonville nose guard.

They've had a couple that have been rotating in and out.

They've got a couple of big dudes too.

We've talked about Malachi McDaniel for a McDonald for Bryant several times, but Bedevils nose guards have been doing a very good job.

You see look at some of the big guys coming in right now.

He's going to be right there over the center.

Number two 9898.

Well, you know, he's he's done a nice job.

He showed up a couple of times tonight.

Kellen Ramona.

Hard to move him.

So it's fourth down and about six inches.

They're going to hand it off to thrash.

Straight ahead.

He's got the first down.

Got it past the 30 yard line.

Cam thought Mead got some penetration.

Met him there right close to the mark.

But he was able to break that tackle, fall forward easily, get the first down and make it easy on him though did it?

No.

He had to use a little second effort fall forward.

But he's and he picked up about two yards on the play.

So it's first down and ten from the 29 yard line.

Back to thrash.

They go straight up the middle has a running lane out past the 15 yard line and takes it down to the 14.

Oh they pulled a lineman that time.

He followed him in the hole.

Got a great block.

You'll see it right here 66.

It looked like Terry comes across opens up the hole.

Parker Chatman came in to make the stop.

Fresh set of downs.

First and ten from the 14 now.

Going to hand it to thrash.

He'll get to the corner, trying to outrun defenders and coming in at the last moment to make the stop.

It was Schatz again and just was able to get the ankle.

That time of Myron Thrash Chatman prevented him from picking up the first down, maybe more, but still Bryant leaning on the running game.

Now they're getting the they're moving the ball, moving the chains, getting down the field.

And it's been about running the ball either one of the running backs or Jordan Walker's kept with a couple of times to six yard pickup.

Second down and four.

And get to the four yard line to still pick up the first down.

Here's the pass play that goes left side to Keenan Latin Lattin trying to sidestep his way to the end zone.

He stepped out of bounds.

So at the not at the four.

Very patient on that catch and run.

Looks like they're the injured Bentonville Tiger who cramped up trying to stretch that out.

Are they going to say short.

Oh.

Yeah they marked him right at the four.

I think they had to get inside the four.

And while we're attending North they're attending to the Bentonville.

Player want to say thank you to Troy Mitchell and his staff.

They have been doing all the stats and everything for all the state championship ups across the weekend.

They'll be doing it again next weekend.

Troy's been doing it now for a while for the triple AA and, Randy Baker, Tyler Freeman, Ernie Higgs, Blake McAfee.

22 years of service to the triple AA.

That stand for us?

They've been.

Oh, that's not over there.

They're over a little bit more panned to your left, camera guy.

Yeah.

There.

There we go.

Now, now, pat down a little bit.

That is down a little bit.

Yep.

That's him right there.

That's the stat crew.

That's our by the way I wanted to also thank Chris Babb who's spotting for me tonight.

And yeah.

So but man it takes a it takes a crew of people to pull these things off.

And so I want to thank Troy and his crew for providing stats for all the state championship events.

402 left here in the third.

They measured it and it was short.

Now the bringing it out to a three with all.

So a third down and one.

They're going to spot the ball at the four yard line I think it's third and inches again RJ.

They're not I mean they want to get the first down but they're thinking touchdown right here.

Jordan Walker has Daniel Anderson in the backfield.

Walker is going to keep it himself.

He's running for the end zone.

Walks in after a spin move.

Touchdown.

Now on the drive Bryant had to have trailing 20 to 7.

They get the turnover.

They get the points.

What the doctor ordered for the Bryant Hornets I just shows you the power of Walker right there.

He's met breaks that tackle spins off of it.

Stays on his feet.

Gets into the end zone.

Takes it back to a 20 to 13 lead for Bentonville.

The extra point is up and it is good.

And it's a one score game with 351 to play.

Bentonville leads 20 to 14.

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We're back here at War Memorial Stadium, 20 to 14.

Bentonville leaves Bryant.

Let's head down the sidelines to talk with Cierra Clark.

Yeah.

You just saw Bryant quarterback Jordan Walker with that rushing touchdown.

This isn't his first time starting in a state championship game.

He started in that sophomore season of his in 2022.

But coach Cord Sanders said that when Walker played in that game, he was atrocious.

So Coach Sanders is really proud of how Walker has been able to improve over the years, and his preparation and his composure and his in-game adjustments.

Walker is headed to Washtenaw Baptist University next year to play D-2 football.

Back to you guys.

Thank you Sierra as they kick off.

It's going to sail down to the four yard line and be brought out from there for Bentonville.

And that was here's what we got to do.

I want to say we, the Bentonville I'm on there.

I'm thinking as a Bentonville High offensive guy.

So you just you go with the win.

Yes.

Here's what we got to do.

We got to reestablish what we do offensively and what they have been doing.

And what we're successful in the first half was being an offense that was both passing the ball and running the ball.

They were a very, very multiple offense in the first half.

You looked at the first half stats.

They ran the ball just about as many times as they threw the ball.

Successful doing both.

That's what they got to reestablish their identity like Bryant just did know.

Establish with the arm.

Move the chains.

Long drive right here.

Take control of the game.

So here's Grant.

Throwing out right side.

Nice pickup that time about eight yards on the pickup.

Nice play I mean it's just a simple throw for Grant.

Hits his receiver right there.

Set down in the zone.

Make some one little move.

Gets what he can get gets down for the eight yard gain.

That was Blair Irvin who made the reception.

And Bryant Davis made the tackle.

So it's now a second down and two.

And you can do anything right here.

This one's going to get the handoff straight ahead.

He's going to have enough for the first down.

And he'll take it out to the 29 yard line.

Host the Hornets right there to make the stop.

When Lineman's helmets came off.

Been a physical game so far.

He's going to have to leave for one game.

That's Caleb Swagger their right guard.

And stop the clock.

Well they reset the chains.

So it's first down and ten from the 29 yard line.

Brought in Josh Brandenburg 68 point Grant going to give it to fake one.

No he fakes it.

Almost intercepted that time as on the outside for Bryant Tristan Knox was right there.

But he was slipping down as he tried to make that interception.

Dangerous throw.

