Hendrix, Johnson power Fayetteville past Springdale in Battle of the Bulldogs

Fayetteville 52, Springdale 28

SPRINGDALE — Fayetteville leaned on a prolific passing night from junior quarterback Hank Hendrix and a stingy second‑half defense to pull away from rival Springdale, 52–28, on Thursday. Hendrix completed 24 of 35 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns and added two scoring runs, repeatedly finding senior receiver Kinyun Johnson, who hauled in three TDs including an 80‑yard strike. Johnson’s third touchdown made it 35–20 at halftime, and Hendrix’s keepers in the third quarter put the game out of reach. Senior wideout Charles Whitlow supplied a 48‑yard catch to set up points, and running back Kaleb Johnson punched in a short score as the Bulldogs stacked 31 unanswered before the fourth.

Springdale traded blows early behind bruising runner Rancel Orellana, who found the end zone three times, and versatile Carson Hayter, operating at quarterback in the option, added a 7‑yard keeper. Kicker AJ Woods converted one PAT and narrowly missed another. After the opening period, Fayetteville’s front seven settled, with linebacker Spence Paladino and defensive back Kyndrick Williams producing drive‑killing stops and a third‑quarter sack to flip field position. Fayetteville distributed the ball to seven receivers and protected, while Springdale’s physical run game forced tackles all night in a rivalry looked even through 12 minutes before the visitors pulled away. The result keeps Fayetteville’s postseason push on track and reinforces its downfield passing identity; Springdale’s improvement under coach Brett Hobbs showed in the first‑half punch it landed, led by Orellana’s power and a special‑teams group that flipped field position.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter
Fayetteville – Kinyun Johnson 12‑yard pass from Hank Hendrix (Catavion Taylor pass from Hendrix), 8–0.
Springdale – Carson Hayter 7‑yard run (AJ Woods kick), 8–7.
Springdale – Rancel Orellana 6‑yard run (kick failed), 13–8.
Fayetteville – Jayden Nicholson 77‑yard pass from Hendrix (pass failed), 14–13.

2nd Quarter
Fayetteville – Kaleb Johnson 1‑yard run (Ethan Farthing kick), 21–13.
Springdale – Orellana 19‑yard run (Woods kick), 21–20.
Fayetteville – Kinyun Johnson 80‑yard pass from Hendrix (Farthing kick), 28–20.
Fayetteville – Kinyun Johnson 12‑yard pass from Hendrix (Farthing kick), 35–20.

3rd Quarter
Fayetteville – Hendrix 6‑yard run (Farthing kick), 42–20.
Fayetteville – Hendrix 3‑yard run (Farthing kick), 49–20.

4th Quarter
Fayetteville – Farthing 22‑yard field goal, 52–20.
Springdale – Orellana 2‑yard run (Orellana run), 52–28.

Players who stood out

• Hank Hendrix (QB, Fayetteville) — 406 yards, 4 TD passes; 2 rushing TDs.

• Kinyun Johnson (WR, Fayetteville) — 3 TD receptions, including an 80‑yarder.

• Charles Whitlow (WR, Fayetteville) — chain‑moving explosives, 48‑yard grab.

• Rancel Orellana (RB, Springdale) — three power TDs between the tackles.

• Carson Hayter (RB/WR, Springdale) — 7‑yard TD while directing the option.