A trick got the Eagles a treat early on, but a suffocating Pea Ridge defense forced Huntsville to leave the field with a mostly empty bag as the 'Hawks ran their record to 9-0, winning their ninth game in a row 21-6 on the road last week.
Senior tailback Shane Ivy led the rushing offense with 190 rushing yards. Ivy's last run for the evening went for 15 yards which put him over the 1,000 mark for 2014, his second season in a row to top that mark. Quarterback Seth Brumley picked up 128 yards and two rushing touchdowns while also throwing for another touchdown as he complemented Ivy's ground attack.
Game summary
Pea Ridge 7 14 0 0 - 21
Huntsville 6 0 0 0 0 6
First quarter
Pea Ridge — Brumley 16-yard run, Edwards kick (7:53)
Huntsville — Elzey 75-kickoff return, pass failed (7:49)
Second quarter
Pea Ridge — Brumley, 6-yard run, Edwards kick (9:06)
Pea Ridge — Hardy 9-yard pass from Brumley, Edwards kick (0:39)
The biggest impetus of the 'Hawks' last road game victory of the regular season came from the Pea Ridge defense which held 1,000 rusher Richardson Crain to just 14 yards on 11 carries. The rest of the Eagle ground attack lost 12 yards combined as Pea Ridge outgained their hosts 245 yards to 70 in total offense.
The 'Hawks received the opening kickoff and marched 63 yards in eight plays to score. Two runs by Ivy netted 12 yards and a first down on the 'Hawk 41. Ivy took a pitch on first down that gained 10 more yards with Ivy adding 8 more on the next play as the 'Hawks crossed mid-field to the Eagle 35. Brumley adding 12 more yards on a keeper on the next play for another first down on the Huntsville 23. After Ivy went up the middle for 7 yards. Brumley ran right on a keeper, got around the defenders to run the final 16 yards to paydirt. With 7:53 showing on the clock, Jake Edwards booted through the PAT for a 7-0 lead.
On the kickoff return, Huntsville turned a trick into a touchdown treat, as the Eagle return man fumbled the kick from the 32 to back near the 20-yard line. Scrambling back to retrieve the pigskin, the Pea Ridge pursuit was on him as he gathered in the ball, However, the 'Hawk defenders over pursued the return man, and after a couple of steps and jukes forward, the return man Elzey popped through the wave to run unimpeded 75 yards the other way to score. The Eagles went for 2 and the lead on the point after conversion, but the 'Hawks met the challenge as a pass fell uncaught. Oddly enough, only 4 seconds ticked by from the kickoff to the Eagles score as Pea Ridge led 7-6 with 7:49 left in the first.
After Garrett Easterling made a 21-yard return to the 'Hawk 43 following the kickoff, Pea Ridge was across mid-field in a hurry as Brumley got loose for 19 yards to the Eagle 38. The next play got good yardage but a fumble at the end turned the ball over to the hosts.
After an initial first down by the Eagles, a quarterback sack by Cody Foltz set the Eagles back 2 yards with an incompletion and short gain forcing a punt to the 'Hawk 36.
Two hard running rushes by Ivy netted 30 yards on the first two plays after the Eagle punt. A tipped pass on third down cut the drive short when an Eagle defender grabbed the tumbling pigskin for an interception on the Huntsville 25. The Eagles then passed for a first down near mid-field, but three running plays went nowhere with a fourth and 3 attempt falling far short to prevent losing the ball on downs.
The 'Hawks quickly faced a third and 5 situation from their own 45 but Brumley hit senior Nick Hardy with a pass that covered 16 yards. Two plays later, the 'Hawks were hit hard with a 10-yard holding penalty, but a 34-yard dash by Ivy on the next play set the 'Hawks up first and 10 on the Eagle 6. Brumley dove into the end zone on the next play for the score. Edwards toed up another successful PAT as Pea Ridge left Huntsville 14-6 with 9:02 left in the half.
Huntsville decided to air it out some in their next series, completing three passes for 35 yards to help push the Eagles to the 'Hawk 30-yard line. A fierce pursuit on first down jarred the ball loose from the Eagle running back with Easterling leaping on the loose ball to get the ball back for Pea Ridge on their own 10-yard line.
Runs by Brumley and Ivy got the 'Hawks out of the red zone on their 21 and it looked like a sensational 35-yard catch by Foltz from Brumley yielded 35 yards but a referee's whistle brought the ball back to the 'Hawk 10. The 'Hawks couldn't overcome the penalty but the Eagles couldn't overcome the punt as Brumley booted it high and far over the Eagle return men's heads. The punt went for 55 yards, keeping Brumley's average in the 50-plus range.
Jonathan Small smacked down Cain on the first play from scrimmage for a 3-yard loss. A Huntsville attempt at a pass out in the flat was turned away when Easterling swooped in to intercept the pass on the Huntsville 34.
The Hawks then ran the old "Hook and Ladder Play" on second down, with Brumley passing to Dakota Russell who then laterals to a trailing Ivy. The play worked for 23 yards to the Huntsville 9. On the next play, Brumley spots Hardy on the goal line who gathers in the pass, side steps a defender then strolls into the end zone. With 0:39 to pay in the half, Pea Ridge led 21-6.
While Huntsville never even got close to crossing mid-field in the second half, the 'Hawks had an excellent chance to score on their first possession, With alternating runs by Ivy, Brumley and Britton Caudill, the 'Hawks drove to the Eagle 7-yard line but could not get in on four plays.
The fourth quarter was played nearly completely on the Eagles' side of the field. Huntsville was attempting to move to mid-field for one last drive before the 'Hawks defense broke through to hang big losses on the Eagle quarterback to extinguish their final chance, After Huntsville had gained a first down on their own 47, Easterling broke through to drop the signal caller for a 7-yard loss. On second and 17, Foltz and Thomas Lammey burst through to drop the quarterback for another 6-yard loss. Then, on third and 23, Zaine Holley shucked blockers to run down the quarterback for another 6-yard loss. With a fourth and 29 on their own 28, Huntsville punted, then Pea Ridge ran out the clock to victory.
Besides Ivy's and Brumley's rushing totals, Caudill added 15 yards on three carries while Foltz had 5 yards on two tries. Hardy caught two passes for 15 yards.
The stage is now set for the biggest game of the year Friday when Shiloh comes to town to battle for the league championship. Both teams are 6-0 in conference play with the victor getting the bonus of home field advantage throughout the playoffs. A large crowd is expected with a strong media presence as well.
Sports on 11/05/2014