So that brings up a second down and ten.

You know one thing that this offensive line for Bentonville has done a good job of is giving Grant a little bit of time to throw the football.

I mean, he's not been under just a ton of pressure throughout the evening.

I'm looking at the sacks.

Was there.

There was a sack early I remember.

Yeah.

One sack.

That's it.

And Bryant's done a good job of getting after the quarterback all season.

Here's another pass play across the middle of the field.

It's complete.

As that time he was able to hook up with Mason Hawkins for the reception.

And a first down Jayden Welch right there to make the stop for the Hornets.

Good throw.

Good catch Welch got an arm in there trying to rake it out.

He's able to keep focus on the ball and bring it in.

Here's another pass.

Play a little too high trying to hook up with Mason Hawkins once again.

On the coverage that time for the Hornets it was Tristan Knox.

And that'll bring up a second down and ten.

Balls at the 42 yard line.

Total offense for both teams.

Bentonville so far 266 to Bryant's 236.

Three receivers in the formation.

They're going to give it back to Oakland.

He'll go straight up the middle and he's getting a good run this time.

He'll get all the way out.

It's going to be a ten yard gain for Nicklin as he takes it inside Hornet territory.

Down to the 48.

Bryant was kind of loading the box expecting a run there and then that was still able to run.

Pick up ten yards for Oakland.

Got a good push from his offensive line.

Kept his feet moving.

Picks up the first down ten yards.

First down and ten down to ten minutes 10 or 2 minutes.

10s left here in the third quarter.

Grant swings out right side to Brooks.

Never caught it.

Never brought it in.

Try to catch it.

Turn up field all at the same time and just never able to bring the ball in.

That's a good angle.

Good look at it.

Just kind of tied him up because like, he was trying to decide which way to put his hands to, to bring that catch in.

So far, Trevor Grant 14 of 27 149 yards and a touchdown.

Second down and ten will line up three wide receivers in the formation.

Fake one is the running back.

And give it to fake one straight ahead and he'll be taken down as he crosses the 45 down to the 43.

That time it was Matthew Nelson who came in to make the stop.

And we've got a penalty flag down at the 46 yard line.

Well, this is this will be a big penalty.

If it was a holding penalty against Bender.

I thought I counted 12 guys on the field.

Leave this place.

This.

I guess the defense.

Defense?

Yeah.

I thought I'd counted 12 Hornets out there.

One player ran on as I never saw a player run off.

It's.

I was trying to count right when they were snapping.

And I counted 12.

And I'm.

And I'm second guessing myself because I didn't see a flag from the the deep back judge.

Yeah.

That's usually who's counting and and and so I just like I miscounted.

So it gives Bentonville a first down.

That it that's now six penalties for 81 yards for Bryant.

Well that's costly.

It gives him a first down.

It was going to be third and five.

Yeah.

Ball is going to be spotted at the 33 yard line.

Fakes the handoff to Clinton.

Grant looking to throw comes back left side and he can hook up with his intended target that time trying to find Blair Irvin.

He was open.

Just didn't have enough arm to get it to him.

That's a long throw.

I mean, he's over on the far right hash mark throwing it all the way across the field, throwing it down the field about 25 yards.

It's a that's a tough one.

And he tried to throw a line drive in there instead of putting lawyer under dirt.

It's just a difficult throw.

So it's second down and ten two receivers to the left side of the formation.

And they give it to fake one is he'll work right side as a nice running lane.

And he'll get the first down as he takes it out to the 21.

Has been so impressive tonight.

That puts him up over 130 yards.

That was his 27th carry of the game.

They are riding parkland tonight getting behind that big offensive line.

Had a couple pulling there.

Gets in behind 5768.

That's a good job of blocking and a good job of running it.

So it sets up a fresh set of downs.

First and ten from the 20 and 27 for 133.

Going to hand it to him again straight up the middle.

That's a hard three yards that he gets right there to bring up.

Second down and seven on the tackle.

It was Ryan Horn.

Yeah that was an impressive three yard run I'll tell you that.

Bryant had a couple of guys in the hole.

And he he hit them hard and was able to bounce off of them and fall forward.

But what they're doing two things right now is hey they've gotten in the field goal range.

Be they're eating up a ton of time to end this third quarter down to 37 seconds here in the third.

Wing backs it up the left side of the formation to hand it to fake one again.

And that time he stopped at the line of scrimmage.

May have lost a yard on the play.

It did.

And that'll bring up third down as Eli Hill came in to make the stop.

Remember what Coach Sanders told us at halftime.

So we got to find a way to get off the field.

We haven't we didn't do that in the first half.

Well, here's one of those times.

You just had a third and five, but you had too many men on the field.

So I gave him a fresh set of downs.

Now it's third and seven.

You've got to get off the field here when we come back in the fourth quarter.

Yeah, that's going to do it for the third Bentonville.

They lead it 20 to 14.

When they come back it'll be a third down and seven for the Tigers.

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Well, back here on Memorial Stadium 20 to 14, the Tigers lead the Hornets in the seven AA state championship.

How do we get to this point?

Well, Wes, it was a real dominant effort by by Bentonville there in the first half.

They got Eli Brooks going.

Caught that low pass cut all the way across the field.

Scored the touchdown for 43 yards out to take a seven to nothing lead.

Then Bryant got going Jordan Walker with a short two yard run to tie things up at seven.

The Bentonville a couple of long drives that that resulted in field goals ten seven lead later on 13 to 7.

Then Chris Vick won with that four yard touchdown run made it 20 to 7.

Jordan Walker responds after a nice Bryant drive.

A lot of running plays in that drive.

They get across the goal line to make it 20 to 14 and Bentonville responds.

And now for third and seven with a chance to put more points on the board here is Trevor Grant gonna throw it out.

Left side to Eli Brooks and the Hornets.

They're going to stop him after a bit of two yard gain.

And that'll bring up a fourth down.

Now for the Ben Ville Tigers.

That time Tristan Knox came in to make the stop.

Looks like coming out of the ballgame is Knox.

Looked like he was favoring his shoulder West.

And now Bentonville is going to set up for another field goal.

