When Bentonville and Bixby fans looked at the schedule when the season started, they knew this game would be a shootout and it did not disappoint Friday night. The Tigers and the Spartans did not disappoint lighting up the scoreboard in a back and forth contest. The game would come down to the wire before Bentonville would expand the lead enough to feel comfortable.

Both teams came into the contest after having suffered tough losses. Each team came in ready to grab the momentum in this game. Bentonville struck early with Canaan Ross connect with Kam’ron Mays-Hunt for an 80 yard touchdown pass, in what would set the tone for the night. The Spartans of Bixby would answer toward the end of the first quarter to knot the game up at 7, when Tucker Pawley would punch the ball in from 5 yards out. The first quarter would end with the game all locked up at 7.

Bixby would get a drive going midway through the second quarter, which would result in a touchdown. Tanner Griffin would hit Nick Swanson from 28 yards out to grab Bixby the lead at 14-7. Bentonville would even the score with a little under three minutes to go when Jacob Clark would escape for a 48 yard touchdown run. The Tigers would break the tie right before the half when Hayden Moehring connected on a 22 yard field goal to make the score 17-14 Tigers.

The third quarter would see much of the same back and forth action that fans witnessed during the first half. With about 8 minutes to go in the third quarter Bixby’s Tucker Pawley would run the ball in from 1 yard out, which would make the score 20-14 due to the failed two point conversion. Bentonville would drive the ball to the Bixby four yard on the ensuing drive and Canaan Ross would sneak the ball the end zone to grab the Tigers the lead 24-20. Bentonville would manage to get the stops on defense to hold on to a 10 point victory 44-34. For the folks wanting to see a shootout this game did not disappoint.

Bentonville will take Conway in the final nonconference game of the year Friday night. Bixby will take on Putnam City in what will be an important game for the Spartans, to get off the losing skid. Important games for both Bentonville and Bixby this Friday, one needs to keep momentum going and the other wants to grab a victory over a good Putnam City team.