Canode’s Two Touchdown Passes, McCarthy’s Interception Lift Bentonville Past Har-Ber

Bentonville 24, Har-Ber 16

BENTONVILLE — Former Bentonville Tiger Aaron Danenhauer made his first trip back to Tiger Stadium as Har-Ber’s head coach Friday, directing the Wildcats from the visiting sideline.

Danenhauer started at center on Bentonville’s 2001 Class 5A state championship team and spent 12 years as its offensive coordinator. Across the field was his brother, Marcus Danenhauer, who coaches the Tigers’ offensive line.

His Wildcats led 10-0 early and 16-10 with 8:19 remaining. Bentonville needed three fourth-quarter touchdowns to win 24-16 and did not take the lead until 4:06 remained. The Tigers improved to 4-0 and 1-0 in the 7A West; Har-Ber fell to 2-2 and 0-1.

Aiden McCarthy caught a tying touchdown pass and intercepted Brice Owens with 10 seconds remaining as Bentonville scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns to beat Har-Ber 24-16 on homecoming Friday at Tiger Stadium.

Evan Canode threw two touchdown passes for the Tigers, who improved to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the 7A West. Har-Ber (2-2, 0-1) led 10-0 early and 16-10 with 8:19 remaining.

Har-Ber’s 77-yard opening drive included Logan Beck’s third-and-13 reception to Bentonville’s 12. Owens finished with a keeper around the left side at 8:14, and Reed McAllister’s extra point made it 7-0.

Grayre Graham’s 26-yard reception and consecutive catches by Breck Roach helped set up McAllister’s 22-yard field goal at 2:32 of the first quarter. A holding penalty had erased a Beck touchdown run.

Mason Burnett prevented another touchdown in the second quarter, catching Graham at the Bentonville 15 after a 51-yard flea-flicker reception. Garrett Wolfe subsequently tackled McAllister for a loss, and Har-Ber missed a 30-yard field goal.

The Wildcats kept Bentonville out of the end zone before halftime. Jackson Hammontree’s pressure helped Cyler Moore record a sack, and Thaddeus Huckeba had seven first-half tackles in the broadcast’s unofficial count. Porter Fertig’s field goal with 29 seconds left cut the deficit to 10-3.

Neither team scored in the third quarter. Sutton Reed’s punt return gave Har-Ber possession at Bentonville’s 21, but the Tigers stopped McAllister short on fourth-and-2.

Stephen Schafer’s 23-yard run helped position Bentonville for its first touchdown. On third-and-10, Canode escaped pressure and found McCarthy for a 15-yard score with 11:11 remaining. Fertig tied it 10-10.

Owens answered after converting another third down with a completion to Lincoln Pocius. On third-and-1, he broke around the left side for a 42-yard touchdown at 8:19. An unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty pushed back the extra-point attempt, and the missed kick left Har-Ber ahead 16-10.

Canode opened Bentonville’s response with a completion to McCarthy, then found Evan Moll for 19 yards on second-and-13. Schafer added an 8-yard run before Nathan Clouston followed Devin Laupua’s lead block into the end zone from the 7. The touchdown completed an 88-yard drive, and Fertig’s kick gave Bentonville its first lead, 17-16, at 4:06.

Wolfe stopped Owens for a loss on third-and-1 during Har-Ber’s next possession. On fourth down, Cole Montoya recovered an Owens fumble and returned it to the Wildcats’ 20. Canode then found Blake Stroud for a touchdown with 1:53 left, and Fertig made it 24-16.

Treyson Reith and Roach each caught two passes on Har-Ber’s final possession. McCarthy and Jeremiah Chavis defended end-zone throws before a fourth-down pass-interference penalty gave the Wildcats another opportunity at Bentonville’s 9. Owens rolled left and threw, but McCarthy intercepted the pass with 10 seconds remaining. Canode then knelt to finish the game.

Scoring Summary

Players Who Stood Out

• Aiden McCarthy, Bentonville: Caught the tying 15-yard touchdown on third-and-10, added a first-down reception on the go-ahead drive and intercepted Owens with 10 seconds left.
• Evan Canode, Bentonville: Threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes. His 19-yard completion to Moll converted second-and-13 during the 88-yard go-ahead drive.
• Nathan Clouston and Devin Laupua, Bentonville: Clouston scored the go-ahead 7-yard touchdown behind Laupua’s lead block.
• Blake Stroud, Bentonville: Caught Canode’s second touchdown pass with 1:53 remaining, extending the lead to eight points after Fertig’s kick.
• Stephen Schafer, Bentonville: Gained 23 yards on a run during the tying touchdown drive and 8 yards on a carry during the go-ahead possession.
• Garrett Wolfe, Bentonville: Tackled McAllister for a second-quarter loss and stopped Owens behind the line on a fourth-quarter third-and-1.
• Cole Montoya, Bentonville: Recovered Owens’ fourth-quarter fumble and returned it to Har-Ber’s 20, setting up Stroud’s touchdown.
• Mason Burnett, Bentonville: Tackled Graham at the 15 after a 51-yard reception. Har-Ber finished that possession without scoring.
• Porter Fertig, Bentonville: Made a field goal and all three extra points, including the kick that put the Tigers ahead 17-16.
• Brice Owens, Har-Ber: Rushed for both Wildcats touchdowns, including a 42-yard score. The broadcast’s unofficial totals credited him with 14 carries for 83 yards and 16 completions in 27 attempts.
• Grayre Graham, Har-Ber: Caught a 26-yard pass during the first-quarter field-goal drive and a 51-yard flea-flicker in the second quarter.
• Breck Roach and Treyson Reith, Har-Ber: Each caught two passes on the final possession. Roach also made consecutive catches during the first-quarter field-goal drive.
• Thaddeus Huckeba, Har-Ber: Had seven first-half tackles in the broadcast’s unofficial count and helped tackle a screen receiver for a loss on Bentonville’s opening second-half possession.
• Cyler Moore, Har-Ber: Recorded a second-quarter sack after Hammontree’s pressure and helped stop a run for a 3-yard loss during Bentonville’s go-ahead drive.