Jordan Walker, Bryant rally past Bentonville for Arkansas high school football 7A championship: Live updates recap

Hornets erase nine-point fourth-quarter deficit in 28-23 win over Tigers

The Bryant Hornets take on the Bentonville Tigers for the Arkansas 7A football crown. / Photo by Tommy land

The Bryant Hornets (12-0) face the Bentonville Tigers (9-3) in the Arkansas high school football 7A state championship game Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

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Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Central time, and High School on SI will have live updates from the game right here.

You can also watch the game live on the NFHS Network.

Refresh this page for live updates after the game starts.

Bryant vs. Bentonville live updates

First quarter

Bryant wins the toss and defers. Bentonville will have the ball first.

Chris Ficklin with an 8-yard run on the first play for Bentonville. Mason Hawkins back-to-back catches for first downs. Then the drive stalls. Bentonville punts. Bryant's first possession starts at its 9-yard line.

Bryant QB Jordan Walker scrambles for a big gain. Two plays later, Jonah Knapp sacks him. Bryant's first possession also ends with a punt.

Bentonville QB Trevor Grant with a big completion to Hayden Oliver. Two plays later, Eli Brooks takes a screen pass 43 yards for a Bentonville touchdown. PAT good by Ryan Fernstrom. 5:21 first quarter. Bentonville 7, Bryant 0.

Jordan Walker leads a long drive to a tying touchdown for Bryant. Walker scores from 2 yards. PAT by Jackson Cook. 2:22 first quarter. Bentonville 7, Bryant 7.

End of first quarter. Bentonville 7, Bryant 7.

Second quarter

Bentonville takes the lead on a 33-yard field goal by Ryan Fernstrom, capping a 17-play, 80-yard drive. 10:03 second quarter. Bentonville 10, Bryant 7.

Bentonville forces a punt and then gets another field goal by Ryan Fernstrom. 3:20 second quarter. Bentonville 13, Bryant 7.

Bryant fumbles the ensuing kickoff, and Bentonville recovers. First turnover of the game. Tigers will try to add to their lead before halftime.

Halftime. Bentonville 13, Bryant 7.

Third quarter

Third play of the half is an interception by Bentonville's Julian Grundy! Just the fourth INT Bryant QB Jordan Walker has thrown this season.

Three plays later, Chris Ficklin scores from 6 yards. Ryan Fernstrom with the PAT. 9:57 third quarter. Bentonville 20, Bryant 7.

Bentonville forces a Bryant punt, but on Bentonville's first play of the drive, Bryant recovers a fumble. That could be the break the Hornets needed. 6:59 third quarter.

Bryant star QB Jordan Walker has had some great runs (14 carries, 102 yards, TD), but he's 4 of 12 passing for 44 yards and an INT. Bentonville's defense has been solid.

Jordan Walker with a short touchdown run — his second of the game. Jackson Cook with his second PAT. Bryant pulls closer. 3:51 third quarter. Bentonville 20, Bryant 14.

End of third quarter. Bentonville 20, Bryant 14.

Fourth quarter

It's back to a two-score game. Bentonville gets a 34-yard field goal from Ryan Fernstrom, who has made all four of his kicks tonight. 11:18 fourth quarter. Bentonville 23, Bryant 14.

Jordan Walker with his third touchdown run of the game, this one from 20 yards. Jackson Cook PAT. 9:56 to play. Bentonville 23, Bryant 21.

Bryant interception by Mathew Glover! 8:58 remaining. Hornets can take the lead.

Touchdown Bryant! Caleb Tucker makes an amazing catch on a throw by Jordan Walker. 36-yarder. Jackson Cook PAT. Hornets have their first lead. 7:53 fourth quarter. Bryant 28, Bentonville 23.

Mason Hawkins makes an amazing catch on 3rd-and-16 to keep Bentonville drive going. Tigers in Bryant territory, trying to re-take the lead. 5:20 to go.

Bryant defense gets a fourth-down stop at the 14-yard line. Hornets ball, up 5 points, 3:14 left.

On 3rd-and-7, Jordan Walker scrambles for a first down, and that probably seals it.

Jordan Walker: 19 carries, 153 yards, 3 TDs.

Final: Bryant 28, Bentonville 23

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