Hawks demolish Bobcats 49-2 in homecoming blowout

The halftime fireworks were nice but they couldn't match the fireworks the Blackhawks displayed in the opening minutes of their 49-2 dismantling of their 4A-1 district foe Berryille last week in the annual homecoming game.

The Army National Guard punctuated the National Anthem with a blast from a field howitzer and not long after that the 'Hawks were blasting through the Bobcat defenses to pile up 28 points in the game's first eight minutes. Senior tailback Shane Ivy raced through the middle of the 'Cats defense to pick up 57 yards and score on just the third play of the game as the 'Hawks took control early. Ivy scored three touchdowns and ran for nearly 100 yards in the first quarter on just five carries to spark the offense.

The victory clinched at least the district's second seed for the upcoming playoffs, with the battle for the top seed to take place in the season finale at home against Shiloh Nov. 7.

Nick Hardy began the game by picking up 3 yards on an end around. Ivy had a short gain on second down but took it to the house on the next play as the 'Hawk line blew a hole in the defense with Ivy rocketing through and blowing past the secondary to score standing up. Jake Edwards kept up his highly accurate PAT rate this season as he split the uprights to increase the lead to 7-0 with 10:32 left in the first quarter.

It took the 'Hawks a little over a minute to score again, this time coming on their defensive play. Senior Dakota Winn swept around the Berryville blockers on an attempted punt, getting his hand on the kick to send the ball straight up into the air. An alert Cody Foltz saw the block, then picked the tumbling pigskin out of the air, running it back 25 yards to the end zone. With Edward's second kick, the 'Hawks were on their way, leading 14-0 with just 3 minutes gone in the game.

After a Bobcat incompletion, the 'Hawk defense swept over the Berryville offensive line to sack the quarterback for a 3-yard loss on second down. On third down, the defense increased the pressure, breaking through to hang a 5-yard loss on the Bobcats to force a punt from their own 20. The Berryville punt was returned by Hardy to the Bobcat 31. On the very next play, Ivy took a pitch, dashed left and outran the defense all the way to the end zone for the 'Hawks' third touchdown. Edwards' kick was again true as Pea Ridge led 21-0 with 7:37 left in the opening period.

After losing 14 yards on their first two possessions, Berryville did manage to make positive yardage on their third try, but the 3-yard total effort wasn't enough to avoid another punt which the 'Hawks downed on their own 44.

Senior signal caller Seth Brumley threw two quick passes, one a 9-yarder to Hardy and the other a 6-yard pass to Austin Hicks to get into Berryville territory at the 41. After a penalty set the 'Hawks back to the 46, Brumley ran right on a keeper, heading for the corner pylon of the end zone. Brumley leaped into the end zone with a tackler but an official trailing the play ruled he went down on the 2-yard line. Ivy punched it in on the next play and coupled with Edwards' PAT kick, Pea Ridge was close to mercy ruling their guests as the lead ballooned to 28-0 with 4:15 left in the first.

Following the kickoff, successive 1-yard losses by the Berryville offense were capped by a 3-yard loss inflicted on the 'Cats by defender Garrett Easterling. A poor punt followed and the 'Hawks regained possession on the Berryville 33.

Ivy ran for 3, Cole Wright added 5 more on a pass reception with Zaine Holley nearly gaining the first down with a 1-yard effort to the Bobcat 24. Brumley picked up 2 yards on a quarterback sneak to secure the first down but had to leave the contest when his lip was split open on the play, requiring stitches at a local hospital.

On the first play of the second quarter, reserve quarterback Gage Cawthon passed to Hardy for 15 yards to the 'Cat 7. Easterling picked up 4 yards followed by a 1-yard run by Holley to the Bobcat 2. Easterling then blasted in for a 2-yard scoring run. Edwards booted the point after to help the locals to a 35-0 bulge with 10:28 left in the half.

