Tigers Clutch Late to Stay Perfect in Benton County Battle

Bentonville 31, Rogers 28

ROGERS — Bentonville stitched together a final 63-yard march and running back Chris Ficklin burst 13 yards with 1:06 remaining, lifting the Tigers past Rogers, 31-28, in a Thursday night 7A‑West showdown at Mountie Stadium.

Quarterback Cole Slepecki threw three touchdowns to wideout Conrad Schmitz — a throwback strike to open, a fourth‑and‑13 dagger before halftime, and a third‑quarter roll‑out — while kicker Blake Stroud added a 30‑yard field goal for a 17‑7 halftime cushion. Kylee Sallee converted all four PATs for Bentonville.

Bentonville’s defense authored the night’s two biggest stops: a first‑quarter goal‑line stand and Aiden McCarthy’send‑zone interception early in the fourth to thwart a Mounties drive. Linebacker/edge Julian Grundy and Garrett Wolfhelped bottle the perimeter all evening.

Rogers rallied behind quarterback Jeff Regan, who accounted for four touchdowns — three keepers and a third‑and‑long scoring toss to BYU commit Braxton Lindsey — while tailback Titus Cramer’s two‑point pass to Xander Burke sliced the deficit to 24‑21. After recovering an onside kick, Regan’s 1‑yard plunge put Rogers up 28‑24 with 2:19 left.

Slepecki answered, finding Blair Irvin III twice to start the last drive before Ficklin finished. Bentonville swatted down a final heave at the horn to close a classic between unbeaten rivals.

The win keeps Bentonville atop the 7A‑West race with two weeks to play; Rogers absorbed its first league loss but looked every bit the contender, powered by Regan’s dual‑threat grit, Lindsey’s two‑way impact and Cramer’s between‑the‑tackles work. Both teams remain clear playoff locks, still.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter Bentonville – Conrad Schmitz pass from Cole Slepecki (Kylee Sallee kick), BHS 7‑0.
2nd Quarter Bentonville – Conrad Schmitz TD catch on 4th‑and‑13 (Sallee kick), BHS 14‑0.
2nd Quarter Rogers – Jeff Regan 10 run (Juan Chaparro kick), BHS 14‑7.
2nd Quarter Bentonville – Blake Stroud 30 FG, BHS 17‑7.
3rd Quarter Bentonville – Conrad Schmitz pass from Slepecki (Sallee kick), BHS 24‑7.
3rd Quarter Rogers – Jeff Regan run (2‑pt try failed), BHS 24‑13.
4th Quarter Rogers – Braxton Lindsey pass from Regan (Titus Cramer to Xander Burke 2‑pt), BHS 24‑21.
4th Quarter Rogers – Jeff Regan 1 run (Chaparro kick), RHS 28‑24.
4th Quarter Bentonville – Chris Ficklin 13 run (Sallee kick), BHS 31‑28.

Standouts

• Conrad Schmitz, WR (BHS) — 3 receiving TDs.

• Jeff Regan, QB (RHS) — 3 rushing TDs, 1 passing TD.

• Cole Slepecki, QB (BHS) — 3 TD passes leading two late drives.

• Braxton Lindsey, ATH (RHS) — TD catch; disruptive two‑way night (BYU commit).

• Chris Ficklin, RB (BHS) — Go‑ahead 13‑yard TD with 1:06 left.