When Tony Travis took over the Pea Ridge football program in 2009, the Blackhawks hadn’t been to the playoffs in three years and they last won in the postseason in 2003.
Travis knew it would be a long road back to the postseason. But he also saw promise in solid group of players on the 2009 junior high team. Eight of those players became varsity starters as sophomores in 2010 and Travis, and the Blackhawks, saw the light at the end of the tunnel a year ago.
“When we came so close to beating Shiloh in 2011, losing 38-34 after having three turnovers, our kids realized they were capable of playing against the bigger 4A schools,” Travis said. “That was an eye opener for our players.”
That confidence, and experience, carried over to this past season in a big way. With seniors in every starting position, Pea Ridge enjoyed one of its best seasons in years as the Blackhawks rolled to a 10-2 record, besting the sevenwins in Travis’ first three seasons at the school.
Along the way, Pea Ridge beat Class 4A state finalist Ozark and won a playoff game for the first time in nearly a decade.
For his efforts, Travis is the Northwest Arkansas Media Small Schools Coach of the Year.
“We played a lot of kids with experience, and they played like kids that had experience,” Travis said.
Three-year starting running back Dayton Winn was the Blackhawks workhorse with 2,181 yards, but Travis said the play of quarterback Austin Easterling was equally as important.
Easterling started his 32nd game at quarterback when the Blackhawks’ season came to an end with a loss to Heber Springs in the second round of theplayoffs.
“You can’t manufacture that experience,” Travis said. “Austin was able to change plays from one side to the another by taking a mental picture of the defense. That is not something you can’t learn on the fly. He did a great job of flipping the play when itlooked better on the other side.”
Winn said every player on the roster contributed to the Blackhawks’ success this past season.
“We just clicked this season,” Winn said. “This senior class, we had beenplaying football together since the third grade.”
Travis greeted barely enough players to conduct scrimmages that first year and he knew the only way to compete was to have more players in more positions.
Last season, the Blackhawks had 57 players out and Travis credits the players for the increase.
“The best way to get players out is to win football games and create excitement,” Travis said. “But at that time, we were notwinning football games.
We created a positive atmosphere and pride in our program.
“The kids did a good job, especially this senior class that were coming into the offseason from the freshmen team after that first season, of selling the football program. Your own players are your best recruiters, and they were determined.”
Travis also said community support was another big key. Pea Ridge opened a state-of-the-art indoorpractice facility in the fall of 2011 and they will soon break ground on a $2.6 million stadium.
“This indoor facility has allowed us to develop kids year round,” Travis said.
“That really paid off this year. This indoor facility allowed us to be in better physical shape.”
And of course, Travis said a little luck helped the Blackhawks along the way.
“We went through the season relatively injury free,” Travis said. “That is rare to do in football.”
Sports, Pages 8 on 12/19/2012