Fayetteville defeats Bentonville: Arkansas high school football Class 7A state final recap

Rival powerhouses Fayetteville and Bentonville squared off for the Class 7A state championship Saturday afternoon. Here are the highlights.

One of the biggest games of the Arkansas high school football season was a battle for four quarters.

Powerhouse programs Fayetteville and Bentonville play each other every year during the regular season, and this year they also met up in the state finals.

In the end, the Fayetteville Bulldogs held on for a 22-16 victory over the Bentonville Tigers in the Class 7A state championship game Saturday afternoon at Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium. 

Fayetteville (13-0) entered the championship ranked No. 2 in the state and looking to complete what could go down as the best season in program history. 

Bentonville (9-4), ranked No. 4 in the state, was coming off a stunning win over Bryant in the semifinals and led multiple times against Fayetteville in the state final.

Here were some of the biggest moments and scoring plays from the Class 7A state final between Fayetteville and Bentonville.

FAYETTEVILLE 22, BENTONVILLE 16 (FINAL)

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FOURTH QUARTER

-- Fayetteville gets heavy pressure in the backfield, and Carter Nye is forced to throw up a prayer from his back foot. Fayetteville bats down the pass and takes over on offense with 38 seconds remaining. The Tigers are taking a knee to run out the clock and bring home the state title.

-- The state title is on the line here with Bentonville facing 4th and 21. A stop here would all but secure the state championship for Fayetteville.

-- Carter Nye hits Karsten Pate for seven yards to move Bentonville moves down to the 13-yard line, but the Tigers are called for holding on the next play. That moves them back to the 23 with 58 seconds remaining.

-- Bentonville crosses midfield on a 12-yard pass over the middle from Carter Nye to CJ Brown. The Tigers are inching closer to the potential game winning score.

-- Bentonville is forced to punt, but the Tigers defense quickly gets the ball back to the offense. Christian Farrow comes up with an interception, the second of the day for Drake Lindsey.

-- The ruling on the field is reserved. Bentonville picks up the first down and doesn't lose its challenge. 

-- Bentonville comes up one yard short of the first down on 3rd and 5, but the play is under review. Officials are trying to determine whether Luke Coon picked up the first down on the short pass from Carter Nye.

-- A 29-yard pass from Drake Lindsey to Catavion Taylor sets the Bulldogs up inside the 10, and Christian Setzer puts them ahead on a six-yard touchdown run. Lindsey hits Lach McKinney for the two-point conversion. (Fayetteville, 22-16 | 7:35)

-- Nobody can hold on to the football right now. Kaden Spencer forces Chris Ficklin to fumble, and Rhett Tidwell is there for the recovery. Fayetteville gets the ball back in Bentonville territory with the chance to regain the lead.

-- On 4th and 10, Drake Lindsey breaks multiple sack attempts and finds Christian Setzer, but he is brought down just short of the line to gain. Possession goes back to Bentonville.

-- Now Bentonville fumbles on the first play of its drive following the turnover. Fayetteville's offense comes right back out.

-- On the first play of the fourth quarter, Ben Pearson forces a strip-sack to give the ball back to Bentonville's offense. The Tigers take over near midfield. 

THIRD QUARTER

-- Only two and a half drives in the third quarter, as we're on to the fourth in this state final.

-- Bentonville responds to Fayetteville's long scoring drive with one of its own. The Tigers go 80 yards in 12 plays, capped off by a 30-yard touchdown pass from Carter Nye to CJ Brown. The extra-point attempt is blocked, so the lead stays at two points for the Tigers. (Bentonville, 16-14 | 1:10)

-- Fayetteville opens the second half with a 13-play, 83-yard scoring drive to take the lead for the first time today. Christian Setzer puts the Bulldogs ahead on a 1-yard rushing touchdown. (Fayetteville, 14-10 | 6:52)

SECOND QUARTER

-- Fayetteville gets past midfield on a big play in the passing game from Drake Lindsey to Mason Spencer, but there's not enough time for the Bulldogs to put points on the board. Bentonville leads by three at halftime. 

-- Bentonville drives down the field and regains the lead in the final minute of the first half on a 29-yard field goal by Niko Martinovic. (Bentonville, 10-7 | 0:53)

-- Drake Lindsey's pass is intercepted by Parker Schatzman. Bentonville puts a stop to what had been a decent drive for the Bulldogs. 

-- What looked like a promising drive turns very sour after a couple of negative plays and an intentional grounding. It's now 4th and 47 for Bentonville, which sends out the punt team.

-- Carter Nye airs a deep ball out to Karsten Pate, who reels it in for a 43-yard gain. Bentonville is quickly near the red zone.

-- Bentonville's defense comes up with a big stop on fourth down, as Drake Lindsey's pass falls incomplete. The Tigers offense comes back out at its own 27.

FIRST QUARTER

-- The first quarter comes to a close with Fayetteville facing 4th and 5 at the Bentonville 25-yard line.

-- Jason Gilmore is stuffed on 4th and 4, and Fayetteville takes over on offense at its own 23 with the chance to go take the lead.

-- Big play for Bentonville on the first play of the drive, as Carter Nye hooks up with CJ Brown for 36 yards. The Tigers are down to Fayetteville's 29-yard line. 

-- It's a tie game. Fayetteville evens the score on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Drake Lindsey to Lach McKinney. (Tied, 7-7 | 5:00)

-- Bentonville forces a punt and gets the ball back. We'll see if the Bulldogs, starting at their own 33, can find some flow offensively.

-- Fayetteville actually punts it away this time, and Bentonville's offense comes back out at its own 32. 

-- A penalty on the kick return moves Fayetteville back to its own 7-yard line for its first drive of the game, and it looks like a quick three-and-out for the Bulldogs. Instead, punter Nathan Kachel takes the punt from his own end zone and runs 14 yards for a first down. 

-- Bentonville strikes first. On third and long from Fayetteville's 39-yard line, Carter Nye rolls out and finds JJ Spafford open downfield for a touchdown. (Bentonville, 7-0 | 9:45)

-- Bentonville receives the opening kickoff and starts the game on offense at its own 20-yard line.

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MORE ARKANSAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE

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-- Zach Shugan | zshugan@gmail.com | @SBLiveARK