As the ball's at the 17 yard line.

The 34 yard field goal already got two field goals on the on the day.

He made similar distances 33 earlier.

Here's the kick.

And it is good.

And with 1118 left here in the fourth quarter, Bentonville extends their lead to 23 to 14.

Makes it two score game no.

Ryan Armstrong now 33 yard field goal, 27 yard field goal, 34 yard field goal.

He's three for three on his field goal attempts and of course, made his extra points.

Two hour action.

Yeah, he made his way to points.

So you realize he came in.

He came into the game three of seven on field goals.

But he was red hot.

Yeah he just made one in the semifinals with time running out to get them into this game.

So he had a lot of confidence coming into this game.

And did you sit this.

Did you go back and watch that semifinal game how they got hit.

They were running out of time and ran him on to the field.

And he just lined up nailed it thing.

Conway did a great job on third down.

They sacked the quarterback Grant and it was fourth down so they couldn't spike it.

They didn't have any timeouts left.

So the field goal unit was ready.

They were all over there on the sideline.

They ran out on the field I mean they clearly said in the paper, you know, the quote was we practice this every day and in practice it was nothing new to us.

We just did what we've been doing in practice, ran out there, snapped it, held it.

He kicked it in.

So now if you're Bryant on this drive I mean you're going to need you're going to need to score fairly quick.

I mean because you're now down two scores, you don't need a really long drive to get down and try to score the football.

You just got to score.

You know, RJ yeah.

No care if it's a five minute drive.

Six minute drive.

They have to score right here.

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A fumble the kickoff as it looks like Bryant was able to get back on it at the 26 yard line.

It was Jacoby Boone who came up short, and he fumbled it briefly and then was able to jump back on it.

That could have been disastrous for the Hornets.

Can't not afford a turnover right now.

So the Hornets will have it first and ten from the 26 yard line 1117 to play in the game.

And Bentonville leading 2314.

You don't have any mulligans left really.

You almost have to be perfect.

You have to go down and drive.

You got to get a stop, and then you got to get the ball back and drive down and try to win the game.

Bryant has had two turnovers so far in this game.

It's first down and ten for receivers in the formation.

Five receivers with the wing back off the left side Jordan Walker is going to look to throw.

Comes across midfield finds Caleb Tucker and Tucker is going to take it out to the 34 yard line.

It was Eli Pearson there to make the stop.

Tucker just ran down the field about five six yards, turned in, looked at quarterback.

He delivered it on the money.

Pretty easy pass and catch.

Picks up eight yards.

Good start to the drive.

Back to a five wide set on second down.

Walker under pressure.

Steps to his right.

Throws it down field and it is receiver.

Get it.

They're going to say caught it now at the 49 yard line in Bienville territory.

Here's a good look at it.

Walker just using arm strength got his hands under the ball I think he caught that.

It's a great catch by Carter Ratliff.

First one of the game.

And he's been going to try to challenge play here down all the way to 25.

Back at the 25.

Thought for a minute.

Bentonville was going to try to challenge this.

And they just still may.

It looks like the injured player for Bentonville is Robby Dewberry.

It's a great job by Carter Ratliff to get his hands underneath it.

Pull it in for the catch.

Yeah.

Honestly, from up here naked, I didn't think there was any way he caught that one on the replay.

You look at it, I think he got his hands under it.

That was a good catch.

Think about this for Carter Ratliff.

He has been non-existent so far in this game.

First catch but he has goes for 17 yards for their second leading receiver coming into the game.

Nine touchdowns on the year.

Byron Thrash is back in there at the running back spot.

They're going to hand it to him.

He'll walk back towards the middle of the field.

There is a penalty flag down and he's going to be thrown down.

Back at the 46 yard line is Tristan Brown, who came in to make the stop.

He's going to lose about five yards on the play.

And if this is a hold on Ben Bryant they got a decision.

But you want it first and 20 or second 50 on the defense.

There's a 15 yard penalty will result in a first down.

It's going to be against Bentonville.

I did not hear what he said.

He said the block below the waist okay a chop block.

Yeah.

And so there's no decision to make for Bentonville.

So Bryant's going to get a 15 yard penalty.

And that's going to spot the ball down at the 34 yard line.

Well that's a huge break for Bryant because they were looking at second and 15 after the loss on the play.

And now they're at the 34.

First down Daniel Anderson and at running back.

Walker is going to step up in the pocket throw down field.

He's got his man.

That's Caleb Tucker.

Tucker is going to take it down to the 20 yard line.

Picks up another first down.

Walker did a really good job keeping his eyes down the field there.

Stepped up in the pocket instead of taking off and running.

See the defender there for Bentonville.

Ready?

Try to make the tackle.

It was Folsom and that made the stop for Bentonville.

So it's now first down and ten from the 20.

Cam Thornton Mead was kind of spy and Walker had his eyes on him.

Fakes it to Daniel Anderson.

Now here goes Walker.

Jordan Walker going to go for the end zone.

He's in for the touchdown.

But there is a penalty.

Flag down.

Back at the 19 yard line.

Boonville coaches are waving their bye.

Come on back.

Come on back.

We'll have a good look at it here.

Maybe a block in the back.

Ooh, that is close.

We'll see the replay there.

You're going to call that on Daniel Anderson.

Looks like he hits it from the side.

I will point out, Anderson for you only show the replay after we get this call.

Here's Anderson here.

Keep your eyes on him.

I mean it almost like it's going to be close.

And, you know, if you're in a live situation, play for an official.

I mean, I can maybe get that we're going to talk about it.

Talking about it.

There is no penalty.

He's going to put those down.

They're going to wave it off.

And it's a touchdown for the Bryant Hornets.

I mean honestly at the replay we just got and I know we have a different camera angle of it.

You can see Anderson coming in 22.

Follow him at the top of the screen.

Looks like he's right there on the side.

That's not a block in the back in my book now.

I mean usually you you've always been taught if you get the hand on the shoulder and he turns his back, I mean, he essentially turned his back because he got pushed off from the side right?

So Bryant scores the touchdown.

It's now 2320 with 956 to play here in the fourth quarter.

As Jackson Cook is going to be gone for the extra point.

