Fayetteville Trying for Third Straight State Championship Appearance

Friday night the entire state will have its eyes on one football game; number 3 Fayetteville at number 2 North Little Rock, the winner plays for a state title. Once again our McDonalds Team of the Week, Fayetteville, has proved it is a much better team in November than September. Head coach Daryl Patton has one philosophy, playing your best football right now is all that matters.

“He wants us to realize that the deeper you go in the season the more intense the season gets because you’re in playoffs,” said Fayetteville senior Chase Carney.

Friday they have to defend Altee Tenpenny, a running back committed to Alabama. But Daryl Patton knows how to play North Little Rock. He’s faced them four times and he’s never lost.

“We haven’t seen anyone like them all year,” said Patton. “So it’s important that if we can slow down their run and force them into passing the football, not that they can’t pass, but that’s just not what they want to do.”

With a win, Fayetteville could do something completely unprecedented; play in three straight state championship games, never winning a conference title in that span. That’s how good this team is in the post season.

“There’s only a couple more weeks for the seniors to ever play for Fayetteville again and you have to make those weeks count,” said Carney.

“During the playoffs you play for your brothers,” said Fayetteville senior Brandyn Young. “I’ve been playing with my friends since peewee football. This is our last year together. So it would mean a lot to go out and do well in the playoffs.”