Ridger Sports

Character counts; Blackhawks gain power from Pioneer foul

It has been a tough row to hoe these past 10 conference games. Since their victory over Berryville in the season finale of 2009, the ‘Hawks have found winning conference games to be quite elusive, losing nine in a row before finally breaking through against Gentry last week.

The victory over the Pioneers would not be an easy one. Even though the Pioneers are now 0-6, they very nearly upset the state’s No. 1 team in Charleston, had a lead on Siloam Springs, and had chances to win all the games they lost. If not for some last quarter heroics by the ’Hawks, the Pea Ridge losing streak would have hit 10 in a row with a game with the state’s No. 4 team in Ozark.

The stage was set for Gentry to break their losing streak, sitting on a 9-point lead while rolling toward the end zone Friday for what might well have been the game clinching score for the Pioneers. In an otherwise on target Pioneer pass, Dayton Winn anticipated the throw, then cut in to make a leaping catch in his own end zone, running it out to the 20. In a fit of frustration, the visiting quarterback hurled his helmet at the ’Hawks, giving the homeboys an additional 15 yards in their quest to catch up. Less than 90 seconds later, Winn scored from 20 yards out to give the ’Hawks a chance to make a comeback, trailing by just 2 at 21-19.

After kicking off following the score, the ’Hawk defensive line turned up the ferocity level, forcing a Gentry punt in rather short order. Eating up most of the clock, the ’Hawks then drove in for the go-ahead score as Winn crossed the goal line on a 1-yard run to give Pea Ridge the lead.

Then, in perhaps the game’s most surprising moment, novice kicker Rico Schneider reached down himself to deliver the strongest kickoff that has been seen in Pea Ridge for quite some time.

With the ’Hawks usually unable to kick very deep, the Pioneers had their receivers placed on the 20 in hopes of a strong runback. Schneider’s kick went over their heads, sending the visitors scrambling backwards to retrieve the pigskin, with the Pioneer receiver only getting the ball back to the 16 before being tackled. The ’Hawk D-line stripped the ball moments later with Winn covering the loose ball to seal the win.

The ’Hawks did not turn in one of their better games as far as the level of play went.

Lots of missed tackles and other mistakes made it look like the ’Hawks would keep their losing streak intact, especially painful after such a great effort the week before against Shiloh. But, just when it seemed that all was lost, the ’Hawks came back, and mayhave turned the corner on the 2011 season. As has been becoming more and more apparent this season, the ’Hawks are developing a team character that will not quit, will not yield, that will not capitulate.

This week is an important one as the ’Hawks travel to Ozark for the first time. Just off the banks of the Arkansas River, the Friday venue may be a bit warmer than the climate up here, and the stakes involved in the game are as high as they can be.

The ’Hawks need to win three of their last four games to make the playoffs, always the first goal of any competitive team. Beat the ’Billies, and it would then just take two of three with one of the two being Berryville.

Actually, the ’Hawks had Ozark on the ropes last year as they were driving for the go-ahead touchdown until an Ozark defender used a judo move on Easterling to deliver a concussion on what was Pea Ridge’s hottest player that night. Ozark then used their victory to springboard to several consecutive victories to unexpectedly qualify for the state playoffs and even got past the first round. A ’Hawk win this Friday could do the same for Pea Ridge.

The ’Billies are heavy favorites to win this week, but should the ’Hawks keep up their developing character and avoid the big mistakes, an upset is a very real possibility. They lost by just 7 to Gravette, but had the ’Hawks avoided some big mistakes in the Gravette game, they would have finished closer than 7. The ’Hawks actually outplayed Shiloh last week and would have won were it not for the mistakes that cropped. While the Gentry game was not one of the ’Hawks] better contests, it was probably one of theirmost mistake free ones.

Band flagged for delay

The Pea Ridge Marching Band was still into their routine when the intermission ended, drawing a flag from the field referee. It helped the Pioneers as they quickly drove to score to assume command of the game after being behind at the break.

Coach Travis, when asked about that, said he was far from aggravated about the penalty and stood up for the band’s right to be heard.

“The band kids have worked hard for this week’s performance, just as we did as players. There probably should have been more time allotted for the show, and I think the real problem was the visiting band taking up more than their share of time. I appreciate all the time and effort that the band kids put in for our school and the penalty didn’t bother me in the least.” ’Hawks ascend into the 25th spot

The MaxPreps/CBS State 4A Poll has lifted Pea Ridge into the 25th spot after last week’s play.

Their near win over Shiloh and their come from behind victory over Gentry has not gone unnoticed.

Gravette still reigns as the top ranked team in the conference and now stands alone as the only undefeated team in the league. Shiloh’s 42-game victory streak in 4A-1 games finally came to an end as Prairie Grove hung a 34-14 shellacking on them. With only six starters to work with in 2011, Shiloh was down to just four last week after two players were sidelined by injuries suffered in their game here last week. You’re welcome, Prairie Grove.

In another league battle, Farmington crushed Berryville 49-7 last week.

This week has Gentry traveling to Shiloh for the last time with Prairie Grove invading Berryville. In another game with playoff implications, Farmington will travel to Gravette.

The current polling is as follows: Max Preps/CBS 4A-1 District Poll Dist. State Team Record 1st 3rd Gravette 3-02nd 4th Ozark 2-1 3rd 7th Prairie Grove 2-1 4th 10th Farmington 2-1 5th 12th Shiloh 2-1 6th 25th Pea Ridge 1-2 7th 36th Gentry 0-3 8th 46th Berryville 0-3◊◊◊

Editor’s note: John McGee, art teacher at Pea Ridge elementary schools, coaches elementary track. He can be contacted through The Times at [email protected].

Sports, Pages 10 on 10/12/2011