PEA RIDGE — Ozark’s Hillbillies lined up Friday to see the ’Hawks’ new red jerseys with the “The Ridge” emblazoned on them, but the “Ridge” turned into an insurmountable mountain as the homecoming guests were beaten 14-7 in what many consider a major upset.
The Pea Ridge/Ozark clash was billed as the state’s 4A “Game of the Week” with the ’Billies proclaimed as solid favorites to win with their prolific offense. More dominating than the ’Billies offense was the ’Hawks’ often underrated defense, which stifled Ozark’s vaunted Wishbone offense, limiting them to just 72 yards of rushing offense.
“As had been the case every Friday night,” head coach Tony Travis remarked, “our defense came up big. We forced them out of their running game and our secondary had multiple deflections and interceptions to stop them there as well.”
“When we were running the clock toward the end of the game, I began to doubt myself, thinking I might need some extra time on the clock to score if Ozark tied it up.” Travis said. “I then realized that all I had to do was depend on the defense and they would get it done. And they did.”
It was the defense that defined the game in the final 60 seconds. Ozark had gone to a flurry of passing plays that gave them a first down on the ’Hawk 21. Four consecutive passes fell incomplete caused by tight coverage and a charging line. The final play of the game was a ’Billie pass near the end zone, that was tipped by at least one defender which caused it to fall harmlessly onto the turf as the game clock expired.
Both teams began the game with punts on their first series. Each team was forced to a fourth and 1 situation on each end of the field.
The games’ first big play came when Austin Easterling hooked up with Sainsbury for a 17-yard pass to the Ozark 40-yard line. A holding call on the ’Hawks pushed them back to their own 49 before Easterling launched a deep pass that settled into the arms of a streaking Winn down the middle of the field, who then raced into the end zone untouched for the games’ first score. The PAT snap was mishandled to leave Pea Ridge on top 6-0 with 6:17 left in the opening quarter.
The score stunned the favored ’Billies and they went to work, finally gaining a first down by going to the air. Ozark’s McKenzie’s first-down pass was broken up and two plays by Oldebeken and two plays later the ’Billies were forced to punt again.
Having to respect the pass more, Ozark gave up consecutive runs of 3, 8 and 5 yards by Easterling, Winn and Dalton Morgan, respectively. After Winn picked up another 3 yards, the fleet senior took a pitch on the right side then set sail down the west sidelines to out run the Ozark secondary to the end zone. Easterling hooked up with Daniel Beard for a 2-point conversion to extend the ’Hawk lead to 14-0 with 0:48 to go in the opening quarter.
The ’Billies could not solve the ’Hawk defense, as they went three and out on the possession immediately following the kickoff.
It looked like the ’Hawks were going to break the game open, driving the ball to the Hillbilly 10-yard line, eating most of the second-quarter clock.
After Easterling and Winn ripped off 5-yard runs, Morgan bashed his way through the heart of the Ozark defense to muscle for 19 yards to the Ozark 47. After Winn picked up another yard, Easterling connected with Braxton Caudill for 17 more yards on a pass play to the Ozark 29. Winn then tested the line, rushing four consecutive carries for 12 yards. Morgan then burst for 6 yards on first down to the Ozark 10. Two plays later, the drive went by the boards when the ’Billies forced a fumble to regain possession.
Their good fortune lit a fire under the visitors as they marched down the field, picking up four first downs on four consecutive passing plays to go deep into ’Hawk territory. Their momentum was derailed when Easterling pulled down a McKenzie pass to give the ’Hawks possession on their own 3.
Runs by Winn and Morgan moved the ball 8 yards and another 6-yard run by Winn seemed to gain a first down until a holding call erased the run. Facing a fourth and 2 moments later, Logan Rose came on to punt the ball. The Hillbillies’ zeal on a blocking attempt led them to bury Rose after he got the kick away, earning the guests a 15-yard penalty on a roughing call. The ’Hawks then ran out the clock to go into intermission ahead 14-0.
After Jonah Torres broke through on the first play of the second half to drop Ozark for a loss on a rushing play, the ’Billiesdecided to hang their hopes on a passing attack. Ozark did complete a pass to their own 49, but three other incompletions led to a punt that rolled dead on the ’Hawks 13-yard line.
