PEA RIDGE — For a half, it looked like the Pea Ridge Blackhawks and the state’s No. 1 team in the Prairie Grove Tigers were every bit equals, but third period turnovers and bizarre calls sent the hosts down to a 31-0 defeat.
Senior all-state tailback Dayton Winn had another stellar game, rushing for 171 yards on just 19 carries. His eight game total pushes over the 1,000 yard rushing mark.
A series of four turnovers during a five-consecutive play sequence helped the visitors rack up 24 points in a span of nine minutes. On the ’Hawks’ next and last three possessions, two of them ended with interceptions.
The Tigers had problems contaning Winn early, as his first four runs to begin the game netted the ’Hawks 55 yards and the ball on the Tiger 26. After quarterback picked up 2 yards on a third and 3, a fourth and 1 attempt by Winn was just inches short on the Tiger 23 to turn the ball over on downs.
The Tigers’ vaunted running game picked up some yardage in their first series but not enough to avoid a punt.
After taking over on the ’Hawk 46, Easterling crossed over into Tiger territory with an 11-yard quarterback keeper, Winn then ran for 2 then Easterling 4 yards for a third and 4. Easterling’s first pass hit receiver Braxton Caudill for an 11-yard gainer to the Tiger 26. After a couple of stuffed plays, Easterling located Caudill gain with the senior receiver catching then running for 18 yards to the Tiger 15. Two more runs by Winn garnered 9 yards and a third and 1 situation on the Tiger 6.
The officials then hit the ’Hawks with a 15-yard personal foul penalty that pushed them back to the Tiger 21. Two incomplete passes later and the ball reverted back to the Tigers. After a 3-yard loss and incomplete pass, it looked like the Tigers’ Weston Bartholomew had broken free for a run to the end zone. After gaining 60 yards to the ’Hawk 22, Bartholomew was brought down by Daniel Beard to prevent Prairie Grove from scoring the first touchdown.
The Tigers got two big runs from Bartholomew to earn a firstdown on the ’Hawk 7. After a first down run picked up 6 yards, the Tigers were stufffed twice on consecutive plays for no gain. Facing fourth and 1, the Tigers sent Bartholomew running right and seemed to have an angle to the end zone before Beard streaked through to cut him down for a 1-yard loss and end the threat.
The ’Hawks got a 9-yard run by Dalton Morgan on first down to the ’Hawk 11, but came up empty on the next two plays to force a punt. The 29-yarder gave the Tigers excellent field position on the ’Hawk 35.
Having some difficulty against the ’Hawks’ defensive line, the Tigers went to the air and completed three of four passes for 31 yards. The last completed pass gave the Tigers a first and 9 from the ’Hawk 9. The first down run picked up 5 yards to the ’Hawk 4, but Caudill blasted through on second down to lay out the Tiger ball carrier for a 3-yard loss.
Bartholomew came back with a 4-yard run to the 3 on third down.
On fourth down, Morgan blew up the play, bashing through the offensive blocking to throw the ballcarrier for a 4-yard loss to extinguish the threat.
Morgan and Winn combined for 7 yards to start the next series, but an errant pass on third and 3 led to an interception. Although given excellent field position, the Tigers could not capitalize and were forced to try a 35-yard field goal, which fell short as the half expired.
The Tigers came out determined after the break and needed only four plays to go 63 yards for the game’s first tally. The good PAT kick following the score game the visitors a 7-0 lead with 10:46 showing on third quarter clock.
The first misfortune for the ’Hawks was then followed by a blown call which led to another Tiger touchdown in less than 30 seconds.
On a first and 10 from their own 29, Easterling rolled out right with heavy pursuit. He shovel passed to an up back, with the ball rolling forward to the line of scrimmage. After Prairie Grove players pounced on the loose ball, the official ruled a fumble even though the ball was traveling forwardfrom the quarterback. The Tigers’ coach then called for a bomb to the corner of the end zone which was caught over a pursuing ’Hawk defender. The subsequent kick was good, expanding the led to 14-0 with 10:20 showing.
Things went from very bad to much worse moments later on the ’Hawks’ first place from scrimmage, following the kickoff.
The play was a pass which was intercepted near mid-field. On a third and long play, the Tiger quarterback was very nearly sacked when no receivers were open, but he ran left ducking several tacklers. Although stepping out of bounds around the 40-yard line, the Tigers’ quarterback decided to keep running and ran 20 more yards down field.
Pursuing ’Hawk defenders then made sure the ball carrier went out and stayed out of bounds, leading to a 15-yard penalty assessed by the officials. One of the Pea Ridge coaches called to the officials’ attention the missed call and another 15-yard penalty was assessed the ’Hawks. After the smoke had cleared, the Tigers had a first down on the ’Hawk 6 and scored two plays later. The PAT was good for a 21-0 lead.
Pea Ridge went to the air on their first play following the score, which resulted in the ’Hawk receiver being tripped while running his route. The flag was thrown, giving the ’Hawks 15 yards and a first down on the Tiger 36. On the ’Hawks’ next offensive play, Winn broke loose for 15 yards to the Tiger 21. After three consecutive turnovers, the ’Hawks were threatening to score but the next play was fumbled with the Tigers covering to end the threat.
The Tigers then launched a 10-play, five-minute drive that was rocky but ate up time. Dalton and Garrett Morgan along with Blake Roughton, assisted in throwing Tiger ball carriers for losses three times, and three of the four pass attempts by the visitors were incomplete. However, the one pass that was completed was good for 51 yards and led to a 38-yard field goal with two minutes left in the period. The score boosted the Tigers lead to 24-0.
After a good kickoff by the Tigers had the ’Hawks starting on their own 22, Winn broke loose and nearly scored on a 66-yardjaunt that veered in and out of bands of defenders. Winn was finally brought down on the Tiger 12-yard line. After a first down, 2-yard loss, Winn gained four to the 10-yard line. A passing play went nowhere on third down and the fourth down pass was incomplete, turning the ball over on downs.
Although Tyler Handy and Roughton broke through to sack ball carriers behind the line, the Tigers had several plays which ate up ground to the ’Hawk 48. On a first down play, Bartholomew broke loose to scamper 48 yards for the last score of the game. The PAT made in 31-0 with 8:20 left in the contest.
The ’Hawks went back to the air on their next series, but the Tigers came up with their third interception of the day. The ’Hawk defense forced the Tigers 3 and out on their series to give Pea Ridge one last chance to score with the game clock running out.
Easterling hit Caudill for 7 yards with Winn picking up 3 more for a first down on the Tiger 29. Two more Easterling/Caudill passing combos picked up 20 yards to the Tiger 9. Again Winn went 3 yards to pick up the first down.
After a first down play from the Tiger 7 went nowhere, Winn picked up 5 yards on second down and another yard on third down to set up a fourth and 1 on the Prairie Grove 1-yard line. The pass intended for an open ’Hawk interception was intercepted by the Tigers’ Barthlomew in the end zone who went racing down the east sideline, seemlingly headed for an easy touchdown. However, Winn came charging across the field to run the Tiger star down from behind on the ’Hawk 10-yard line to prevent the score and the game was over a few seconds later.
The ’Hawks play this Friday in a showdown with Farmington. The Cardinals are currently a game back of the ’Hawks in third place, tied with Ozark. Farmington has to beat the ’Hawks to have a chance for the No. 2 playoff seed.
If they end the year tied with Ozark, they will be given the No.
4 seed, so the game is important.
Number 2 seeds play their first game at home, which would extend the life of Blackhawk Stadium should the ’Hawks gain the seed.
Sports, Pages 7 on 10/24/2012