FARMINGTON -- Farmington notched its first league win as a member of the 7A West Junior High Football Conference Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, defeating Fayetteville White by a score of 8-6.
"I was very proud of our kids. It was a defensive battle," said Farmington junior high coach Cody Napier. "We scored a touchdown and tacked on a 2-point conversion and took the lead 8-6. Our defense kept it that way the rest of the game. I'm proud of the way our kids played defense. We had kids in position and they finished tackles. It was one of the funnest games I've ever coached in."
Farmington freshman quarterback Cameron Vanzant completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Sam Wells with 21 seconds remaining in the first half followed by a 2-point conversion throw from Wells to Peyton Funk on a wide receiver pass to give the junior Cardinals an 8-6 halftime lead and the defense made that stand up in the second half.
Fayetteville took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter when Charles Williams hauled in a 30-yard pass reception. The PAT kick missed which loomed large late in the game. Following that success, Fayetteville repeatedly tested Farmington's secondary with defensive backs holding their own in 1-on-1 matchups on flag patterns and crossing routes for the duration of the game.
Farmington mounted a 45-yard drive as the first half wore down. Vanzant threw complete to fullback Will Hellard for 17 yards to convert third-and-six and later had to do it all over when Fayetteville's defense was drawn offsides by a false start, turning third-and-four in the red zone into third-and-nine.
The Bulldogs were flagged for pass interference on Farmington's touchdown pass, but with points on the board the penalty was declined. Farmington utilized the trick play to score the crucial 2-point conversion which became the difference in the outcome with neither team able to score in the second half.
Things got heated late in the third and throughout the fourth quarter.
Farmington linebacker Cooper Gardenhire appeared to stop a Fayetteville drive by ripping the ball out of the hands of the quarterback on third-and-one at the junior Cardinal 25. There was no whistle stopping the play, but the officials ruled forward progress had been halted prior to the takeaway and Fayetteville remained on offense. The Bulldogs pushed through the line for a 7-yard gain only to have penalty yardage for holding marked off, placing them in fourth-and-nine from the 33.
Fayetteville again converted this time on a pass play, but suffered a 5-yard loss on a sack. Williams' 12-yard reception converted third-and-10 moving the ball to Farmington's three.
With their backs against the wall, Farmington made a goal-line stand aided by an ineligible receiver downfield which erased a touchdown pass. Fayetteville came back with the same play, but Farmington nearly picked the ball off on first-and-goal from the eight. A second down pass fell incomplete. Farmington stopped consecutive sweeps and Fayetteville was penalized for holding on the second run.
On fourth-and-goal from the 15, Traylen Moser blitzed from safety and recorded a safety forcing a turnover on downs ending the threat. Farmington's defense held Fayetteville without a first down on the Bulldogs' last possession to preserve the narrow, 8-6, victory.
Monday, Farmington played on the road at Bentonville. The junior Cardinals' next game beyond that is Sept. 26 at Siloam Springs.
Sports on 09/18/2019