Interview: Bentonville 2016 QB Kasey Ford Talks Tigers Football and KSU Baseball

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

A rare feat in any sports much less at the high school level is close at hand, Bentonville senior Kasey Ford is two wins away from winning three consecutive Arkansas 7A state championships as the Tigers starting quarterback. As his storied high school playing career comes closer to being finished, his legacy as a winner is still adding ink to the pages of the script. One page that will be noted regardless is his play against heated rivals Fayetteville.

Fayetteville and Bentonville are both tucked into the northwest corner of Arkansas, nestled into the Ozark Mountains. Year after year, the northwest area of the state routinely produces some of the top talent in the state filling Division-I rosters across the country. When the Bulldogs and Tigers line up, more than scholarships and wins are up for grabs, area bragging rights continuing loved sports debates in barber shops, around the water coolers, and on social media give power to the opinion.

Fitting for Ford to have to square off against his school’s biggest rival one more time before getting the opportunity to cement his name in the Arkansas record books as one of the state’s all-time winningest quarterbacks before heading off to Kansas State, not as a pocket passer but as a 93 mile an hour rocket launcher hurling fastballs at opposing Big 12 batters. Ford recently completed any doubt about his future, baseball verses football, by signing his letter of intent to play ball at Kansas State.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Ford after Bentonville’s 28-21 playoff win over Bryant to get his thoughts on the Tigers play on the field to date, the team’s upcoming match-up against Fayetteville, and some insight to his signed commitment to play baseball for the Wildcats in college.

Interview

Kasey, Bentonville is 10-1 on the season and you guys are coming off a nice win against Bryant High School. You guys get your rival Fayetteville in the next playoff game. You beat them by a score of 37-26 on Nov. 6. How did the Tigers beat the Bulldogs earlier in the season?

“When we beat Fayetteville 37-26, we were able to run the ball well and throw when needed. Our defense played their hearts out and did a really good job stopping their passing game, which they (Fayetteville) are good at. Our defense held them to some punts, trying to get us an opportunity to score with good field position. Our defense was big against Fayetteville.”

What will you guys have to do on offense if you want to beat Fayetteville for a second time this year?

“We’re going to have to execute our plays and play perfect. We have to be smart and fast. They have good down linemen. Our guys will have to be fast and physical up front and we’ll have to run the ball hard, throw it, and catch it.”

In recruiting news, any teams showing interest in with football even though you are a baseball signee?

“No, not after I signed with K-State a couple of weeks ago.”

That is such a big moment to sign your letter of intent to play college ball. Knowing how much you love Kansas State, what was that moment like for you?

“It was an unreal moment. I felt like a little kid whose dreams are coming true. It was a surreal moment. I’m playing for a college I’ve always wanted to go to and a college that I love. It was just a surreal moment.”

Where did the signing ceremony take place?

“At our in-door facility.”

Congratulations on the making your commitment to Kansas State official. Good luck on Friday.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: arpreps.com; No. 15 Kasey Ford takes off running vs. Rockhurst (Kansas City).

Photo credit: Ford family; Kasey with head coach Brad Hill.