The Pea Ridge Jr. High Blackhawks christened the new stadium in fine style by suffocating the Elkins 24-6 in the season opener.
The Jr. ’Hawks so dominated their guests that the Elks didn’t gain their initial first down until well into the third quarter and after they had fallen behind 24-0. Their score came on two long passes in the games final seconds against the ’Hawk reserves.
The ’Hawks opened with good field position after Elkins had fi rst possession. After running a few plays, Jacob Torres ran around the left end and sprinted past Elk defenders down the east sidelines to go 39 yards for the first score. Zaine Holley ran the 2-point conversion in for a 8-0 lead with 2:58 left in the fi rst quarter.
The Elks managed but 7 yards on their second possession and a short punt gave the ’Hawks possession on their own 43. Quarterback Jakota Sainsbury connected with Hayden Holtgrewe for a 12-yarder which grew to a 17-yard gain when oftcials whistled the Elks for an inadvertent facemask penalty. Torres then ran for 2 yards followed by a 6-yard jaunt by Caudill. A holding call pushed the ’Hawks back but a 5-yard run by Holley and an 11-yard pass from Sainsbury to Caudill netted 11 yards and a fi rst down on the Elk 11. Holey rushed twice for 11 yards and paydirt, and followed it up with a successful 2-point conversion to put the ’Hawks ahead 16-0 with 3:58 left in the half.
The ’Hawk defense held Elkins to a -2 yards on their possession with the homeboys taking over again on the Pea Ridge 41.
Caudill started the drive with an 8-yard run with Holley following that with a pair of runs netting 3 and 11 yards while Torres was dashing for 10 to give the ’Hawks a first down on the Elkins 27. Holley ran twice for 7 yards with Torres bursting through for 11 for a first down on the Elks 9-yard line. Sainsbury ran for a yard before Holley ran the last 8 yards on two plays for the ’Hawks third score. Holley’s 2-point run ballooned the lead to 24-0 on the last play of the second quarter.
Holley and Torres opened the third quarter with rushes for 8 and 11 yards respectively before the ’Hawks had to punt for the first time of the contest. A 10-yard quarterback sack by Jesse Baird put the Elks in a great hole but 34-yard pass completion gave the visitors new life. When the Elks entered ’Hawk territory for the first time, the ’Hawks Robby Pickthall spoiled the moment for Elkins when a pinned a 12-yard loss on the quarterback, leading to a punt two plays later.
Neither side could get anything going until the game’s final minute when the Elks scored on two passing plays as time ran out.
Sports, Pages 7 on 09/11/2013