NWA Times: Bentonville Gold vs. Fayetteville Woodland

This article originally appeared in the October 4, 2013 issue of The NWA Times.

Fayetteville Woodland 14, Bentonville Gold 7

THE GAME: Woodland (5-0) used a stifling defense and strong performance by quarterback Taylor Powell to edge Bentonville Gold (4-1) in a battle of unbeaten teams.

Powell got the Cowboys on the board first with a 4-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and then threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Akial Byers in the second quarter.

“Taylor Powell is a good quarterback,” Woodland coach Bobby Crockett said. “I’ve kind of kept the reigns pulled back on him this year, but we let him show what he could do tonight.”

He finished with 81 yards on 8 for 13 passing and 14 yards on two carries.

Woodland’s defense held Gold’s star running back Destyn Adkins to only 38 yards on nine carries as the Tigers gained just 101 offensive yards.

Adkins added a late touchdown for Gold on a 10-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Bentonville Washington beat Woodland 13-0 in the eighth-grade game.

UP NEXT: Bentonville Gold travels to Springdale Lakeside next week, while Woodland returns home to face Rogers Heritage.

— ANDREW HUTCHINSON

Top 20 QBs to Play in Fayetteville: #1 - #5

This is the conclusion of my list of the top 20 quarterbacks to ever play in Fayetteville. Click here to see No. 6 through No. 10, click here to see No. 11 through No. 15 and click here to see No. 16 through No. 20.

5. Vince Young - Texas

Young led the Longhorns to a 22-20 victory at Razorback Stadium in 2004. He was 11-for-22 for 150 yards and two touchdowns and also added 56 yards on 14 carries. The next year, he led Texas to an 11-0 record and a National Championship, while finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting. In his career, he accounted for 9,167 total yards and 81 total touchdowns.

Photo from sportsillustrated.cnn.com

4. Tim Tebow - Florida

Tebow became the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy in 2007. The next year, he came to Fayetteville and helped the Gators to a 38-7 win by throwing for 217 yards and two touchdown and running for another 32 yards on 12 carries. Tebow finished his collegiate career with 12,233 total yards and 145 total touchdowns.

Photo from sports.espn.go.com

3. Johnny Manziel - Texas A&M

Like Tebow, Manziel came into Fayetteville the season after winning the Heisman Trophy. He became the first freshman to win the award in 2012, then led the Aggies to a 45-33 victory at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in 2013 by completing 76.7 percent of his passes (23-for-30) for 261 yards and two touchdowns and picking up another 59 yards on the ground. In his Heisman Trophy-winning season, he accounted for 5,116 total yards and 47 total touchdowns.

Photo from sportsillustrated.cnn.com

2. Sammy Baugh - TCU

“Slingin’ Sammy” Baugh was a two-time All-American at TCU before becoming the sixth overall selection of the 1937 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. He was a five-time All-Star and one-time Pro Bowl selection with the Redskins. In 1963, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With the Horned Frogs, he came to Fayetteville and beat the Razorbacks 13-7 in 1935. Today, the Sammy Baugh Trophy is annually awarded to the best passer in college football.

Photo from dailystab.com

1. Peyton Manning - Tennessee

There isn’t an active quarterback on the planet playing better than Manning. In four games with the Denver Broncos this season, he has thrown 16 touchdowns and no interceptions, while averaging 367.5 passing yards per game. Since being selected as the No. 1 pick of the 1998 NFL draft, Manning has been selected to the Pro Bowl 12 times, named the NFL MVP four times and won the Super Bowl once. Before his successful professional career, he led Tennessee to the SEC Championship and was a consensus All-American in 1997. Manning beat the Razorbacks four times while at Tennessee, including a 49-31 victory in Fayetteville as a sophomore in 1995, when he was 35-for-46 for 384 yards and four touchdowns.

Photo from sportsillustrated.cnn.com

In Case You Missed It...

No. 16 - No. 20 released Sept. 30
No. 11 - No. 15 released Oct. 1
No. 6 - No. 10 released Oct. 1

TAT: By the Numbers - The Texas A&M Game and More

These stats were originally compiled for the October 2, 2013 issue of The Arkansas Traveler.

3 - Margin of victory in Arkansas’ shutout victory at No. 14 Kentucky Friday. This is the largest margin of victory over a ranked opponent in the women’s soccer program’s history. The Razorbacks’ only other wins against ranked opponents were a pair of one-goal wins versus No. 18 Kentucky and No. 16 Missouri last year.

.375 - Batting average by freshman outfielder Clark Eagan during the baseball team’s red-white series. His average was higher than any other player to appear in all seven games. He also led both teams with nine RBIs and 12 total bases.

1.93 - Earned run average by freshman right-handed pitcher Alex Phillips during the baseball team’s red-white series. His ERA was lower than any other pitcher with at least seven innings pitched. He allowed only two earned runs in 9.1 innings, while giving up four hits, two walks and striking out two.

0 - Matches lost by sophomore Kimberly-Ann Surin at the Colorado Invitational. Surin was the only member of the Razorbacks’ women’s tennis team to go undefeated at the event and won her flight’s championship by finishing 3-0.

