PEA RIDGE — The Blackhawks had their best offensive night of the season but turnovers thwarted their upset bid as Farmington won the district battle 41-21.
“Momentum changed fast and it changed hard,” head coach Tony Travis said. “ We had our chances but things just flipped too many times for us. I was very proud of the boys’ effort and their never say die attitude.”
After Farmington went into intermission with a 13-7 advantage, the lead changed hands four times before three consecutive Pea Ridge turnovers helped the Cardinals put the game away.
The ’Hawks’ opponents scored quickly from the game’s outset. The Cardinals won the opening toss then proceeded to launch a 9-play, 80-yard drive to claim the early lead. The key play in the drive happened near midfield when the shotgun snap to the Farmington quarterback sailed over his head and bounced 25 yards behind the line of scrimmage. After almost recording a sack for a huge loss, the Cardinal signal caller outran the defenders and out maneuvered a host of ’Hawks until the turned the near loss into a 25-yard gain.
Things quickly got worse for Pea Ridge when the ’Hawks fumbled the ensuing kickoff with Farmington covering the loose pigskin on the ’Hawk 26-yard line. The Cards’ first two plays from scrimmage netted a scant 2 yards, and a big defensive play by Colton Holtgrewe on a reverse play dropped the ball carrier for a 6-yard loss. Facing a fourth and 15, Farmington went to the air with the quarterback dropping a perfect pass in between a pair of ’Hawk defenders for their second touchdown. The PAT kick was wide left as Farmington led 13-0 with 5:34 left in the first quarter.
On the ’Hawks’ first play from scrimmage, quarterback Austin Easterling dashed up the middle for 8 yards. Andrew Woollardbulled for 2 more yards and a first down, but the Cardinal line tightened things up to force a ’Hawk punt with 2:00 left in the quarter.
Pea Ridge was determined to get back into the game and promptly forced the Cards to go 3 and out on their next possession. A tipped pass by Holtgrewe and a near interception by Maddox were instrumental in forcing Farmington’s first punt.
The 42-yard punt by the Cards pushed the ’Hawks all the way back to their own 26-yard line. On second down, Easterling hooked up with Joe Adams for a 12-yard gainer and first down at the ’Hawk 37. Two runs by Woollard netted 6 yards which was followed by a shifty 16-yard gallop by Easterling to put the ball into Cardinal territory. Woollard then gained 5 up the middle anda 5-yard scramble by Easterling helped the ’Hawks gain a first down on the Farmington 30. Runs by Easterling and Woollard netted 5 yards which led to a third and five play from the 25. On his first carry of the game, Dayton Winn put on a burst of speed andsprinted untouched up the middle to score the ’Hawks’ first touchdown. The extra point kick was good to slice the deficit to 13-7.
After moving the ball to the ’Hawk 37-yard line on their next possession, the ’Hawk defense came up with two quarterback sacks (Jase Sharp and Blake Roughton) as Pea Ridge forced Farmington into a fourth and 23 from the 50.
A fake punt failed to fool the ’Hawks who covered the attempt at the ’Hawk 48 to get the ball back on downs. On first down, Easterling nearly broke completely free but was not corralled until he had gained 21 yards to the Cardinal 31. An on-target pass to a ’Hawk receiver near the goal line was swiped by a Farmington defensive back to spoil the threat as the Cardinal returned theball to the ’Hawk 46.
The Pea Ridge defense was still on top of things as four plays later saw Farmington looking at a fourth and 21. Another booming punt (43 yards) by Farmington pinned the ’Hawks back deep and neither team could mount a threat before the end of the half.
The second half opened with a great kickoff return by Braxton Caudill to the ’Hawk 45. Runs by Easterling and Winn set the ’Hawks 3rd and 3 from the 30. In a play mirroring the ’Hawks first score, Winn broke through the line to sprint past all Cardinal defenders to strike paydirt with 10:11 to go in the 3rd period. The ’Hawks PAT kick was good to give Pea Ridge its first lead of the night at 14-13.
The unexpected turn of events fired up the Cards as they marched to the ’Hawks 26-yard line. On third down with three ’Hawk defenders just inches from making a tackle, the Cardinal quarterback got off a pass which was caught and run in to regain the lead for Farmington, 19-14 with 6:09 left in the third period.
Undaunted, Pea Ridge regained the lead in less than three minutes after a 19-yard return by Caudill placed the ’Hawks near midfield at the 47. A 39-yard pass from Easterling to Maddox gave the ’Hawks a first down on the Cardinal 11-yard line.
Easterling gained 7 yards on a keeper on first down with Winn ramming it infrom the 4 on the next play.
The ’Hawks’ third straight successful PAT kick put the ’Hawks on top 21-19 with 3:33 showing in the third.
The ’Hawks’ advantage would prove to be even more fleeting as the Cardinals was as Farmington would need only three plays to score again. Facing second and 2, the ’Hawks very nearly pulled off their fifth sack of the game before the quarterback escaped from 15 yards behind the line, scrambling for a positive 15 yards to the ’Hawk 45.
Although numerous ’Hawk defenders had a shot at the ball carrier on the next play, the Cardinal tailback broke free to dash 45 yards to paydirt with 2:40 on the clock. The PAT was unsuccessful leaving the Cardinals barely back ahead at 25-21.
The ’Hawks responded to the turn of events with runs of 8 yards by Easterling and 6 by Winn. After getting to midfield, the ’Hawks were hit with procedural penalties twice to help put them into a third and 20 hole.
The expected third and long pass was picked off by the Cardinal defense with Farmington scoring on thevery next play on a 67-yard run from scrimmage. The run for the extra point was good to put the home team ahead 33-21 with 11:37 left in the game.
Any hope of a Pea Ridge comeback was dashed when the ’Hawks turned the ball over twice in succession on a fumble then interception. The second turnover resulted in another touchdown for Farmington as the Cardinals iced the game at 41-21 with just 8:36 left in the contest. Neither side threatened the other for the remainder of the contest as substitutes began to check in.
Winn led the offense with all three touchdowns while gaining 127 yards on 12 carries with Easterling adding 77 yards on 14 jaunts. Andrew Woollard rushed for 23 yards on eight attempts before he was knocked out of action (ankle) in the second quarter. Caudle chipped in with 9 yards on two attempts. Easterling also picked up 51 yards passing on a pair of completions.
The ’Hawks will end their season this Friday night at Berryville. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. for the road game.
Sports, Pages 7 on 11/03/2010