Fayetteville wins 2nd title in row, beats NLR for Class 7A crown

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) Barrett Banister and Brennon Lewis each caught two touchdown passes Friday, and the Fayetteville defense scored twice as well, as the Bulldogs won their second consecutive Class 7A football title 53-19 over North Little Rock.



After the Wildcats (12-1) had closed to 20-19 just after halftime, Taylor Powell hit Banister for a 44-yard score. Two minutes later, following a Trey Coulter interception near midfield, Powell hit Lewis from 39 yards to give the Bulldogs (12-1) a 33-19 lead.



Kester Olson killed North Little Rock’s next drive, returning a Trey Cox fumble 88 yards to make it 40-19, and Luke Waller returned an interception 22 yards for another score in the fourth quarter.



North Little Rock was seeking its first football championship since 1972. Fayetteville won its fourth title since 2011. Teams from northwestern Arkansas have won 12 titles in a row in Arkansas’ highest classification.



Powell finished the game 15-of-26 passing for 265 yards and Dan Hinton added two touchdowns on nine carries. Cox completed 23 of 38 passes for 235 yards for the Wildcats.



Savana Melton became the first female football player to score in an Arkansas state championship game, hitting an extra point for North Little Rock in the first quarter.




   

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