NWADG Prep Rally Football Playoff

6 PREP RALLY PLAYOFF: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017 T R E E S E R V I C E PR A I R I E GR O V E 4 7 9 - 6 0 1 - 5 5 9 1 4 7 9 - 8 4 6 - 43 3 3 SCOTTIE BORDELON NWA Democrat-Gazette FAYETTEVILLE — Billy Dawson has grown accustomed to Kaden Martindale's smile and constant positivity. And over the last seven weeks he's gotten used to watching the senior safety make big plays on Friday nights. Martindale burst onto the scene defensively in 7A-West Conference play for Fayetteville, who enters tonight's first-round playoff matchup against Fort Smith Southside on a five-game win streak. e senior spent a majority of nonconference play focusing on special teams. But aer the Purple'Dogs' rough 1-2 start, Martindale earned a larger role. "He forced himself into action with his play out here in practice," Dawson said. "He just kept, kept going and getting better and better. He's having an outstanding year, and that's all him. He gets all the credit. "is guy is a prime example of waiting your turn, and when you get your turn, blow it out of the water," Dawson added. "at's what he's done. He works hard every day and he played some early, and all of a sudden, boom, he's in there and he's had a great year. I think we've got multiple guys that have taken that path, and when they get an opportunity they made pretty good out of it." In conference play Martindale recorded three 11-tackle performances and a four tackle-for-loss effort in a 34- 28 win against Springdale Har-Ber that helped Fayetteville earn the 7A-West's 3-seed. His 12 tackles for loss rank fourth on the team and his 7.1 tackles-per-game average leads the surging Purple'Dogs. Dawson said with coaching transitions it can take time to figure out who's who and what's what with new players. It took three games for Fayetteville to define Martindale's skillset, but since then he's taken his opportunity and run with it. "It did take some getting used to," Martindale said of his increase in playing time. "But I was kind of in the mix and used to playing that position before from previous years because we still run somewhat the same defense already. I felt like it was easier for me to step right in and just kind of pick it up from there. "And recently I feel like we've been playing a lot faster on defense, especially," he added. "Our defense has just been swarming to the ball. at's been really effective." Martindale's ability has allowed Fayetteville to tinker with its defensive scheme, too, which, in turn, has given him ample free runs into the backfield. His nine tackles for loss and two sacks over the last four games is also a testament to a chaos-creating defensive front starring Dotson Schaefer (20 TFL), Coleman Johnson (18) and Keondre Conley (16). "When they take five to block four, which they do a lot of the time, and sometimes six to block four, it gives somebody a free run, and Kaden has been the benefactor for that some, which is a good thing," Dawson said. "And when they're good, it makes other people good, too." One of Martindale's best performances came in Fayetteville's win vs. Har-Ber. His 11 tackles and four for loss included several big hits. "at's the expectation I think," Dawson said. "Now its one of those things where its, 'He's back at again today.'" e win over the Wildcats and decisive victories in the final two weeks of the regular season against Springdale High and Van Buren sewed up a first-round home playoff game for Fayetteville. Getting the chance to play one last time at Harmon Field is something Martindale and a senior class looking for its third consecutive state title will relish in. Since 2015, the Purple'Dogs have won 11 games and three straight in the postseason at Harmon Field. "It means everything because it means me and all of the other seniors," Martindale said of playing at home round one. "ere's nothing like playing a home game here. It's the best feeling ever. I'd say winning here and doing the alma mater aer – it's amazing." rough five weeks, the Purple'Dogs were battling through their longest losing streak since 2008. Now, though, Fayetteville is rolling, and Dawson has his program right where he wants it. "Kaden is just a good dude," Dawson said. "And it's guys like that that you build culture around and what I want this thing to look like. He's the epitome of what we want this place to be." Senior Martindale shining for surging Fayetteville Purple'Dogs AT A GLANCE KADEN MARTINDALE SCHOOL Fayetteville CLASS Senior HEIGHT 6-1 WEIGHT 190 POSITION Safety NOTABLE Leads Fayetteville with an average of 7.1 tackles per game. His 12 tackles for loss rank fourth on the team behind defensive linemen Dotson Schaefer, Keondre Conley and Coleman Johnson. … Totaled a career-high 11 tackles against Bentonville West, Springdale Har-Ber and Van Buren. … Recorded two forced fumbles, recovered one, and three pass deflections this season. Fayetteville Bulldogs (6-4) DATE OPPONENT RESULT Sept. 1 ..............at Blue Springs (Mo.) ............................ W 22-17 Sept. 8 ..............Bryant ........................................................ L 38-37 (OT) Sept. 15 ...........Dallas Bishop Dunne ............................ L 34-33 (OT) Sept. 22 ...........at Bentonville .......................................... L 32-27 Sept. 29 ...........at Bentonville West ............................... L 38-28 Oct. 6 ................Rogers High ............................................. W 52-14 Oct. 13 .............at Rogers Heritage ................................ W 35-14 Oct. 20 .............Springdale Har-Ber ............................... W 34-28 Oct. 27 .............Springdale ................................................ W 52-14 Nov. 3 ...............at Van Buren ............................................ W 55-14 Nov. 10 .............Fort Smith Southside ........................... 7 p.m. CLASS 7A Arkansas Self Storage, LLC Quality • Service • Convenience GOOD LUCK TO AREA ATHLETES!!! arkansasselfstorage.com

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