We got a flinch.

Bentonville kind of jumped and it calls to the Bryant.

But they didn't call it yet.

Call it.

But now the penalty flag comes down as the extra points up and good.

Leadership on the game tonight as a five yard penalty.

So they're going to retry the extra point.

Try to make it a two score game.

When Eli Hill was on the very end.

And one of the one of the Bryant guys kind of jumped in to cause him to kind of flinch a little bit.

They were saying that should have been illegal motion, but I guess you got two guys in motion.

They call an illegal shift one way or another.

It's a penalty.

So now they're going to back it up five yards.

Jackson Cook is gonna attempt the extra point again.

You know this could be Portland.

It is.

It's an important extra point because a field goal would win it for Bryant later on.

If it Bentonville doesn't score again if he misses this a field goal will just tie it.

Snap is back.

Kick is away and it is good.

And with 956 to play in the ballgame, Bryant cuts in to the Bentonville lead.

It's 2321.

It's all you could ask for.

You know 70 state championship game to come down to the fourth quarter.

Two good teams two best teams all year long.

Connelly I'm sorry.

Bryant wins the seven eight central.

Bryant wins the 70.

I'm all flustered.

I'm so excited that we finally have a good fight and we finally had a good game.

We've had a bunch of blowouts.

Not not that the rest of the weekend hadn't been great, but we've had a lot of sportsmanship rules go on, and the last few games and had some had some scores going on, but we haven't had a close game.

And so this has been this has been a fun one so far.

Can I try it again?

Yeah.

Go for it.

Bryant wins the seven eight central.

Bentonville wins the seven eight West.

Two best teams.

They go through the playoffs as the number one seed winning their games meet in the state championship game.

And here we are in the fourth quarter a two point game with 956 to go.

Mean look, check in with Sierra here after the kickoff.

956 to play in the ball game.

Grayson Kings going to put a foot into it and it'll be taken down at the six yard line.

Brought up for Bentonville as it was Mason Hawkins.

And he'll take it out to around the 18 yard line.

Let's go down and check in with Sierra Clark on the sidelines.

Yeah, that was a crazy last drive for a Bryant Bryant wide receiver Carter right left side to quarterback Jordan Walker.

We have another drive like that.

We're winning this ball game.

The Hornets are super confident right now.

And if they want to win this game they got to do exactly what they just did.

Well Ben Mills got the football.

Now it's first down and ten from the 20 yard line.

They want to reestablish the momentum on their sideline.

They want to get a couple of first downs.

Move the chains move the ball a little bit.

Let's get down the field see if they can't score.

Support for widen the formation.

They're going to give it to Oakland.

This one's going to get stacked up at the line of scrimmage leading the charge.

It was Jaden Jones.

Defensive line for Bryant won that battle that time.

Got a one yard gain out of it as they got it to the 21 yard line.

So brings up a second down and nine.

These are two defensive tackles that time for Bryant Malachi McDaniel McDonald was on in the play.

They just stuffed the middle.

They were trying to run in between the center and the guards right up the gap.

Nothing there.

Second down and nine three receivers left side of the formation.

Here's a pass play over the middle of the field trying to hook up with Mason Hawkins.

It's incomplete.

That time it was Eli Hill coming in.

Did a little inside move from his left defensive tackle or defensive end spot and then flashed by the quarterback.

He felt a little pressure had unloaded a little quicker than he wanted to.

So that brings up a third down and nine from the 21 yard line.

I tell you what this Bryant sideline it is getting loud.

Their fans are on their feet.

The Bryant sidelines jumping up and down.

You look over on the other sideline.

There's not any movement on Vineville three receivers left side on this third down and nine.

Grant rolls to his left throws it downfield.

And it's intercepted.

Intercepted at the 42 yard line coming up with it for the Hornets it was Matthew Glover.

Not sure where he was throwing that one I don't know if he had a receiver in that area.

I saw two Hornets miscommunication.

He thought his receiver was running a different route and a good catch.

But definitely an interception.

Definitely a catch.

I like to think it's the receiver that we saw at the top of the screen that ran an out route to the sideline.

He thought he was going to keep running down the field and once again he was coming under some pressure, unloaded the ball.

And look the Bryant defense just stepped up.

And that's what we were talking about.

Who was going to make the plays.

The Bryant defensive line just won that series.

The first two plays.

Defensive linemen making the play putting pressure on the quarterback.

Third play right there, putting pressure on the quarterback.

All momentum has changed so far in this one as it's first down and ten from the Bienville 42 yard line.

They're going to hand it to Daniel Anderson goes right side lowers his head is he'll be taken down at the 39.

That reminds me of those videos you see on TV of two Rams hitting each other.

That was a big collision.

They kind of bounced off each other.

Neither one of them won that battle.

Feel good about it.

That was A.J.

Looney who came up to deliver the blow.

He delivered a blow.

Second down, they're going to go back to Anderson Anderson and get it down to the 36 yard line.

Eli Pearson in to make the stop.

Now you've got a third down.

It's a third down and four after the three yard pickup.

Do you think this is four down territory.

If you do not get it here on first down, as long as you get some positive yards or don't lose some yards here.

Byron Thrash checks in at the running back spot.

And this showing blitz here's Walker under pressure.

Throws it down the middle of the field.

It's gone at the 11.

Touchdown.

Touchdown Bryant.

That was Caleb Tucker who took it in for the Hornets.

What a play by Tucker.

It was a prayer.

Probably an ill advised throw.

But Tucker sometimes you get a 5050 ball and you tell your receiver go up and win that battle.

He went up, won that battle, came down with the ball, stayed on his feet, gets hit as he's throwing it.

Just a good play.

I'll tell you what.

Now that you see the replay, he did have him 101 and he gave his guy a chance.

I thought it was a bad throw, a bad decision.

Look, it's a 5050 ball.

You think your receiver's going to win the battle?

Throw it to him.

And Jordan Walker took a big hit as he was throwing that ball.

So now Jackson Cook is on for the extra point.

It's up and it is good.

And the Bryant Hornets they have taken their first lead of the ball game as they lead it 2823 753.

