FLAGGED DOWN : Penalties bog down Bulldogs in playoff loss Three Fayetteville TDs called back against Little Rock Catholic
Posted on Saturday, November 15, 2008
ANDY SHUPE Northwest Arkansas Times Fayetteville senior linebacker Matt Alston (42 ) and junior offensive lineman Matthew Zwalonek cry after the Dogs ’ 35-21 loss to Little Rock Catholic on Friday in Little Rock.
LITTLE ROCK — Fayetteville celebrated Flag Day and mourned the end of its season all in one night.
The Purple Dogs were penalized 15 times for 130 yards in a 35-21 loss to Little Rock Catholic in the first round of the Class 7 A state playoffs at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock Friday night.
Fayetteville never waved a white flag but the yellow flags spelled equal doom for the Purple Dogs. Fayetteville had two touchdown passes and a kick return for a score all negated by penalties.
Catholic was penalized four times totaling 24 yards.
“ That’s what I thought, ” a tight-lipped Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said after hearing the final penalty tally following the game. “ We can’t have three touchdowns called back and make penalties in a big ballgame like this.
“ We didn’t do a good enough job as coaches and we just had way too many penalties. I congratulate Catholic; they didn’t make the mistakes in crucial situations like we did. I thought we played hard but it’s just an unfortunate situation. ”
Penalties were just one of the many conundrums Fayetteville faced. Catholic quarterback Taylor Bartlett gave Fayetteville the biggest fit. Bartlett did damage through the air and on the ground, rushing for 164 yards and a score on 16 totes and completing 11 of 19 passes for 140 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
“ I think Bartlett’s speed and quickness made a difference, ” Catholic coach Scooter Register said. “ He did a good job reading the defense. We knew Fayetteville was going to double cover John Springer, especially when we got in three-wide. For the most part, [Bartlett ] read it well and kept us out of trouble. ”
Fayetteville quarterback Brandon Allen completed 27 of 42 passes for 261 yards, 1 rushing score, no touchdown passes and 2 interceptions. Senior Coy Holmes led the Purple Dogs with a career-high 11 catches for 110 yards. Junior Michael Heintzman rushed for 101 yards on 14 carries. Senior Bobby Petrino registered two rushing touchdowns and an interception.
Fayetteville, though, finishes 5-6 overall, the first losing season in Patton’s tenure.
“ I’m proud of our kids, ” Patton said. “ We weren’t the most talented team. But to get back to the playoffs for the sixth-straight year is a big deal. We came up and battled. We played our heart out and have nothing to be ashamed of. ”
Catholic (7-4 ) drew first blood on a 10-play, 72-yard drive, capped by Bartlett’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Grimes on fourth-and-15. Fayetteville cornerback Franco Broyles had solid coverage on the play but his tipped ball was hauled in by Grimes in the end zone for the score at the 2: 34 mark of the first quarter.
Fayetteville and Catholic exchanged interceptions on their subsequent first-quarter possessions.
A deep throw by Allen was picked off by Hunter Korte at the Catholic 4. Fayetteville’s Bentley Banister picked off a tipped pass three plays later at the Rocket 15.
Fayetteville had two touchdowns negated by penalties on the first two plays of the march, placing the Purple Dogs in a third-and-15 predicament from the 21. Allen bounced back with a screen pass to Heintzman, who cut through traffic for 17 yards to set up first-and-goal from the 4. Petrino punched in for the score on the following play to knot the contest, 7-all.
Catholic retaliated on its ensuing possession, despite a costly holding infraction. Springer appeared to be stopped for a loss but reversed direction and sliced his way through Fayetteville’s pursuit for a 66-yard touchdown. Josh Hale, though, blocked Andrew Naeyaert’s point after attempt for a 13-7 Rockets lead.
The Purple Dogs traveled 80 yards on 12 plays to take their first lead of the contest, 14-13, at the 6: 25 mark of the second quarter. Allen converted on fourth-and-10 from the Catholic 23 with a 21-yard completion to Hale to set up first-and-goal from the 2. Petrino darted offtackle for the 2-yard score. Heintzman logged 3 carries for 41 yards on the drive.
Catholic quickly swiped the momentum early in the third quarter when Korte picked off Allen for the second time near midfield. Bartlett converted a key fourth-and-9 with an 11-yard pass to set up first-and-10 at the Fayetteville 15. Two plays later Bartlett connected with Paul Drake on a skinny post for a 15-yard touchdown strike.
The Rockets shoved the margin to 28-14 midway through the third with help from two, 15-yard Fayetteville penalties. A pass interference call combined with a personal foul to push the ball inside the red zone at the Fayetteville 18. A false start backed the Rockets up to the 23 but on the subsequent play, Bartlett scrambled 23 yards to paydirt.
The Rockets expanded the damage to 35-21 with 6: 09 left in the fourth quarter. A blown assignment by the Purple Dog secondary left Springer wide open for a 38-yard touchdown pass from Bartlett.
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