SPRINGDALE --Farmington senior defensive lineman Braden Bullington did his job making himself a menace and wreaking havoc during Friday's 20-19 nonconference win at class 7A Springdale.
Farmington dodged a bullet with Springdale hooking a field goal wide left with two seconds to go and walked out of Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium with a 20-19 nonconference win Friday. Springdale, which blew a 19-0 halftime lead, sustained a march following a 45-yard punt by Farmington quarterback Cameron Vanzant, which was nearly downed at the one but bounced out of the grasp of a pair of Cardinal special teams players frantically trying to get a handle on the pigskin.
Bullington (6-2, 212), a returning starter whom coach J.R. Eldridge said "has a high motor, makes plays, does a good job," unraveled the Bulldogs' offense more than once. Springdale had an 80-yard touchdown run by quarterback Landon Phipps called back by a facemask penalty caused by Bullington's penetration into the backfield on the play.
The score would have put the Bulldogs up by at least 25 points. Instead they faced third-and-20 from their own seven with Bullington nailing Phipps after he gained two yards on a keeper.
Bullington's eyes light up when he perceives an opportunity to pop somebody.
"I like to hit, but most importantly get my job done I got to do that first. I've been working on not going up the field so much. Those sort of things are more important than getting a hit, but when I get that chance it's going to be there," Bullington said.
The Bulldogs eventually punted from their own nine and Farmington special teams came through. Lawson DeVault returned the punt 16 yards setting up a short field from the Springdale 26, a key play establishing Farmington's comeback.
On fourth-and-13 Vanzant hit Kanye Taylor, who was left uncovered coming out of the left flat. He raced 29 yards for a touchdown and Luis Zavala kicked the extra-point to reduce Springdale's lead to 19-7 at the 8:23 mark of the third quarter.
Springdale scored all of its points in the second quarter on touchdown passes of 13 yards to Da' von Sparks and 66 yards to Chris Cortez from Phipps. Bullington blocked the P.A.T. kick, a defensive stop which loomed large in deciding the outcome.
Bullington doesn't mind learning from new tricks as Eldridge installed a fresh defensive look this year implemented by veteran assistant coaches, Jay Harper, Steve Morgan and Clint Scrivner.
"We've got to learn a lot more technique, a bunch of different drills and stuff I've never even done before and I've got explained a lot of stuff that's hadn't been explained before and it's just going to make us really kind of be unstoppable this year, that's the goal at least," Bullington said.
After the first series Springdale had its hands full trying to stop Bullington and his teammates up front, David Stettmeier (6-1, 246), senior Dawson Triplett (6-1, 230), junior Carter Moad (5-11, 180) and junior Scout Morrison (6-2, 175) although the athletic Phipps scored on a 35-yard scramble up the middle with 1:15 left in the first half.
The Cardinal defense regrouped and foiled a 2-point passing attempt on the conversion. Bullington brims with excitement as he describes Farmington's potential.
"We got the energy this year. We're not a tame animal you know. We're all respectful and positive in the atmosphere and everything, but that defense, we're an aggressive defense and it's going to be a whole new defense nobody's ever seen before," Bullington said.
Farmington made adjustments at halftime and shut out the Bulldogs in the second half.
After experiencing its first two consecutive scoreless quarters of the season, Farmington got back in the game on Vanzant's 8-yard scoring pass to Justin Logue in the third capping a 15-play, 65-yard drive that overcame two penalties. Springdale blocked the P.A.T. kick and six points separated the teams with Farmington trailing, 19-13, with just under two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
A Cardinal drive stalled at the Springdale 47 in the fourth and Farmington punted. Springdale fumbled and the Cardinals' Kyler Petree pounced on the pigskin at the Bulldogs' 12.
Three straight runs by Caden Elsik powered the ball into the end zone and Zavala, who had his second P.A.T. attempt blocked, calmly booted the go-ahead extra-point to push Farmington in front 20-19.
Both team get a bye Friday before beginning conference play on Sept. 24.
FARMINGTON 20, SPRINGDALE 19
Farmington^--^0^0^13^7^--^20
Springdale^--^0^19^0^0^--^19
Second Quarter
Springdale -- Da'von Sparks 13-yard pass from Landon Phipps (kick), 11:55.
Springdale -- Chris Cortez 65-yard pass from Landon Phipps (kick blocked), 6:15.
Springdale -- Landon Phipps 35-yard run (pass failed), 1:15.
Third Quarter
Farmington -- Kanye Taylor 29-yard pass from Cameron Vanzant (Luis Zavala kick), 8:23.
Farmington -- Justin Hogue 8-yard pass from Cameron Vanzant (Kick blocked), 1:59.
Fourth Quarter
Farmington -- Caden Elsik 8-yard touchdown run (Luis Zavala kick), 7:32.
TEAM STATISTICS
Farmington^Springdale
Total plays^70^63
First downs^13^13
Total offense^185^334
Rushes-yards^42-57^29-98
Passing yards^128^236
Rush average^1.4^3.4
Comp-Att-Yds^TD^Int^11-17-128-2-0^15-26-236-3-1
Punts-Avg.^6-37.5^4-N/A
Penalties-Yds^12-60^8-53
Turnovers^1^3
Fumbles lost^1^2
Third-down conversion^4-13^3-12
Fourth-down conversion^1-3^1-2
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING -- Farmington, Caden Elsik 27-67, Myles Harvey 6-19, Kanye Taylor 2-(-2), Cameron Vanzant 5-(-27). Totals 42-57. Springdale, 29-98.
PASSING -- Farmington, Cameron Vanzant 11-17-128-3-0. Springdale, Landon Phipps 15-26-236-3-1.
RECEIVING -- Farmington, Justin Logue 6-41, Caden Elsik 2-31, Kanye Taylor 1-29, Payton Funk 1-16, Devonte Donovan 1-11. Totals 11-128. Springdale, 15-236.
