Junior Blackhawks win second game in a row

— The Junior ’Hawks kept alive their perfect season with a stirring last second win over Green Forest at home last week.

Both teams fought on even terms for most of the early going with the rivals knotted at 6-all. Green Forest scored a rushing touchdown while the ’Hawks struck through the air with quarterback Shane Ivy connecting with Tristan Trundle for their first score.

The Tiger’s fleet running back got the Tigers on top in the third period when he broke six tackles to dash 44 yards to paydirt. The run for the conversion was good to pad the Green Forest lead to 14-6.

The Dalton Thomas showgot underway in earnest after the ’Hawks took over on their own 20 following the kickoff.

Thomas rambled right, picking up 45 yards to gain a first down at the Tiger 35. Two more runs by Thomas gained 6 yards and a personal foul by the Tigers added 15 yards to the drive, giving Pea Ridge a first down on the Tiger 10. Two more hard nosed runs by Thomas and the running back was in the end zone with 7:55 left in the third.

A conversion pass from Ivy to Tanner Harrington scored 2 and knotted the score again, this time at 14-all.

While the Tigers got a good return on the kickoff, another Green Forest personal foul pushed them back to their own 20 to start their possession while the Tigers managed onefirst down, the locals held to force Green Forest into a fourth and 9 situation on their own 42.

The visiting coach apparently wasn’t too concerned about the ’Hawk offense as he gambled on fourth down in his own territory and called for a pass play.

When the pass bounced away incomplete, it gave the ’Hawks a short field and a great opportunity to win the contest.

The ’Hawks then ran into much stiffer opposition as they could only gain 1 yard in three tries. However, on fourth down, Ivy found Harrington for a 10-yard gain and a first down on the Greenland 27. After runs of 2 and 5 yards by Thomas, the sturdily built tailback knifed through the Tigers lines for 11 yards and a first down on the Tiger 9. After Thomas gained a yard on first down, an incomplete pass was thrown. On the next play, Ivy kept the ball and made a dash for the corner, coming up just short as he gained 5 yards to the 3-yard line.

It was strength against strength as both teams lined up for the final battle. Thomas and the Blackhawks were not be denied with the running back sailing over the goal line from 3 yards out to clinch the game with a lead of 22-14 with only 17 seconds left. Ivy’s accurate pass to Harrington set the final score at 22-14.

Thomas gained 182 yards on 23 carries with Ivy adding 78 yards on seven tries. Dakota Canaday added 20 yards on three attempts. Ivy was 8 for 15 under center and totaled up 67 yards.

On the defensive side, Dakota Ketcher and Ivy led the tackle charts with Ketcher leading the way with 23 tackles, one better than Shane Ivy’s 22 tackles. Trundle, Jake Junkins and Dakota Cannaday held up the last few holders of at least 10 tackles.

The ’Hawks began the season with a 16-8 conquest of Elkins.

Ivy threw for a touchdown and ran for another to spark the victory. The ninth-grade quarterback was 5 of 14 for 54 yards through the air while gaining 49 yards on the ground in 10 tries to pick up 103 all-purpose yards.

Dakota Canaday led all rushers last week with 63 yards on six tries. Thomas was 7 for 22 yards in his tailback position.

The seventh grade ’Hawks are also undefeated.

Sports, Pages 7 on 09/14/2011