With reserves beginning to enter the fray, Berryville finally achieved their first first down getting up to the Bobcat 49 on third down. Foltz snuffed out the mild threat with a quarterback sack that forced a fourth down punt which rolled down to the 'Hawk 22. It didn't stay on the 'Hawk half of the field long as Holley used his speed to burst right by the Bobcat defense to dash 78 yards for the 'Hawks' sixth touchdown. Edwards hit his sixth PAT as Pea Ridge led 42-0 with 5:53 left in the half.

Bobcat backs Aiden Brummet and Deonte Payten alternated carries to pick up 41 yards for Berryville's first real scoring threat as they drove to the 'Hawks 17. Pea Ridge had enough of that, though, as they limited Brummett's first down run to 1 yard, before dropping Payten for a 4-yard loss on second down. Brummett was stopped for no gain on third down and a fourth down pass fell harmlessly to the turf to turn the ball back over on the 'Hawk 20.

Cawthon gained 3 yards on first down with Holley nearly breaking away for a score, rushing for 20 yards to the 'Hawk 43. Wyatt Weber then picked up 5 yards to the 'Hawk 48 to set up Easterling's 52-yard dash through traffic for the hosts' seventh score of the evening. Edwards kick with 0:50 left in the half put the 'Hawks inexorably ahead 49-0. The 'Hawks had outgained the Bobcats 345 yards to 43 as the halftime lead kicked in the mercy rule, meaning that the clock would not stop in the second half.

The 'Cats Brummet opened the second half with a 5-yarder, but defender Bradley Beaver broke through on the next play to drop the Peyton for a 2-yard loss. Two plays later saw the Bobcats punting for the fifth time.

After Holley opened the series with a 5-yard run, Jacob Torres demonstrated the 'Hawk depth as he broke loose with a 27-yard run on his first carry. In Berryville territory on the 44, the next two plays gathered but 4 yards with a third down play breaking down, ending with a quarterback sack for a 10-yard loss. The 'Hawks punted for the first time, placing the Bobcats back on their own 25.

Berryville finally got their offense moving, sparked by a 27-yard jaunt by Peyton. Runs by Peyton, Brummet and Graham churned out four first downs with the last one coming on the 'Hawks' 10-yard line. Ferguson picked up 5 yards on a keeper but the 'Hawks broke through to stop the ball carrier 3 yards back on the next play. Facing third and goal from the 8, Peyton picked up 4 yards to the 4 where Berryville had one last play to score a touchdown. On a power move up the middle, Ferguson kept the ball and nearly made it in before the 'Hawk defenders stopped him a few inches short of the goal, turning the ball over to Pea Ridge on downs. The Bobcats did get some points out of the drive as they kept the 'Hawks a few inches short of the line of scrimmage on their first play to record a safety.

The safety put Berryville on the board as they trailed 49-2 with 9 minutes left in the contest. The safety meant that Pea Ridge had to kick off from their own 20 but Tanner Flippo's booming kick sent the ball to the Bobcat 30-yard line to negate what the Bobcats hoped would be good field position.

The 'Hawks would not get in an offensive play the rest of the way as Berryville made enough yardage for two first downs to get to the 'Hawks' 39 before turning the ball over on downs with less than 30 seconds left in the game. Though racking up 49 points, the 'Hawks only ran 26 offensive plays for the entire game. Pea Ridge averaged nearly 15 yards per play as their offense was highly efficient through out.

Holley led the rushing attack with 108 yards on seven carries with Ivy getting 95 on five tries. Easterling had 57 yards on three attempts, Brumley ran for 46 on two runs, Torres picked up 29 on two rushes with Weber having 6 yards and Hardy having 3 yards each on one attempt. The 'Hawks had no incompletions with Brumley hitting all three of his passes for 29 yards with Cawthon having the other completion for 5 yards.

The 'Hawks will make their first trip to Huntsville in several few years this Friday. The Eagles have been playing in the 5A West until this cycle. Huntsville is the second largest high school in the state in 4A with one less student than Monticello (486-485). The Eagles have 50 more students than the next biggest school, Gravette and 100 more than Pea Ridge. The 'Hawks will be heavy favorites to win.