BENTONVILLE, Arkansas - Almost a year ago at this time, Bentonville was on the verge of dropping to 0-3 entering conference play.
Friday night, the Tigers flipped the script, moving to 3-0 and having a ton of momentum entering 7A-West action. Their latest win came against Missouri power Lee’s Summit North, as Bentonville broke the game open in the third quarter en route to a 45-28 win.
One reason for the Tigers going 3-0 instead of 0-3 is a very balanced offense, featuring quarterback Cole Slepecki and tailback Chris Ficklin, a Central Oklahoma commit. They were also bolstered by the addition of receiver Dequane Prevo, a move-in from Texarkana, Texas, who is committed to the University of Arkansas.
Another offensive weapon really stood out in Friday’s win. Senior receiver Conrad Schmitz caught three TD passes, including an 82-yard catch-and-run early in the second half to stake Bentonville to a 28-7 lead.
“We were looking at it on film,” Schmitz said of that 82-yard TD. “We saw the opportunity, and we had the scenario, we just kind of took advantage of it. And, I mean, it was electric; you know, great catch, great ball thrown by my quarterback. And, I mean, it just felt great.”
Schmitz had his hat trick with less than nine minutes left in the third quarter, hauling in a 28-yard pass from Slepecki. The two’s first connection took place late in the first half, with Schmitz making a diving catch in the left corner of the end zone to put Bentonville up 21-7.
“You know, he's amazing,” Schmitz said of Slepecki, who ended up with four TD throws. “He's been working with us all summer, and I’ve had a connection with him for, like, over 10 years.
“He's able to spread it out, and if he just gives us a chance, you know, we're gonna make him look good. And I mean, he's already as good as he is.”
Slepecki’s first TD pass went to Prevo, a 29-yard play in which Prevo turned a corner after hauling a short pass and finding the end zone. That broke a 7-all score and put the Tigers ahead for good with 3:30 left in the first half.
“(Prevo has) been, honestly, really good,” Schmitz said. “I mean, he's one of the fastest kids I've ever seen, and he really makes an impact here in the slot. He makes a lot of crazy plays, you know, and even our running back (Ficklin), he makes crazy plays as well.”
Bentonville’s defense and special teams also got into the act. The Tigers picked off several passes, and they blocked a punt for their first TD, with Garrett Wolfe making the block and teammate Braxton Rupert picking it up inside the Lee’s Summit North 10-yard line and going in for the easy score.
Although Bentonville started 0-3 last season, the Tigers were still able to make it to the Class 7A championship game.
“Last year, definitely, a lot of us were juniors,” Schmitz said. “It was our first time, you know, getting the varsity experience, and I think that we weren't ready. But also last year, playing all these good non-conference teams really gets us ready for the conference play.
“And after that start last year, we still went 7-0 (in the 7A-West) and just with the tough conference, I really think it sets us up well to just dominate in the conference and just play good throughout the season."
The Tigers are in position for another strong playoff run should they survive the rigors of the 7A-West, which features the likes of contenders Fayetteville and Rogers.
Bentonville also starts conference play next Friday against Springdale Har-Ber, which threw a major scare in defending 6A champion Greenwood last week.
And more plays from Tiger players such as Schmitz, they might be set up for another strong run in conference play and again in the postseason.
Follow The Sporting News correspondent Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from Bentonville.
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BENTONVILLE 45, LEE’S SUMMIT NORTH 28 FINAL
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POSTGAME
- Bentonville moves to 3-0 after winning at home against Missouri power Lee's Summit North, which dropped to 3-1.
FOURTH QUARTER
- FIELD GOAL BENTONVILLE. After another Tiger pick, they add to their lead with a 36-yard field goal. (Bentonville, 45-21 | 5:19, 4th)
- INTERCEPTION BENTONVILLE. Evan Moll picks off a pass at the LS North 44 and returns it to the 26 with 9:14 left.
- TOUCHDOWN BENTONVILLE. Kameran Thornton-Mead with a 1-yard run in the Wildcat on fourth-and-goal on the first play of the fourth quarter and the Tigers regain their 21-point advantage. (Bentonville, 42-21 | 11:56, 4th)
- Bentonville faces a fourth-and-goal at the LS North 1 as the final quarter gets under way.
