Tulsa, Okla. — Bentonville’s defense forced four turnovers while the Tiger offense showcased its trio of running backs.

The result was a 16-7 scrimmage win over Owasso at Union’s Tuttle Stadium on Thursday night.

Bentonville trailed 7-0 after Owasso quarterback Troy Hudson took advantage of a busted coverage by finding receiver Jake Enzbrenner wide open for a 36-yard touchdown pass late in the first of two 12-minute halves.

But the Rams turned the ball over four times on their final six possessions as Bentonville took control. Tigers standout senior quarterback Kasey Ford wasn’t called on to do much as the running game was featured prominently, but his 3-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Johnson just four plays after Owasso’s lone score knotted the game and shifted momentum.

Ford’s pass was set up by an impressive 60-yard run by junior running back Jacob Clark. Clark broke a tackle near the line of scrimmage and then split several Owasso defenders before racing down the sideline for the big gain. It was his best run on an evening in which he totaled a team-high 105 yards on 17 carries. Senior Avery Donson had 31 yards on three carries, including trucking a defender on a 29-yard run that had the Bentonville sideline pumped. Senior David Nichols had 19 yards on five carries.

“In the past, we’ve had a back that would get 20 to 22 carries,” first-year Bentonville coach Jody Grant said. “We’d like to distribute that a little bit and save our backs as we get into the conference. Obviously, we’re going to go with the hot back. And tonight, we were pleased with all of them.”

Senior cornerback Kary Collier intercepted Hudson on a badly underthrown ball on the next Owasso drive, which set the stage for three Rams turnovers in the second half.

Safety Logan Darby intercepted a Hudson pass that was tipped midway through the second half, then senior defensive lineman Noah Stubbs recovered a fumbled read option. Senior Elijah Barnett came up with the third interception of the night when he tipped a pass and then brought it in on the sideline.

Standout senior cornerback Tyrone Mahone started and was active in his first game action since breaking his ankle in the playoffs last year.

“This last week of practice, the old Tyrone has shown back up and I’m anxious to see him show out a little bit,” Grant said.

In between all the turnovers, junior kicker Hunter Moehring put on an impressive kicking display. The younger brother of former Bentonville standout Bennett Moehring went 3-for-3 on field goals of 50, 48 and 31 yards to give Bentonville the lead and then stretch it.

“It’s nice to have another Moehring around,” Grant said.

The Tigers open the season at Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst on Sept. 4.
