Bentonville is once again the best team in Arkansas.
Dylan Smith ran for a 6-yard touchdown with 26 seconds remaining to give the Tigers a 24-21 win over rival Fayetteville in a thrilling Class 7A state championship game Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Bentonville won its second consecutive title in the state's largest classification and for the fifth time since 2001.
Quarterback Kasey Ford led the Tigers on an 11-play, 68-yard drive in less than three minutes to score the go-ahead touchdown. Ford completed both of his pass attempts on the drive and also had run plays of 7 and 9 yards to help set up Smith's run on a third-and-1 play.
Fayetteville went ahead 21-17 on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Powell to Garland Allison with 3:03 remaining. The Bulldogs trailed 17-7 heading into the fourth quarter.
Bentonville built the 10-point advantage on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Ford to Cody Scroggins late in the third quarter. Scroggins also had a first quarter touchdown reception and intercepted two passes on defense.
Ford completed 15 of 23 passes for 143 yards and Scroggins had six catches for 66 yards.
Powell completed 22 of 28 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns for the Bulldogs. Fayetteville committed three turnovers and missed a short field goal late in the first half.
Bentonville led 10-7 at halftime after a 20-yard field goal by Bennett Moehring.
After a 0-4 start to the season, Bentonville finished the year with nine straight wins, including two against Fayetteville. The Tigers beat the Bulldogs 45-2 on Nov. 7.
Bentonville head coach Barry Lunney won his fourth state championship at the school and eighth overall. The Tigers were playing in their sixth state championship game since 2008.
It was the fourth time Bentonville and Fayetteville have played in the state championship in the last five seasons. The Bulldogs had won the last meetings there in 2011 and 2012.
Fayetteville finished the season with a 10-4 record.