After Winn picked up 10 yards on second down, the ’Hawks then ran into a series of unfortunate events which got Ozark back into the game, charging up the Hillbilly faithful.
After a holding call pushed the ’Hawks back 10 yards, the ’Hawks were hit by calls of offsides, offensive interference and holding again to face a fourth and 32 from their own 5. A short punt gave the ’Billies their best field position of the game, taking over on the ’Hawk 30.
Runs of 8 and 6 yards by the ’Billies’ Elders gave the ’Billies a first down on the 16, the visitors decided to pass for the score. The strategy went awry when Winn outjumped an Ozark receiver in the end zone to come away with the drive-killing interception.
Morgan helped to get the ’Hawks out of the hole by rushing for 9 yards, with Winn slicing through Ozark defenders for gains of 2, 8 and 3, as Pea Ridge gained a first down on their own 42. The ’Billies clamped down to allow only 1 yard on the next two runs, and a third-down pass that would have given the ’Hawks a first down was dropped, forcing a Blackhawk punt.
The kick was shanked, traveling only 13 yards to give Ozark great field possession once again.
After a first down run was squelched, McKenzie passed for 12 yards on second down, then hit an elusive Elders at the 30-yard line, where he out-maneuvered a host of ’Hawks to get into the end zone. The PAT kick was good to shrink the ’Hawks’ lead to 14-7 with 0:25 left in the third quarter.
In the game’s most bizarre call, in a game replete with several, the ’Hawks were forced to punt on their next possession.
Facing a third and 15, Easterling ran upfield for a yard before he was dragged down by his facemask. The ’Billies were whistled for a 15-yard penalty, but the officials got lost on the field and only marked off 10 yards, leaving them 4 yards short of what was a first-down play. Coach Travis consternations aside, the officials refused to correct the mistake and the ’Hawks were forced to punt two plays later.
The ’Billies decided to go for the bomb on third down, but Winn made the play blow up in their face, intercepting the pass and returning it 35 yards to the Pea Ridge 35. Winn was brought down near the Ozark sideline, and a flag was thrown against the ’Billies for unsportsmanlike conduct for comments made after the interception, but the officials decide not to enforce the penalty.
With nine minutes left in the game, Travis elected to go to a clock-eating, ball-control ground attack which succeeded in using up seven minutes. Winn picked up 9 on first down with Morgan picking up a first down with a 2-yard run. Winn then dashed for five yards, followed by runs of 1 and 7 by Easterling and Winn for a first down on the Ozark 41. Winn then picked up a yard, followed by a 7-yard dash, then a 12-yard sprint for a first down on the Ozark 15.
The ’Hawks’ 10th penalty was called to push the ball back to the 26, and Winn could pick up but 4 yards on three plays following. A game-clinching field goal was wide left to give the visitors one last chance to come back as they trailed by 7 with 2:00 left in the contest.
The Hillbillies came out determined to tie the game through the air, with McKenzie hitting 4 of 5 to get deep into ’Hawk territory. A scramble by the Ozark quarterback picked up 12 yards and first down on the ’Hawks’ 21. A holding call pushed them back 10 yards, then the ’Hawk secondary and defensive lineman slammed the door as four incomplete passes in succession ended the game.
Besides Winn’s rushing totals, Easterling picked up 19 yards on nine attempts with Morgan garnering 46 yards on six trips.
Easterling was three of seven for 85 yards in the passing game.
The ’Hawks outgained the Hillbillies 341 to 213, with Ozark picking up half their yardage in the games’ last 13 minutes.
Pea Ridge is set to host their last regular season game this Friday with the states’ top-ranked team, Prairie Grove, coming to town. The finale will be the last regular season game ever at old Blackhawk Stadium and will arguably be the most important game ever to be played there.
Pea Ridge will finish the season by visiting Farmington and Berryville.
Although there were many heroes in the battle Friday, Dayton Winn’s star perhaps shown brightest, coming up with a pair of touchdowns and a pair of interceptions, while racking up 191 yards rushing on 34 carries.
Sports, Pages 8 on 10/17/2012