In this one.

Don't go anywhere.

We've got a great game going on the seven day state championship.

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That last drive.

Three plays, 42 yards in a minute.

Five.

After Jordan Walker hooked up with Caleb Tucker from 36 yards out.

And Bryant has taken their first lead in the seven title game by a score of 28 to 23.

But once again, Bryant takes advantage of a turnover.

They get the turnover, turned it into a touchdown.

That's what you're supposed to do when you get one of those turnovers.

Here's the kickoff return by Bentonville.

And Gavin Momen came in to make the stop on the return for the Tigers.

That was Mason Hawkins.

I will say this I watched a great seven eight semifinal game last week between Conway and Bentonville.

And they traded touchdowns scores in the fourth quarter.

And you saw Conway after their last touchdown that took the lead was going to win the game.

But Bentonville responded with the game winning field goal.

This game tied over Bentonville, has been in this position just a week ago, and their offense was able to drive down and retake the lead.

Let's see what the Tigers can do here because they've got the experience of doing this.

First down and ten ball to 17 yard line.

They're going to hand it to him.

Fake one and get to the line of scrimmage.

Not much more than that as Malachi McDonald came in to make the stop.

If something has changed with this Bryant defensive line.

The battle of the trenches.

Bentonville was winning this battle in the first half.

They were able to run the ball fake one had some holes.

Now all of a sudden now Bryant's doing a good job of stopping the offensive linemen.

They're holding them up and they're also not losing containment on the outside.

He was able to bounce a lot of these runs to the outside.

Brian has made some adjustments and it's working.

No gain on that last run.

Stacked receivers both sides.

It's a second down and ten as Grant is under pressure.

And he's going to go down.

That was Eli Hill who came in to get the sack going.

The second sack of the ballgame.

That's five plays on the road.

The Bryant defense one is one the previous drive.

All three drives are called three plays.

The defensive line made a play to putting pressure on the quarterback or stopping the run.

That's what they've done on these first two plays of this draft.

First one defensive tackles made a play.

This play Eli gets a sack six yard loss back to the 11 yard line.

It's third down and 16.

Three receivers to the right side of the formation and is going to jump offsides.

That was Eli Hill.

Eli giveth Eli take away.

Now you get a little get a little quick on that one.

Under.

Let's go down the sidelines and check in with Sierra Clark.

I think she's having a microphone trouble.

So we'll check back in just a second.

Three wide to the near side.

Here's a pass.

Play goes left side.

And it's caught down at the 44 yard line.

What a catch.

Hey, what a throw.

That was Mason Hawkins who came up with the catch.

They're going to mark him out of bounds at the 45.

That's a big time pass play as they had a third down and 16.

Great concentration.

Quarterback goes up.

Tries to knock it down just over his hand.

Safeties barreling down on him makes the catch.

Here's a first and ten.

They swing it right side into the hands of Irvin.

Irvin cuts it back in the middle of the field as he takes it into Bryant territory.

Down to the 38 yard line that time Matthew Glover came in to make the stop for the Hornets.

They ran a play very similar against Conway last week.

Just a short little pass.

Turn it up.

The field got like 3040 yards to set up the field goal length the drive.

But they're responding like a champ.

They are champs.

Two receivers right side.

In motion goes done.

I'm going to hand it to Finland.

And Finland will pick up a couple of yards on the play to bring up second down.

Clock running 530 left here in the quarter.

Eli Hill came in from his defensive end spot to make the tackle.

One of the guys making the tackle.

So it's second down and eight.

Ball at the 36 yard line.

Got think now this is four down territory from now on for Bentonville.

Five minutes eight seconds to go in the game.

Down by five.

Got to get a touchdown.

Two receivers left side.

Trevor Grant the quarterback as a wing backs it off the right side.

And in emotions.

Done now Grant going to look to throw.

Pump fakes pulls it down.

Runs left side.

Running for the pylon.

And he's going to I believe West.

He's going to be about six inches short of the first down.

Grant came into the game with 321 yards rushing three touchdowns.

That time we saw him take it down.

He was look across the middle of the field.

Had a receiver there.

But the Bryant defensive lineman jumped up.

And if he to throwing the ball it had been batted down.

So he had to bring it down.

And by the time he wanted to throw it was too late.

Scrambled out left side of the pocket, picks up most of the first down.

I thought he stretched the ball out right there to get that first down, but they didn't give him that.

So it's a third down and short.

Lined up out of the pistol set.

Brooks in motion.

They're going to give it to Fickell.

He goes left side or excuse me.

And he'll get the first down as he takes it inside the 25 yard line down to the 23.

That's a great move by Oakland.

Made a fantastic cut to his left.

One of the Hornet defenders got into the backfield.

He made a move.

Made him miss.

That enabled him to pick up the first down and more.

Bryant Davis in on the stop for the Hornets and a 430 left here in the ball game as Bryant leads 2823.

First down and ten.

Fakes it to Ficken going with the ball to the end zone.

And it's knocked away that time.

Coming up with the deflection for the Hornets.

That was Matthew Ferguson trying a little out an up little double move there.

But Bryant's cornerbacks did a good job of not biting on.

The fake safety was coming over to help out to trying to hook up with Blair Irvin that time receiver for Bentonville, saw Matthew Ferguson there.

That was a really good job by Ferguson for not biting on that fake.

So it's second down and ten now.

Ball spotted at the 23 yard line.

This one's going to take the handoff.

Works the left side and he'll be hit at around the 20 yard line.

You see how fake would his block set up the defense right there.

Let his blocker get in there.

Take out the defender.

Bounce off of him is another good one.

I've been so impressed with Chris.

Quick pick one tonight.

Just a junior.

Yeah yeah he's going to be a handful next year.

So now you've got a third down.

The ball's at the 21 yard line.

It's third down and eight.

Three receivers going to the right side of the formation.

Trevor Grant takes the snap looking to his left.

Still looking to throw it left side and just out of bounds.

There was a receiver in the area as believe on that left side over there.

Was it Irvin that was over there.

Was that Schmidt?

Irvin was down on the low side.

I was watching him and his match up there.

There was nobody open for James Jones came in and made all the pressure.

