PEA RIDGE — After having a perfect 8-0 mark in the first week, the 4A-1 District had a bit more trouble in week No. 2, with four conference members picking up victories. One game was canceled and the other three lost, leaving the league with a 12-3 non-conference record.

Pea Ridge led the way with a 37-0 pasting of Green Forest in the rain last Friday. Favored Farmington shut out West Fork 25-0 and heavily favored Ozark dominated 5A Clarksville 28-7 for the leagues’ other two wins. In an interesting game in Stilwell, Okla., Lincoln blasted the team that got the Wolves twotime all-state quarterback by a 19-0 count. Of course, having a primarily passing attack in a rain soaked evening may have worked against the Okies, but still, Lincoln proved that their improving fortunes of the past two years wasn’t due to just one individual.

After Ozark crushed Booneville in week No. 1, Gravette was thought to be the favorite when they played the Bearcats last week. However, the young and improving Booneville squad put the hurt on the Lions as they defeated Gravette 25-7.

Three-A power Charleston ran roughshod over Gentry as the Tigers pounded the Pioneers 52-21, and Huntsville edged by Berryville 6-0 to round out action. Although picked to lose, the Bobcats made a game of it and could have won.

The leagues’ eighth game was the Prairie Grove/ Morrilton matchup whichwas canceled due to the threatening weather. There was no notice of a make-up game so it looks like the Tigers will get a long break. With what probably would have happened had the Tigers played the 5A Devil Dogs, it might have been a blessing. Getting pounded in the mud could have led to injuries and other unfortunate events.

Week No. 3 will be a lineup of tough assignments for many district members.

Hawks look to go 3 - 0

The Blackhawks have the best chance to go 3-0 in non-conference competition in many a season as they hit the road to play Greenland’s Pirates.

The Pirates spoiled the Hawks’ home opener last year by whipping us 28-13 and the quarterback that took us apart is back for his senior year. Darren Froud ended the year with 2,000 yards passing, while leading his team to a 9-3 overall record, making it to the second round of the playoffs. In the pre-season polling, Greenland was rated as probable playoff contender this season as well.

The Pirates were upset last week in a game against Mansfield, a game which they were heavily favored to win. Last weeks’ storms, especially the rain, played havoc with passing teams of which the Pirates areone. As a matter of fact, there were several upsets last week and most involved teams inability to pass in sloppy conditions.

If the grounds are dry this Friday in Greenland, the game may well turn on the Hawks’ ability to defend against the pass. The Pirates major deficiency from last year is the loss of most of their linemen.

They do have back tackle Kellee Lee, a 225 lb., 6’2” speedy lineman. He has actually competed in a state track meet as a runner, a rare thing for a lineman.

Greenland has multiple receivers so the ’Hawk defenders have their work cut out for them. If Pea Ridge can get through the offensive line and disrupt the Pirates offense, the ’Hawks have a good chance to shutting off Greenland’s power at its source.

A dry field will aid the ’Hawks in their passing attack, which has been difficult in two weeks of wet conditions. The ’Hawks ability to run the ball will challenge the Pirates defense, but if they crowd the line too much, quarterback Austin Easterling will finally have the chance to dust off the Pea Ridge aerial offense.

Prediction? The ’Hawks will win 35-14.

Week No. 3 predictions

I firmly believe that the ’Hawks will be part of a 6-2 record for the 4A-1’s games on Friday, Sept. 14.

In a battle of the Tigers, Prairie Grove will be hosting West Fork this week.

The host Tigers are 1-0 and will take out the 0-2West Fork gridders. West Fork hasn’t shown a lot of defense this season and Prairie Grove has a potent offense, as it seems it always does.

Farmington will have a battle hosting Paris this week. The Eagles were 9-2 last season, losing only to state champion Charleston in the regular season. Paris is a bit down this season but is still very good and the game could be a toss up. Last year, Farmington ended up being the class of the 4A-1, winning their way to the state semi-finals before being eliminated.

The host Cards will win in a close game.

Lincoln is 2-0 after bashing two Oklahoma teams.

They host Dover, a team reportedly in rebuilding mode in 2012. If the Wolves are for real, they will win this battle. Without their star quarterback, most observers have discounted the Wolves’ chances this year but they could be wrong. I am picking the Wolves in this one.

Ozark will have a battle deluxe to maintain their undefeated status. They travel to Charleston to face the undefeated Tigers who are coming off a state championship. The Tigers put over 50 points on Gentry last week, so they have an offense. This game is really a toss-up but I think the Hillbillies will take this battle. Ozark is a senior-dominated team with something to prove after getting eliminated in the first of the 2011 playoffs.

The last 4A-1 team thathas a chance to win this week is, believe it or not, Berryville. Berryville lost a close 6-0 battle to 5A Huntsville last week and is going to next door neighbor Green Forest. Green Forest has generated little offense in their two games this season and may have a tough time against the Bobcats. I pick Berryville in a close one.

The last two games will probably be blowout losses. Gravette is playing 7A-6A Siloam Springs at home.

The Panthers probably know this is the last chance they will have to win this season as they start a string of seven straight 7A foes, including state overall powers Bentonville and Fayetteville. Gravette had very little offense last week and probably will come up short in every facet of the game against Siloam. Siloam will win big.

Gentry will most likely lose as they make the long trip to Heber Springs to take on the Panthers. Heber is ranked in the state’s top 10 and had the honor last year of whipping Shiloh twice in 2011. The Panthers play in a tough, tough league andhave depth and skill although they lost some top players to graduation. The Pioneers will lose and could lose big after such a long trip.

Hogs done for a year?

A lot of pundits said that the exit of coach Bobby Petrino last spring will prove to be the ruination of Arkansas’ chances in 2012. Their loss at home to Louisiana-Monroe may just prove that contention.

The defense was poor against Jacksonville State and was even worse against ULM. The mid-level team piled up close to 600 yards of offense against Arkansas and outplayed the Hogs in every do or die situation in the second half.

True enough, Arkansas was winning 28-7 when star quarterback Tyler Wilson went down with some upper back injury that hasn’t been reported on yet as farI know. If Wilson can’t play this week against Alabama, it might get real ugly. If Wilson can play at his best, we will probably be able to score a lot but the Tide hung 41 points on Michigan, a team with a better defense that Arkansas possesses.

Alabama runs more than it passes which would help the Arkansas defenses, but after Tide coach Lou Saban sees the ULM/Arkansas video, he might decide to go to the air.

From believing in a chance for a national championship, to hoping we can win enough games to qualify for a bowl game somewhere, is quite the comedown. Maybe the Hogs ultimate salvation may rest with the new coach over at Arkansas State. He will be there at least two years before he would consider leaving for Fayetteville. Gus Mahlzahn, besides being an offensive genius, is also a coach who would come tobuild something and would not be the type to get into the kind of trouble that the last three head coaches have gotten into.

◊◊◊

Editor’s note: John McGee is an award-winning columnist and sports writer. He is the art teacher at Pea Ridge elementary schools, coaches elementary track and writes a regular sports column for The Times.

He can be contacted through The Times at prtnews@nwa online.com. The opinions of the writer are his own, and are not necessarily those of The Times.

Sports, Pages 8 on 09/12/2012