The Pea Ridge Blackhawks ran their season record to 2-0 by running over the Green Forest Tigers 40-6 in home non-conference action last week.
The 'Hawks scored on their first five possessions, outgaining the Tigers 246 to 32 in total yardage by the middle of the second quarter to put the game away early, leading 33-6 at the half. The Pea Ridge bench was cleared for most of the remainder of the game.
Pea Ridge Blackhawks football
Thursday, Sept. 18 — 5:30 p.m. Seventh-grade; 7 p.m. Jr. High @ Farmington
Friday, Sept. 19 — 7 p.m. Varsity Blackhawks at Paris
Though the Tigers won the opening toss, the 'Hawks got to start defense with the wind at their backs which aided in their first score. Blackhawk defenders stopped the Green Forest cold on the ground, and their shanked punt into the wind traveled but 7 yards, giving the 'Hawks a first down on the Tiger 26.
Shane Ivy, who missed all but one play in the 'Hawks' opening day win last week due to a leg injury, seemed no worse for the wear, rushing for 14, 5 and 7 yards on three straight carries to burst into the end zone for the game's first score. With 8:49 showing on the clock, Tanner Flippo kicked the PAT through the uprights to put the 'Hawks ahead 7-0.
"It felt great," Ivy said after the game. "I didn't realize how much I loved football until I had to miss the whole first game and maybe my whole senior year after only one play. Luckily the injury wasn't as serious as first thought."
The Tigers' Nathaniel Harp took some of the joy off the initial home fan elation by running the ensuing kickoff back down the east sidelines 90 yards to cut the lead to 7-6. The PAT kick was wide right to leave Pea Ridge ahead.
After regaining possession, Ivy took the first down handoff for 8 yards, then gathered in a pass from Seth Brumley for 12 yards to the Tiger 44. Two plays later saw Ivy dash right, cut back, then sprint to the end zone for his second touchdown. The PAT kick failed with the 'Hawks leading 13-7 with 5:30 left in the first quarter.
Green Forest tailback Carl Roberts picked up 3 yards rushing with Dalton Anglin catching a 5-yard pass from quarterback Cory Bryant, but it wasn't enough to prevent another Tiger punt.
Starting from the 'Hawk 40, C.J. Patton bashed the Tiger line for 9 yards to the 49, with a 12-yard jaunt by Ivy on the next play giving the home boys a first and 10 on the Tiger 39. Ivy struck again two plays later for 11 yards to the 28 and another first down. After a pair of rushes netted losses, Brumley tossed a bomb to Nick Hardy who got into the end zone for a 33-yard score. The PAT was good this time, giving the 'Hawks a 20-6 lead with 1:56 left in the opening period.
After gaining but a single yard on their next possession, Green Forest was forced to punt again.
Dakota Winn gathered in the punt on the 'Hawk 48 and nearly took it to the house, dashing 43 yards to the Tiger 9. Carries of 7 and 2 yards by Ivy resulted in the 'Hawks fourth score. Jake Edwards PAT was good, expanding the Pea Ridge lead to 27-6 with 11:56 left in the half.
On the Tigers first play after the kickoff, Roberts got into the open and was seemingly headed for a score until the 'Hawks Blake Cotton upended him after a 7-yard gain. Roberts gained 3 yards later to earn the Tigers first first down of the evening, but that was it for the possession as they were forced to punt four plays later.
The 'Hawks then went right back to work, with Patton opening their series with a 3-yard run, followed by a 6-yard reception by Austin Hicks from Brumley. Facing a third and 1 on their own 23, Garrett Easterling barreled through the middle for 5 yards and a first down. Brumley then hooked up Hardy for another completion, with Hardy shucking a tackler and nearly breaking loose for a score. The play covered 57 yards to the Green Forest 15.
Holley and Easterling teamed up for runs of 6 and 5 to gain a first down on the Tiger 4. Holley took it 3 yards on first down with Easterling traveling the final yard one play later. The score lifted the 'Hawk lead to 33-6 with 4:27 left in the half.
Green Forest then drove to near mid-field where they were faced with a fourth and 7 at the Tiger 48. Their decision to go for it was made a bad one as the 'Hawks Dakota Canaday broke through to sack the quarterback and regain possession.
It looked like the 'Hawks might score again when a penalty and 5-yard pass reception by Hardy from Brumley gave them a first down on the Tiger 35. A pass to the Tiger 25 was juggled by the 'Hawk receiver and an alert Educardo Ojeda snatched the ball and returned it all the way to the 'Hawk 15 before Pea Ridge pursuit stopped him. The threat was shortlived as the 'Hawk defense jarred the ball loose from the Tiger ball carrier with Austin Hicks recovering the loose pigskin.
The 'Hawks used the second half to utilize the Pea Ridge reserves. Each team picked up a first down in the third quarter, with reserve quarterback Gage Cawthon picking up one by sprinting 55 yards to the Tiger 20. On that drive, Holley rushed three times for 18 yards to the Tiger 2, but a fumble on the next play turned the ball over to Green Forest on the 3. On the Tigers; second play, the fierce 'Hawk pursuit knocked the ball loose again, with Jonathan Small gathering in the loose ball around the 10 and running it into the end zone with 10:59 left in the game. Edwards was again accurate with the PAT kick, inflating the 'Hawk advantage to 40-6, the final score of the contest.
Ivy was the offensive star of the game, scoring three touchdowns while gaining 105 yards on just 10 carries. Cawthon picked up 55 yards on one carry, Holley garnered 33 yards on seven tries, Hunter Hargiss had 21 yards on three runs, Jacob Torres got 20 yards on three attempts, Patton had 14 yards on three runs, with Easterling getting 11 yards on three runs. Brumley was five for eight for 113 yards to pace the quarterback corps.
Relating to his team's progress, Ivy said: "We were firing on all cylinders. This team shows tremendous improvement from last year. The coaches have prepared us well and I think we will do better than some people expect."
The 'Hawks will hit the road for the first time this year, and it will be a long trip. The 'Hawks will invade Eagle Stadium in Paris, located 20 miles south of Ozark. The Eagles are 2-0 with victories over Centerpoint and Waldron to begin their season.
The Paris contest will be the last non-conference game of the year with conference play set to begin next week at Gentry.
Scoring summary
Green Forest 6 0 0 0 - 6
Pea Ridge 20 13 0 7 - 40
First quarter
PR -- Ivy, 7-yard run 8:49, Flippo kick
GF -- Harp, 90-yard kickoff return 8:37, kick failed
PR -- Ivy, 44-yard run 5:30, kick failed
PR -- Hardy, 33-yard pass from Brumley, 1:56, Edwards kick
Second quarter
PR -- Ivy, 2-yard run 11:56, Edwards kick
PR -- Easterling, 1-yard run 4:27, pass failed
Fourth quarter
PR -- Small, 10-yard fumble return 10:59, Edwards kick
Total yards -- Pea Ridge 389, Green Forest 118
Sports on 09/17/2014