Yeah.

Grant did a good job of buying some time hoping somebody could get loose, but nobody was getting loose.

And so he basically did what Walker did for Bryant.

He just tried to throw the ball up, give his guy a 5050 ball, but overthrew him and went out of bounds.

By the way, Ficken was the one that was the intended target.

Now you've got a fourth down and eight three wide to the near side.

Grant, looking to throw, goes back right side into the hands of done and done gets knocked out of bounds.

It's going to depend on the spot.

I don't think he got to it.

He didn't get it RJ there marketing at the 14.

Maybe outside the 14.

He had to get inside the 14.

The officials are going to say no turnover.

Bryant holds and they are going to get the football back with three minutes and 14 seconds left here in the ballgame.

He's taking one more look at that replay show.

Everybody won it once again that spot.

Make sure that was a good spot because you know Bienville can challenge this one.

It can also be reviewed from the booth as well.

Got to get to caught it.

The 16.

Yeah I mean that's that's a good spot kick goes out of bounds right around the 14.

So Bryant's going to get the football back.

It'll be first and ten from there.

Going to spotted at the 14 yard line I think they got it right.

Oh now we've got whistles I think Boonville is challenging this.

They call it a timeout.

Let's see what happens.

Let's see what officials are coming to talk to coach Grant right now.

I wonder if he's challenging the spot.

I mean, you almost have to.

Don't you know, it's huge win because if you if you don't challenge it, being that it's on that, you mean it's the opposite side of the field is what they are.

That's what he's doing.

He's looking right now.

He's looking at the 14.

Looking where?

There for the ball, where the marker was.

I just you know on the review that we just saw I thought it was a good call.

Review okay.

So they're going to go over and look at it again while they do that.

Let's check in with Sierra Clark.

Yeah.

What Bryant has been able to do the past few drives is really lean into their core, which is their defense.

And might be coach Clyde Sanders first year as head coach at Bryant.

But he was a defensive coordinator for the Hornets for years.

He was part of that dynasty that won five straight state titles.

So that's his bread and butter.

So it's no shock that the Hornets defense is playing lights out right now.

Thank you Sierra.

Now what you're looking at is the official review.

That's the feed from DV sports right now.

That's what the officials are looking at.

Say he never goes down.

He comes down on the Bryant player.

So it's where the ball goes out of bounds.

Yeah.

But you don't think there's a body part that ever touches the ground.

Let's that right knee right there is on the ground.

But we can't see because of that number one which if his knee is down there he's definitely sure.

But they can't see that.

So you can't turn it over.

And so you would then essentially say the ruling on the field stands, unless there's another angle that they have that can show where the ball is when he rolls out of bounds.

If that knee is not down on the ground.

And for those back at home, you know, this is the same review company that does collegiate sporting events, whether it be the Razorbacks or anything you see on TV.

This is TV sports.

Who does all of that?

And they're doing it for our high school championships.

So let's get the call of the replay review.

Larry Steadman is our official.

After the review, the call stands volley glance at the 41st and ten.

But I like that, you know, because now everyone knows.

Watching this game, the Bentonville fans, the Bryant fans, did they get that right.

Yeah.

There's not the controversy of a blown call in a state championship game causing someone the state title.

Yeah.

The stakes are so high.

Let's get it right.

Let's make sure it's right.

Now.

You've been saying this in the entire the entire game, right?

This is where you feed your running backs with 314 left is here's thrashes.

He'll move in and out and there's a penalty flag down.

He's able to get about three yards on the play.

Where that came in from it's either holding or a facemask.

I think the initial call was a facemask.

Personal foul facemask I guess to defend the penalty first down the West.

I mean you get a first down and now you you're out of the shadow of your own end zone, gives you a fresh set of downs with three minutes and 10s to play here in the ballgame.

You know, good.

Look at we didn't show that replay, but the defender came in and was just kind of reaching and pulling and got his hand accidentally stuck on that face mask and tugged on it.

So Bryan's going to let some clock run.

They've got 30s on the play clock now.

Bentonville has two timeouts left, but Bryant's not going to be in any hurry whatsoever.

Going to snap this football.

And Ben Mills got to get a three.

And out here they got to get the stop.

We've got two timeouts left Bryan has basically two first downs away from winning the state championship.

And Walker will take the snap.

Going to hand to thrash.

Thrash straight ahead as he'll get it out to the 36 yard line.

We'll call their timeout here their second timeout and that'll stop the clock with two minutes and 27 seconds left.

In the first half, a second quarter you know honestly Bryant's one first down away from winning this game.

Yeah I said two.

But with the time situation and only one timeout left after this play from Boonville they pick up the first down this game.

So you know going back to that that fourth down play.

What a heads up move by the defensive back I mean you know I mean you got to know where you're at on the field.

Make sure that your guy didn't get to that spot and drag him out of bounds at that point.

I mean there's a lot that goes into to making that stop right there.

You know, they say football is a game of inches and you know what?

He makes the tackle right.

There he goes another 12.

That's a foot.

Really.

Yeah.

He gets the first down.

And who knows what happens then.

Yeah.

So you've got a second down and seven.

Left wing backs off the right side for Daniel Anderson in there with him right now the northwestern signee.

They fake it to Anderson.

Going to look to throw.

Going across the middle of the field is caught.

They went to Kamari Austin who was able to make the play down at the 37 yard line.

But hold everything.

We've got a penalty flag back at the 40.

I tell you what, they went for the jugular.

They got it.

But let's see what this penalty is.

Talk about aggressive play calling RJ that's up and they go downfield.

Is the offense Ten-yard penalty replay.

Second down.

You see the I just circled the offensive lineman.

That's clearly way down the field I mean if you're the offensive lineman at that point you know what's coming.

It's like I don't think you must not have I mean he must have misunderstood the play because that's not an RPO.

That's not an RPO at that point.

Here he is.

You can see right here.

No, he is well down blocking.

He thought it was a run.

That's all I can think.

There's another one here.

Here's another one right over there.

So they weren't clear on the on the play.

So it's second down and 12 now.

Back the handoff again trying to get it to Carter Ratliff.

