PEA RIDGE — Fifth-grade ’Hawks traveled to Gentry Saturday, Oct. 24, and kept their unbeaten status. The defense decided not to wait, on the first play from scrimmage Seth Trammell stood up the Pioneers running back while Britton Caudill stripped the ball and rambled 35 yards for the score. The 2-point conversion was good on a sweep play around the right side behind a crushing block from Chandler Tidwell. The next series for Gentry showed no mercy from the young ’Hawks, as Jacob Torres picked off the Pioneers QB and scurried 57 yards for the TD, the PAT was unsuccessful. After a quick but failed attempt by Gentry to sustain a drive, the ’Hawks’ offense finally came onto the field.
The ’Hawks, led by QB Cole Wright, went to work as Torres picked up 25 yards followed bytwo hard runs from Caudill for 17 yards and a reception that gained 12 yards. On the next play, Wright went to the air again finding Tidwell in the corner of the end zone for the score. After 16 minutes, the score was Pea Ridge, 20, Gentry, 0.
League rules require the team with an 18-point lead had to substitute their back field. The ’Hawks showed to be just as effective with Bryce Prince at QB, Brandon Johnson at running back, Wyatt Weber as fullback, Clayton Brown at tailback and Hunter Gaston as tailback. The clock however, stopped the ’Hawks on the five yard line as they were about to score. The offensive line was again strong, even without right guard Kamden Boyd, who was out sick. Many teams would struggle without a player like Boyd, but these young ’Hawks played hard for their absent leader and never missed a beat.
The O-line was led this week by Aron Tuszynski, Beau German, Westin Church, Tanner Flippo, Jason Frater, Hunter Shackelford, Brett Scott, Tyler Wallace and Dalton Harwell.
The defense was also minus a team leader, Duncan Truesdell, leading tackler and team captain, due to illness. Zaine Holley was also injured earlier in the week but decided to play despite having a cast on his right hand.
Leading the way with tackles this week are Wright, Trammell, Austin Anderson, Michael Schleisman, Wyatt Weber, Manny Wishon and Holley. Other ’Hawks playing well this week were Miranda Morgan, Jonathan Pinto, Jaylee Kelley, Joseph Beard, Shane Tedford, Joseph Ortiz, Landon Rhine, George Tyree and Logan Johnson.
The Blackhawks travel to Greenland Oct. 31 to face the Pirates and try to stay undefeated.
MILITARY PARK FALL HOURS
Pea Ridge National Military Park has new fall hours - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The park’s seven-mile tour road will be open to vehicles from 8 a.m. to 5p.m., with the entrance closing at 4:30 p.m.
The tour road will remain open to pedestrians and bicycles only from 5 p.m. to sunset daily. Hikingtrails and the horse trail will be open from 8 a.m. to sunset daily as well.
For additional information, call the park office at 451-8122.
Sports, Pages 8 on 11/04/2009