THIRD QUARTER
- TOUCHDOWN LS NORTH. Bentonville fumbles in its own territory, and the Broncos cash in, as Stephen Thomas Jr. has his third TD tonight, and the second caught by William Ray, from 20 yards out. (Bentonville, 35-21 | 6:01, 3rd)
- TOUCHDOWN BENTONVILLE. A hat trick for Conrad Schmitz, as the Tigers score just 26 seconds later, hauling in a 28-yard pass from Cole Slepecki. (Bentonville, 35-14 | 8:36, 3rd)
- TOUCHDOWN LS NORTH. Broncos come right back on their opening second-half series, as Stephen Thomas Jr. finds Micah Neal for a 55-yard score. (Bentonville, 28-14 | 9:02, 3rd)
- TOUCHDOWN BENTONVILLE. Tigers got the ball to start the second half and Cole Slepecki finds Conrad Schmitz streaking down the sideline and Schmitz takes it in to finish off an 82-yard catch-and-run. PAT is good. (Bentonville, 28-7 | 10:22, 3rd)
SECOND QUARTER
- INTERCEPTION BENTONVILLE. LS North near midfield with five seconds left and attempts a Hail Mary. But the pass doesn't reach the end zone, and the Tigers' Eli Pearson picks it off to end the half.
- TOUCHDOWN BENTONVILLE. Tigers now up by two TDs as Cole Slepecki hits Conrad Schmitz in the left corner of the end zone from 11 yards out. (Bentonville, 21-7 | :33, 2nd)
- Bentonville now inside the LS North 20 with a minute to go as Kameran Thornton-Mead runs a Wildcat for about a 10-yard gain.
- Bentonville now has the ball at the LS North 30 after QB Cole Slepecki finds RB Chris Ficklin for a big gain and then the Broncos are also flagged for offsides.
- Bentonville forces a punt and the Tigers take over at their 45 with 3:05 left in the half.
- TOUCHDOWN BENTONVILLE. Tigers regain the lead as Dequane Prevo, an Arkansas commit, takes a short pass and turns on the jets while getting down the sideline and is able to break the plane for a 29-yard catch-and-run. PAT is good. (Bentonville, 14-7 | 3:30, 2nd)
- Chris Ficklin breaks off a run of about 20 yards and Bentonville has a first down inside the LS North 30.
- Bentonville punted on its next series, but the Tigers get the ball back after forcing LS North to punt. Broncos get a huge bounce on the punt, and goes about 53 yards to near the Bentonville 35. Under five minutes to play.
- TOUCHDOWN LS NORTH. On fourth-and-2 from the Bentonville 37, the Broncos convert, and then some, as William Ray catches a pass, breaks a tackle and gets loose for the six-pointer. PAT ties things up. (7-7 | 7:10, 2nd)
- Bentonville goes three-and-out, and will punt it away in the shadow of its own end zone. LS North takes over at the Tigers' 45 with about nine minutes to go until halftime.
- Bentonville with the goal-line stand, as the Tigers stop Thompson just inches shy of the goal line on fourth-and-goal. Tigers start at their 1 early in the quarter.
- LS North attempting to punch it in as we begin the quarter.
FIRST QUARTER
- LS North will face a third-and-goal from the 3 to begin the second quarter.
- Thompson converts another run on third-and-short and LS North has a first-and-goal at the 4.
- LS North's Bryce Thompson breaks off a long run on third-and-short, and the Broncos have the ball at Bentonville's 30.
- Bentonville goes three-and-out on its series and will punt it away to LS North. Broncos' ball at their 40 with 3:32 left in the first.
- Bentonville forces LS North to punt again, and this time, the Broncos are able to get the kick off. Tigers take over near their 20 with more than five minutes left in the period.
- TOUCHDOWN BENTONVILLE. A blocked punt by Bentonville's Garrett Wolfe, and it is picked up by teammate Braxton Rupert inside the LS North 10, who takes it in untouched for the score. PAT is good. (Bentonville, 7-0 | 6:37, 1st)
- LS North gets it out to about its 40 before throwing an incomplete pass on third down. The Broncos punt it away to Bentonville.
- A fumbled snap proves costly for Bentonville as the Tigers went backward after getting in the red zone. The Tigers eventually turn it over on downs.
- INTERCEPTION BENTONVILLE. On the second offensive play from scrimmage, the Tigers' Mason Meyer picks off a pass inside the LS North 40, and the Tigers will have great field position.
- Bentonville booms the opening kickoff into the end zone for a touchback. LS North starts at its 20.
PREGAME
- Lee's Summit North wins the toss and has elected to receive.
- Live from Tiger Stadium in Bentonville, the undefeated Tigers from Bentonville get set to take on the Broncos from Lee’s Summit North from outside the Kansas City metro.
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