I'm really surprised they didn't run the ball.

They got one timeout left.

We run the ball here.

Look it's second 12.

They've been running the ball well.

You pick up four yards.

It's third and eight.

They burned their last timeout.

You run the ball again maybe pick up four yards.

So what.

It's fourth and fourth.

You run another 30s off the clock.

They don't have any timeouts left.

You punt.

They have to drive the length of the field with about a minute to go and score.

Touchdown Daniel Anderson in and running back.

They were aggressive with their play calling their stay.

They got an offsides call there.

That's huge.

Good hard snap fake call there from the quarterback Jordan Walker runs snap encroachment on the defense.

Five-Yard penalty still third down third and 12 to third and seven.

But you still need to run the football I mean right.

They're going.

They want the first down in the game.

Yeah that's all they're thinking right now.

First down game's over.

I'm going to Corey Austin.

He's been your big play wide receiver all year.

Austin's lined up on that far side over there.

Walker going to run with it.

Comes left side stays on his feet.

Gets out to the 50.

Picks up the first down.

No RJ I was thinking Bryant.

Hornets are looking at the scoreboard.

They're pointing at it.

They know it's over.

The clock never stopped or started.

Started.

But but everybody's looking at it because the thing and Bryant they all talk about hashtag 2012 the bug James started and it stopped momentarily on 12.

But I was thinking, you know, we've seen a lot of Anderson and Thrash recently, and Walker was the one doing a lot of the running early.

We had seen him recently, the guy that got away from it on that big third down play, they call his number, so they're going to hand it off to Daniel Anderson straight ahead and he'll take it down to the 48.

And Bentonville is going to use their last timeout.

So now West I mean they take their last timeout.

Timeout.

Video.

You can essentially nail this thing down.

Take it to the clock.

Run the clock out.

Huge run by Jordan Walker.

Wow.

How about that.

Yeah.

And then the first down I don't know how many yards he ended up picking up on that run.

They're going to credit him with 1414.

Well it was third and 12 I don't know if they call it the same play on third and 12.

But on third and seven he's plenty to pick it up.

Here's that.

Here's that replay of the Daniel Anderson run by the way.

Roll back if we've got enough of that Jordan Walker run.

And that's the play of the game.

Yeah I mean that's the thing that's sealed this thing.

And by the way Jordan Walker 19 carries 150 yards and three touchdowns so far in this game.

And Jordan's run for more yards than Myron Thrash and Daniel Anderson combined.

And look we've talked about Chris pickling and what a great game he's had.

He finished with 147.

And Walker's outgained him.

So it's second down.

Walker is going to run with it again.

Comes around the left side tries to stay in bounds but he got pushed out at the 43.

That's where he's just got to go down on the knee.

Stay in bounds.

You know that's costly.

Yeah I mean the clock stops at 135.

He's got to get down.

Just go down to knees.

So you've got a third down and three.

Now for Bryant.

I mean if he goes down the clock is still running.

Still running.

You're getting down to one minute left in the game.

He'll take the snap.

And then you can let another 30s go off the clock.

They're going to give it to Byron.

Thrash.

Thrash up the middle.

Gets the first down.

Doesn't matter.

Got it.

Inside the 40.

Picked up the first down.

Credit that offensive line for Bryant.

You know we said that a little earlier when they were down they had to get some drives going.

And that offensive line those running back Jordan Walker they produce two long drives.

Get the touchdown.

Now run out the clock.

This is what the coaches talk about.

You get the ball back.

Everybody knows you're going to run it.

And you're able to run out the clock.

It's a great feeling for that offensive line coach.

So now the Hornets just going to watch the clock run down there seven seconds on the play clock.

Call a little timeout.

They've got three left.

They'll let it go all the way to one.

There's your timeout.

So we'll talk this one over as there's shift.

There's the first try from over 57 seconds left here in the ball game.

And no for court guard Sanders a lot of people were talking last year.

Well but James was gone.

Brian, get to another state championship game and there was a lot on his shoulders after last year.

Not getting here.

And for him to be able to to get down here and, and be able to get to a state championship and not only win a state championship, but to be able to come from behind to win a state championship.

Oh, he's so excited.

That was a great shot of him.

And he took all the heat last year.

He did.

After the semifinal game.

He took all the blame.

Yeah he quads one of them you know we've all got friends with coaches and in the entire business he's one of the good guys for sure.

He, he's humble.

And, you know, he always says you talked to Quad Sanders quite a bit.

You know, one of his mentors in the game is Buck James.

Oh, yeah.

They talk all the time even during the game week.

Yeah Brian Conway this year.

Yeah.

Walker's going to take a knee.

They'll set it 42nd clock starts I think they've got the buck more.

The buck is device ready for quad.

By the way.

They're going to double dose.

And I think they're going to double dose him.

Yeah.

He does JT Allen that had the the bucket.

Clock down to 30s.

He is so happy.

Just once again he said they're going to let.

Running back Neil that one down that time it was JT Allen who knelt down.

And there goes the ice bucket bath for Quan Sanders.

And the Bryant Hornets.

They return to the pinnacle as they are your class seven state champions.

I think they're just as happy for him as they are for themselves right now.

That team came to him to celebrate.

He was engulfed by the entire team to celebrate.

We're going to go and shake hands with the Bentonville players as the Bryant Hornets win by a final score of 28 to 23.

We'll take a break.

When we come back, we will have all the trophy presentations, and we will hear from Quan Sanders himself.

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Well, there it is.

The Bryant Hornets, your seven day champions.

Wes, how about this?

Six times in seven years for the Bryant Hornets to win a state championship.

Pretty dominant program right there.

And you think the time they did win it they lost in the semifinals.

So they almost got to the state championship game.

It's been quite a run for these Bryant Hornets.

And tonight they had to come from behind.

They were trailing and didn't didn't play their best and got to give credit a lot of credit to Bentonville because Bentonville played very well in the first half and had three really good drives that produced 13 points.

I think that's probably one thing that Bentonville they can.

I'm going to be thinking about.

We need to score at least one of those on those field goal drives that kicked for three field goals tonight.

We needed to get in the end zone a couple more times.