2003 - The last year Arkansas’ volleyball team won its first two Southeastern Conference games, before they swept Ole Miss and Mississippi State on the road to open SEC play 2-0.

320 - Total offensive yards gained by Texas A&M sophomore quarterback Johnny Manziel Saturday. That is his lowest total in a game he started all season and his lowest in a start since Oct. 20 against LSU last season.

4 - Times true freshman running back Alex Collins has rushed for over 100 yards. Collins had 116 rushing yards against Texas A&M Saturday.

5 - Times Darren McFadden rushed for over 100 yards in 2005, his freshman season. That is the UA record for 100-yard games by a freshman.

7 - Field goals made by senior kicker Zach Hocker. He is tied with three other kickers for the most field goals made without a miss this season. His 53-yard field goal against Samford is the longest made by any of the 13 kickers with a 100 percent success rate this season.

2-2 - Bret Bielema’s all-time record as a head coach when coaching a game played in the state of Florida. He led Wisconsin to victories over Arkansas and Miami (FL) in the 2007 Capital One Bowl and 2009 Champs Sports Bowl, respectively, and losses to Tennessee and Florida State in the 2008 Outback Bowl and 2008 Champs Sports Bowl, respectively.

2-9 - Arkansas’ all-time record in games played in the state of Florida. Their two wins came against Georgia Tech in the 1960 Gator Bowl and Oklahoma in the 1978 Orange Bowl. Of their nine losses, three were against Florida in Gainesville, one was against Miami (FL) in Miami and five were in bowl games.

TAT: Hogs in the Pros (Oct. 2)

These stats were originally compiled for the October 2, 2013 issue of The Arkansas Traveler.

NFL

Week 4

Knile Davis, Kansas City Chiefs

• W 31-7, vs. New York Giants
• 1 carry, 2 yards

Chris Houston, Detroit Lions

• W 40-32, vs. Chicago Bears
• 2 solo tackles, 1 pass breakup

Felix Jones, Pittsburgh Steelers

• L 34-27, @ Minnesota Vikings
• 2 carries, 3 yards, 1 reception, 4 yards, 4 kickoff returns, 92 yards

Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders

• L 24-14, vs. Washington Redskins
• 5 carries, 29 yards

George Wilson, Tennessee Titans

• W 38-13, vs. New York Jets
• 1 solo tackle

Jarius Wright, Minnesota Vikings

• W 34-27, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
• 1 reception, 6 yards

MLB

9/23-9/29

Cody Clark, Houston Astros

• 1 game, 1 start
• 3 at bats, 1 hit, 1 strikeout

Logan Forsythe, San Diego Padres

• 5 games, 1 start
• 7 at bats, 1 hit, 1 home run, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 3 strikeouts

Craig Gentry, Texas Rangers

• 7 games, 7 starts
• 23 at bats, 9 hits, 1 double, 3 RBI, 7 runs scored, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, 6 stolen bases

Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros

• 1 game, 1 start
• L (6-10), 5.2 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 5 K

Cliff Lee, Philadelphia Phillies

• 1 game, 1 start
• L (14-8), 8 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 13 K

Blake Parker, Chicago Cubs

• 3 games, 0 starts
• 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

Drew Smyly, Detroit Tigers

• 4 games, 0 starts
• 2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Top 20 QBs to Play in Fayetteville: #6 - #10

This is a continuation of my list of the top 20 quarterbacks to ever play in Fayetteville. Click here to see No. 11 through No. 15 and click here to see No. 16 through No. 20.

10. Doak Walker - SMU

Walker would be higher on the list if played quarterback his entire career, but he made his mark on college football and the NFL as a running back. However, in 1948, he was SMU’s quarterback, named an All-American and won the Heisman Trophy. That year, the Razorbacks beat Walker’s Mustangs 14-12 at Razorback Stadium. He was eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Photo from oldlifemagazines.com

9. Eli Manning - Ole Miss

After Manning and the Rebels lost to Arkansas in an epic seven overtime game in 2001 at Ole Miss, they came to Fayetteville in 2002, but lost again, this time 48-28. Manning completed 75 percent of his passes (42-for-56) for 414 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the 2002 loss. He was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2004 NFL draft and is a two-time Super Bowl MVP with the New York Giants.

Photo from olemisssports.com

8. Jerry Rhome - Tulsa

Long before passing was popular in college football, Rhome was putting up big numbers at Tulsa. As a senior in 1964, he threw 32 touchdowns to only four interceptions, while racking up 2,870 yards. That year, he finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting by 74 points, one of the closest margins in the history of the award. Also that year, the Razorbacks defeated Rhome and Tulsa 31-22. The 22 points were the most by any Arkansas opponent en route to the 1964 National Championship.

Photo from fanbase.com

7. Davey O’Brien - TCU

As the starting quarterback for the Horned Frogs in 1937, he was selected to the All-SWC team. That season, O’Brien and the Horned Frogs battled the Razorbacks to a 7-7 tie in Fayetteville. The following year, he led TCU to an undefeated season and the National Championship. He also won the Heisman Trophy and was selected as an All-American. The Davey O’Brien Award is given annually to the best quarterback in college football.

