Just a week after facing one of the best programs in Missouri, Rockhurst played host to one of Arkansas’ hottest teams.

The Bentonville Tigers, two-time defending Arkansas 7A champions, topped the Hawklets 24-13 on Friday night at Dasta Stadium. It was the second straight loss for Rockhurst, which lost 49-20 to Webb City a week ago.

“They controlled the line of scrimmage when they wanted to and that was the big difference,” Rockhurst coach Tony Severino said.

The game turned early when Rockhurst failed to hold the Tigers on third-and-15 on the opening drive. Instead, Bentonville drove to midfield, flipped field position and then took a 7-0 lead on its next drive on Jacob Clark’s 3-yard touchdown run.

“It sounds crazy, but that was a huge play in the game,” Severino said. “If we get that stop early, the first half could be a different story.”

That first half was the whole story. Bentonville outgained the Hawklets 222-33 and took a 17-0 lead into halftime.

Rockhurst pulled to within 17-6 on A.J. Taylor’s third-quarter touchdown run and then caught a break when the Tigers missed a short field goal thanks to a faulty snap. But the Hawklets couldn’t score on their next possession and Bentonville answered with a nine-play, 65-yard drive to go up 24-6.

Bentonville quarterback Kasey Ford — all 6-foot-6 and 272 pounds of him — gave the Hawklets problems. The senior completed 17 of his 21 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown. Clark, a junior, carried 23 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns.

Rockhurst quarterback Chance May had a solid night, throwing for more than 100 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown to Chris Teahen in the fourth quarter.