Local teams make deep runs at 7 on 7 tourney
Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008
Leading 24-9 with 5: 45 to play, Fayetteville appeared en route to the semifinals of the consolation bracket Saturday in the Vype 7 on 7 Select Tournament.
That was until Rogers rallied for 15 unanswered points to put an early end to the Bulldogs' day. Mountie quarterback Andy Courture hit Ethan Melton for two late touchdowns that were the difference in Rogers' 25-24 win at the University of Arkansas' intramural fields.
"We didn't make plays when we had the opportunity to," said Daryl Patton, Fayetteville head coach. "When you get a chance to make plays, you've to make it and we didn't do it. Rogers did, give them credit, that was a great game."
Rogers repaired inside to the Willard and Pat Walker Pavilion for their semifinal game against Hot Springs Lakeside. Courture's 21-of-26 passing and four touchdowns helped the Mounties stave off Lakeside 31-24. Melton and Michael Tibbs both had six catches. Melton added two touchdown receptions, and Tibbs collected another.
The accuracy and field vision of Springdale Har-Ber's Zach Faust was the Mounties undoing in the consolation finals. He riddled the Rogers defense for five touchdown passes that spurred the Wildcats to a 37-22 victory.
Pulaski Academy won the overall championship, beating Sherman, Texas, 41-14 on the outdoor practice field adjacent to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Rogers finished the tournament with a 9-4 record and had fun doing it, said Ronnie Peacock, Mountie head coach.
"The kids did well, and they had fun too," Peacock said.
Fayetteville finished the tournament with a 5-2 record in pool play and a 2-2 record in the championship round. Sophomore quarterback Brandon Allen completed 25-of-41 passes for seven touchdowns Saturday morning during the Bulldogs remaining pool play games: A 36-18 win over Bryant and a 27-10 vanquishing of Des Arc.
Class 4 A Gravette was the lone small school representative to reach the semifinals of either bracket.
Class 3 A Elkins went winless in seven pool play games and one championship round game but took Marshfield, Mo., to the brink of defeat. The Elks trailed 17-0 before senior quarterback Drew Clark spiraled a pair of long touchdown passes to junior Hunter Guffy, cutting Marshfield's lead to 17-16. Clark also intercepted a pass during the 29-18 defeat.
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