Garden’s five rushing touchdowns lift Fayetteville past Sylvan Hills, 52–42
Garden’s five rushing touchdowns lift Fayetteville past Sylvan Hills, 52–42
Terrence Garden rushed for 191 yards and five touchdowns on 29 carries as Fayetteville defeated Sylvan Hills 52–42 Friday at Harmon Field. His fifth score, with 2:19 remaining, followed a fumble forced by Mike Stout and recovered by Spence Paladino.
Aron Orgil completed 26 of 45 passes for 400 yards and two touchdowns. Sage Anderson caught eight passes for 135 yards and a touchdown, while Javian Stricklin added nine receptions for 131 yards and a score.
The Bulldogs finished with 586 yards of total offense, including 407 passing yards, and improved their season record to 2–1.
Orgil opened the scoring with a 6-yard pass to Stricklin. Sylvan Hills answered with Brian Dixson’s 85-yard interception return and Caden Burnett’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Carey. Garden scored from 11 yards before Isaiah Howell’s 5-yard run gave the Bears a 21–12 lead after one quarter.
Fayetteville scored 26 unanswered points in the second quarter. Garden raced 88 yards for a touchdown, Brylan Ussery returned a tipped punt 15 yards for a score, and Garden added a 4-yard touchdown. Orgil’s 35-yard pass to Anderson made it 38–21 before halftime.
Sylvan Hills scored twice in the third quarter. Burnett connected with Ezekiel Carrethers for a 47-yard touchdown, and Preston Strong scored on a 1-yard pitch on fourth-and-goal to make it 38–35.
Garden’s 3-yard touchdown capped an 80-yard drive early in the fourth quarter. Anderson converted fourth-and-six with a reception during that possession, and Jayden Nicholson recovered his ensuing fumble.
Burnett and Carrethers connected again for a 28-yard touchdown, bringing Sylvan Hills within 45–42 with 7:42 remaining.
Paladino recovered Sylvan Hills’ fumble with 3:29 left. Orgil then found Stricklin for a 57-yard gain to the Bears’ 9-yard line, setting up Garden’s final touchdown. Fayetteville stopped Sylvan Hills on fourth down before running out the clock.
Scoring summary
| Quarter | Time | Scoring play | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 9:57 | Fayetteville — Javian Stricklin 6-yard pass from Aron Orgil; two-point try unsuccessful. | 6–0 |
| First | 4:55 | Sylvan Hills — Brian Dixson 85-yard interception return; kick good. | 6–7 |
| First | 2:54 | Sylvan Hills — Jeremiah Carey 35-yard pass from Caden Burnett; kick good. | 6–14 |
| First | 0:56 | Fayetteville — Terrence Garden 11-yard run; two-point try unsuccessful. | 12–14 |
| First | 0:28 | Sylvan Hills — Isaiah Howell 5-yard run; kick good. | 12–21 |
| Second | 8:09 | Fayetteville — Garden 88-yard run; kick good. | 19–21 |
| Second | 7:16 | Fayetteville — Brylan Ussery 15-yard return of a tipped punt; two-point try unsuccessful. | 25–21 |
| Second | 3:28 | Fayetteville — Garden 4-yard run; kick blocked. | 31–21 |
| Second | 2:22 | Fayetteville — Sage Anderson 35-yard pass from Orgil; kick good. | 38–21 |
| Third | 10:19 | Sylvan Hills — Ezekiel Carrethers 47-yard pass from Burnett; kick good. | 38–28 |
| Third | 5:40 | Sylvan Hills — Preston Strong 1-yard run; kick good. | 38–35 |
| Fourth | 9:31 | Fayetteville — Garden 3-yard run; kick good. | 45–35 |
| Fourth | 7:42 | Sylvan Hills — Carrethers 28-yard pass from Burnett; kick good. | 45–42 |
| Fourth | 2:19 | Fayetteville — Garden touchdown run; kick good. | 52–42 |
Players who stood out
- Terrence Garden, Fayetteville: 29 carries for 191 yards and five touchdowns, including an 88-yard score. Added two catches for 31 yards.
- Aron Orgil, Fayetteville: Completed 26 of 45 passes for 400 yards and two touchdowns. His late 57-yard completion to Stricklin set up Fayetteville’s final score.
- Sage Anderson, Fayetteville: Eight catches for 135 yards and a touchdown. Converted fourth-and-six during the fourth-quarter drive that extended the lead to 45–35.
- Javian Stricklin, Fayetteville: Nine catches for 131 yards and a touchdown, including the 57-yard reception on the final scoring drive.
- Brylan Ussery, Fayetteville: Returned a tipped punt 15 yards for a touchdown, giving Fayetteville a 25–21 lead.
- Mike Stout and Spence Paladino, Fayetteville: Stout forced the fumble that Paladino recovered with 3:29 remaining, setting up Garden’s fifth touchdown.
- Caden Burnett, Sylvan Hills: Threw three touchdown passes: 35 yards to Carey and 47 and 28 yards to Carrethers.
- Ezekiel Carrethers, Sylvan Hills: Two touchdown receptions, covering 47 and 28 yards. His fourth-quarter score brought the Bears within three points.
- Brian Dixson, Sylvan Hills: Returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown, giving the Bears their first lead, 7–6.