Photo from sportsillustrated.cnn.com

6. Andre Ware - Houston

In 1989, Ware set 26 NCAA records, including throwing for 512 yards in the first half of a 95-21 rout over SMU. He finished that season with 4,699 passing yards, a record at the time, and won the Heisman Trophy. As a sophomore in 1987, Ware’s Cougars came to Razorback Stadium and lost 21-17.

Photo from espn.go.com

Stay Tuned

No. 16 - No. 20 released Sept. 30

No. 11 - No. 15 released Oct. 1

No. 1 - No. 5 to be released Oct. 3

TAT: Chile Pepper Gives Back to Community

This article originally appeared on October 1, 2013 on The Arkansas Traveler website, uatrav.com.

The Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival board gave $42,000 to area high schools at its annual pre-race press conference Tuesday.

Seven Northwest Arkansas high schools, Springdale, Springdale Har-Ber, Fayetteville, Rogers, Rogers Heritage, Bentonville and Siloam Springs, were given $6,000 each for their cross country programs.

The money will be used for uniforms, equipment and even travel expenses to over-night cross country meets. In the 25 years of the event, $314,000 has been donated to local high school programs.

“The whole purpose of (the Chile Pepper race) is to be a benefactor to the high schools,” women’s cross country coach Lance Harter said. “We’re so proud of the development in our high school programs in Northwest Arkansas.”

Harter also said that the Arkansas cross country programs, men’s and women’s, benefit from the race because thousands of high school runners come to the race from all over the country.

The race gives Harter and men’s cross country coach Chris Bucknam a chance to showcase Fayetteville and the UA.

There is also a collegiate portion of the race, in which both men’s and women’s teams will participate.

“We’re excited about the meet this weekend,” Bucknam said. “We haven’t really raced our whole team yet, but we will this weekend. We’re going to let all of the dogs out of the pen and see where we stand.”

The men’s team is led by junior Stanley Kebenei, who has won the Razorbacks’ first two meets, and senior Kemoy Campbell, who finished second in his only race this season. Senior Solomon Haile will be making his season debut at the Chile Pepper Festival.

The women’s team also has a strong trio of runners. Senior Stephanie Brown and sophomore Dominique Scott have each won a race for the Razorbacks this season, but Harter said he thinks junior Grace Heymsfield has an excellent chance to win Saturday.

As for the race itself, it has been shortened from a 10,000m race to an 8,000m race for the men and from a 6,000m race to a 5,000m race for the women.

“From a spectator’s standpoint, I think it looks better,” Bucknam said. “I think everybody will be able to see the last three-quarters of a mile.”

The Chile Pepper Festival is Saturday, with the men’s collegiate race scheduled to start at 9:45 a.m. and the women’s collegiate race following at 10:20 a.m.

Top 20 QBs to Play in Fayetteville: #11 - #15

This is a continuation of my list of the top 20 quarterbacks to ever play in Fayetteville. Click here to see No. 16 through No. 20.

15. Eric Zeier - Georgia

When Zeier finished his career at Georgia, he held 67 school and 18 Southeastern Conference records, including the SEC record for career passing yards, with 11,153 yards, which has been surpassed. In 1992, Arkansas’ first year in the SEC, Zeier led the Bulldogs to a 27-3 victory at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Photo from romenews-tribune.com

14. James Street - Texas

Street led the Longhorns to a 15-14 victory over the Razorbacks in the 1969 “Game of the Century” in Fayetteville en route to the 1969 National Championship. He was 20-0 as a starting quarterback and also threw two no-hitters for Texas’ baseball team.
(NOTE: Street passed away yesterday, Sept. 30, just one day after I compiled this list. R.I.P.)

Photo from bleacherreport.com

13. A.J. McCarron - Alabama

Alabama has won two national titles with McCarron at the helm and appears to be the favorite for a third this year. Last season, he was 11-for-16 for 189 yards and a touchdown in a 52-0 win at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Photo from espn.go.com

12. Danny Wuerffel - Florida

Wuerffel led the Gators to four consecutive SEC Championships and was a two-time All-American. In 1996, he won several awards, including the Heisman Trophy. He only started 10 games in the NFL, but in one season in NFL Europe, he won the World Bowl and was named the MVP of the game. Wuerffel’s Gators beat the Razorbacks 42-7 in Fayetteville during the 1996 season.

Photo from florida.scout.com

11. Don Meredith - SMU

At SMU, “Dandy Don” Meredith was a two-time All-American and led the SWC in completion percentage for three seasons. He became the first starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in 1960 and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection in nine seasons. In 1958, Arkansas beat Meredith and SMU 13-6 in Fayetteville.

Photo from dallasnews.com

Stay Tuned

No. 16 - No. 20 released Sept. 30

No. 6 - No. 10 to be released Oct. 2

No. 1 - No. 5 to be released Oct. 3