Schafer, Kulka power Bentonville past Fayetteville
Bentonville 44, Fayetteville 10
October 16, 2026 | Hooten’s Arkansas Football |
BENTONVILLE — Stephen Schafer supplied the steady gains, Davis Kulka delivered two direct-snap touchdowns and Bentonville shut out Fayetteville in the second half Friday to win 44-10 at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers improved to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the 7A West, while Fayetteville fell to 3-4 and 1-3.
Bentonville scored the final 30 points after Fayetteville pulled within 14-10 in the second quarter. Evan Canode threw two touchdown passes, and Porter Fertig added field goals of 34, 42 and 31 yards. Schafer was credited with 177 rushing yards on 23 carries when the broadcast reported his totals during the fourth quarter.
Fayetteville struck first behind Remington Thomas and Javian Stricklin, who connected repeatedly on the opening possession. JaVion Walker finished the drive with a 26-yard touchdown run, breaking a tackle near the goal line. Ethan Farthing added the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 9:18 left in the first quarter.
Bentonville’s defense settled in, and short Fayetteville punts gave the Tigers consecutive possessions in Bulldog territory. Schafer repeatedly worked behind his blockers on the tying drive before Kulka took a direct snap and scored around the right side. The extra point tied it 7-7 with 2:43 left in the opening quarter.
The next possession began at the Fayetteville 37. Schafer converted a third-and-short early in the second quarter, and Canode found Benjamin Ernst in the back of the end zone. Fertig’s kick put Bentonville ahead 14-7 with 10:47 remaining before halftime.
Thomas answered with a deep completion to Jayden Nicholson that brought Fayetteville into goal-to-go territory. The Tigers stopped the next two runs, and Jeremiah Chavis nearly intercepted the third-down pass. Farthing’s field goal cut the margin to four with 7:32 left.
Fayetteville’s ensuing onside attempt failed to travel 10 yards, setting up a short field for Fertig’s 34-yard kick. Bentonville then added a touchdown just before halftime. A screen to Schafer and a downfield completion to Will Genglebach set up Kulka’s 3-yard scoring run. Fertig’s extra point made it 24-10 with 17 seconds remaining.
Garrett Wolfe recovered Fayetteville’s onside kick to open the second half, and Schafer needed only two carries to reach the end zone. He cut back left on the first run, then burst through the right side and used a stiff-arm on the touchdown. Bentonville led 31-10 just 18 seconds into the third quarter.
Paul Chandler sacked Thomas on Fayetteville’s next possession. Gavin Hanson later chased Thomas down behind the line, helping a defense that kept the Bulldogs scoreless after halftime. Fertig’s 42-yarder and quarter-ending 31-yarder stretched the lead to 37-10.
Blake Stroud made a one-handed sideline catch on Bentonville’s final touchdown drive. On fourth-and-goal, Canode threw back across the formation to Desi Hendrick for a 7-yard score. Fertig’s extra point completed the scoring with 4:59 remaining. Hanson recovered a muffed punt late, allowing the Tigers to finish in victory formation.
Scoring summary
First quarter • 9:18 Fayetteville — JaVion Walker, 26-yard run (Ethan Farthing kick). Fayetteville 7-0.
First quarter • 2:43 Bentonville — Davis Kulka, direct-snap touchdown run (kick good). Tied 7-7.
Second quarter • 10:47 Bentonville — Benjamin Ernst, touchdown pass from Evan Canode (Porter Fertig kick). Bentonville 14-7.
Second quarter • 7:32 Fayetteville — Ethan Farthing, field goal. Bentonville 14-10.
Second quarter Bentonville — Porter Fertig, 34-yard field goal. Bentonville 17-10.
Second quarter • 0:17 Bentonville — Davis Kulka, 3-yard direct-snap run (Porter Fertig kick). Bentonville 24-10.
Third quarter • 11:42 Bentonville — Stephen Schafer, touchdown run (Porter Fertig kick). Bentonville 31-10.
Third quarter • 7:17 Bentonville — Porter Fertig, 42-yard field goal. Bentonville 34-10.
Third quarter • 0:00 Bentonville — Porter Fertig, 31-yard field goal as the quarter ended. Bentonville 37-10.
Fourth quarter • 4:59 Bentonville — Desi Hendrick, 7-yard pass from Evan Canode (Porter Fertig kick). Bentonville 44-10.
Players who stood out
Stephen Schafer, Bentonville — Broadcast credited him with 177 yards on 23 carries during the fourth quarter; scored the touchdown that capped the two-play possession to open the second half.
Davis Kulka, Bentonville — Two direct-snap rushing touchdowns, including a 3-yarder just before halftime; also stopped a Fayetteville goal-to-go run for no gain in the second quarter.
Evan Canode, Bentonville — Touchdown passes to Benjamin Ernst and Desi Hendrick; the latter came on fourth-and-goal from the 7.
Porter Fertig, Bentonville — Field goals of 34, 42 and 31 yards; his first was made into the wind and his third ended the third quarter.
Paul Chandler and Gavin Hanson, Bentonville — Chandler sacked Remington Thomas on Fayetteville’s first second-half possession; Hanson later tackled Thomas behind the line and recovered a late muffed punt.
JaVion Walker and Javian Stricklin, Fayetteville — Walker scored on a 26-yard first-quarter run; Stricklin caught three passes on the opening scoring possession.