DIVISION I FOOTBALL REPORT: WEEK 4

The Tigers have a turnover bug they need to exterminate as they head into 7A-West Conference play this week. Bentonville (1-2) turned the ball 10 times and is minus-8 in its turnover margin through nonconference play, and that issue has been addressed as the Tigers open league play against Fayetteville. “Two areas are getting us beat — turnovers and mental mistakes,” Bentonville coach Jody Grant said. “Those are addressed every time it happens. We spend a lot of time out there doing up-downs for every mistake that happens, and we repeat a play when somebody does something wrong, just to reiterate the importance of doing everything right. “We always talk ball security and always drill ball security, but we’ve probably gone a little bit over the top on that because I think it’s very important. We have 10 turnovers in three games; you can’t win games doing that. We’re lucky to have won one game.” Frustration mounted after Bentonville’s 35-16 loss in its home opener last week against Conway, and a couple of players took time to address their teammates on the issue inside the Tiger Athletic Complex after the game. Much of the talk centered on the Tigers’ lack of effort during the loss. That has carried over into this week’s practice sessions, according to Grant. “They’ve done it at practice,” Grant said. “We have a couple of kids that this means a lot to them, and they want to make sure they express to their teammates that some stuff has to change. “They were reiterating some of the things I had said earlier about the way we play and the way we practice if we want to continue to be the program we’ve been. So far, our kids have done some good stuff, and we’ve increased the tempo in practice. If people aren’t giving great effort and doing the things they’re supposed to go, they’re getting replaced.” — Henry Apple • @NWAHenry

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DIVISION I FOOTBALL REPORT: WEEK 4

SCOTTIE BORDELON

arpreps.com | 9/21/2017