Let's take a look at the final stats for tonight's game.

And there they are passing yards.

Benbow actually 203 to 122.

But the rushing game and really it was because of one person Jordan Walker for the Hornets ran it 20 times for 155 yards.

And look at the total yards.

Point three yards.

Separate the two West.

And then penalties.

Penalties were big for the Hornets tonight.

They had ten for 106 in this ballgame.

And so a Jordan Walker as I said nine of 18 passing for 122 a touchdown and an interception.

He also ran at 20 times for 155 yards and three touchdowns in this game.

Some of the costly penalties here quite Sanders at halftime is like the, passing appearances.

Like, you know we had our hands on them.

You can't we can't do that.

They called it and that's, that's the right call.

But those were some of the costly penalties that they had.

Here's a look at the first half highlights Eli Brooks big for Bentonville.

Scores the first touchdown of the game.

But Bryant marches right down the field Jordan Walker scores on a two yard run to tie things up.

Got a couple of field goals from Ryan Fernstrom and Pineville leads it 13 to 7 at the half.

Chris McLean's touchdown run makes it 22 seven.

But then Bryant comes back.

They respond.

Jordan Walker had a five yard touchdown run and that got it to within 20 to 14.

After a field goal made it 2314 Jordan Walker does it again, this time a 20 yard touchdown run to give Bryant their first lead of the game.

Caleb Tucker the big pass play from Jordan Walker 5050.

Ball Walker puts it up and Tucker makes the catch and gets into the end zone.

And Bryant wins this one 2823.

Big defensive stop two from Bryant there at the end.

Bentonville man.

They march right down the field.

Looked like they were going to have a chance to retake the lead.

But it was fourth.

And what was it about 7 or 7.

Bryant stopped them after about a six and a half yard gain, turned the ball over.

Then Bryant able to run out the clock.

And your MVP of tonight's ballgame is Jordan Walker as he was just named the MVP.

Now let's head down the sidelines.

And Sierra Clark has got the winning head coach Quan Sanders.

No problem.

Do not apologize.

Coach Sanders.

You've been part of this Bryant dynasty that's won five state championships before today.

But you are an assistant.

How does it feel to win that sixth state title for this program as a head coach?

First of all, let me do this because I ain't never done.

This ain't possible without God, right?

I've been on a different journey and my wife started it.

And when I looked up at the scoreboard, all I said was, I believe and I ain't believing in the wind until believing in what we put in.

You don't play from victory.

You just pray for opportunity to get better every day.

And that's what we did.

We got better every single day.

If anybody want to know who the best team around here is, this is is defeated by one of the best in the country.

Brian, is this because of what we did or what we would come to?

It means so much because of where we came from and what we had to do to get back here.

I just can't thank God enough for the opportunity to talk about where we came from.

Where did you guys come from?

Talked about that man.

We thought we were supposed to be here.

We felt some entitlement last year just because we have been through so much and we thought we had something to prove.

And we did it.

We did it.

We could have just play football.

And so the goal from the way we got embarrassed in our home field, this is our second home, by the way, and our whole field to rebound and say we don't have a chance because we lost.

So many guys.

And then we come back and we go undefeated and this is the only close game we play, and that's how we're supposed to be.

We've came a long way.

We've done a lot and we deserve we deserve it.

Don't.

God, don't say you deserve it.

The singers deserve it.

They don't get enough credit, the quarterback don't get no credit.

And we want him back.

Don't get the receivers, don't get no credit.

That was a lineman.

Don't get no credit.

Nobody on defense gets the no credit.

Everybody in the world can go to college and get an offer.

And we we don't settle.

We go to college and play wherever we get.

But everybody we beat got all these big offers and will nobody coming here, I blame me, but that's okay because we got winners.

If you want a winner, you come to Brown and recruiting.

Well there he said it.

Thank you so much coach.

Go celebrate with your team.

Thank you Sierra.

And that was a passionate quad Sanders and rightfully so I mean yeah.

And she and Sierra said it.

He won all those other state championships as an assistant coach.

And now let's check in with our MVP Jordan Walker Jordan, congratulations on that state championship.

Not only did you win a state title as your senior, but you let your team from a come from behind win.

How were you motivated to get your team out of that hole?

I mean I had to stay calm, I stayed composed, I knew we had to win the football game one way or another.

And that's exactly what I did.

We stayed calm the entire time.

We didn't let the score, drop our heads, you know?

I mean, we were down by two touchdowns a half or a touchdown.

I mean, we just gave our hair something to talk, and I knew we can win this football game.

And Coach Sanders told me, hey, game over the summer.

Really emphasis on building a relationship.

You're.

I think it off.

Yeah, most definitely, because, I mean, I knew I'm gonna need every single one of those guys, to win a state championship.

And, they came very.

They helped me a lot during the season.

And I'm just very, very grateful.

Without them, I could have done it.

And also, your defense had some key takeaways.

Talk about them as well.

Like I said, without without them I could have done it.

I mean, in my defense, we got the best defense in the state.

I can't do anything without those guys.

You know it ain't it ain't me.

Without them, we're not even here.

Thank you so much.

And congratulations.

Thank you.

Sierra.

As the Bryant Hornets moved to 13 zero on the season.

And, you know, that's, it was it was a good night for the Hornets as they moved to 13 to 0.

And our class seven a state champ champions.

So.

Well it's been a fun weekend so far West.

And we've got more championships next Saturday.

Celebrate Bryant's victory.

Official championship gear is now online.

Visit WW dot Arkansas high school sports.com to find apparel and memorabilia commemorating the sun.

Forget forgettable season for Bryant.

Its Arkansas high school sports.com.

Well, we will do it again next Saturday.

We've got the four A game and the three AA game next Saturday at noon, and then again at 640 on next Saturday.

You can watch those games right here on Arkansas PBS for everybody that helped put these games on with Arkansas PBS.

The camera guys, the producers, Troy Mitchell and his staff.

And most of all, thank you for watching these games here at War Memorial Stadium.

Your final for the seven day game.

It's 2823.

You've been watching the Centennial Bank state football Championships on Arkansas PBS sports.