Shining in the mud

Weather forecasters predicted 100 predicted chance of rain last Friday in the Little Rock area and they delivered on their promise. Alternating from heavy to light, the rain inexorably kept falling, starting well before the Central Arkansas/Pea Ridge football game and presumably well into Saturday.

The Blackhawks were playing in a state 4A quarterfinal football game on the home field of Central Arkansas Christian located near Maumelle. CAC, a top 10 state ranked team for much of the season and a No. 1 seed, were favored to win the game to move into the semi-finals.

Pea Ridge had not played in mud all season, and actually played eight of their previous 12 games on artificial turf. Even if they had some experience of playing in wet conditions, no one could possibly have been ready to play in deep mud with continuous rain worsening conditions with each play.

With both teams having high scoring offenses, the first half was maddening for each team as the mud brought down almost as many players as did the tackling. Passing the football successfully was next to impossible, with the difficulty of running routes in the mud coupled with the even harder task of catching a spinning wet, heavy football.

So the game went on, quarter by quarter, with the quarters stacking up a pile of zeroes on the scoreboard. The 'Hawks actually moved the ball much more successfully that did the Mustangs, outgaining their first-time foe 212 yards to 87. However, neither team could cross the goal line, forcing an overtime period.

The Mustangs won the toss and decided to let the 'Hawks have the first crack at scoring from the 10-yard line. After a run netted a couple of yards, the 'Hawks got off a perfect pass into the end zone, but the rain and mud made the ball too slippery to hold onto to, but just barely. Another run by the 'Hawks gained a yard but more importantly, gave the 'Hawks' kicker Jake Edwards a good spot to launch a 27 yarder from. The Blackhawks' reliable kicker split the uprights and finally, a team was on the boards with Pea Ridge taking a 3-0 lead.

The 'Hawks stopped the Mustangs cold on their first two plays of the overtime, and when CAC fumbled snaps on their last two plays to end the game, exultant Pea Ridge players were finally rewarded for staying the course. The 'Hawks stayed on the field for a time, consoling, then praying with CAC players. After that the 'Hawks went to the visitors' bleachers for the fans who had stayed to see them, doing what has become a post game ritual of showing their fans their appreciation.

For more than two hours, the Blackhawks fought through the mud and the rain to be ready for a chance to win the game. The linemen took a mud bath on nearly every play, and with the extra energy spent trying to gain traction, all the players on the field participated in what will probably be the most physically demanding game of their careers.

Covered from head to toe with mud, struggling with an equally determined foe, and fighting through all the adversity that came their way on a cold, wet and muddy Friday night in central Arkansas, the 'Hawks resolve was rewarded with a win and a history making trip to the 4A state semi-finals. Though bruised and battered, soaked and muddied, the 'Hawks left the field with a spring in their step and a smile on their faces. They were moving on.

'Hawks no. 5 in state poll

The Blackhawk football was rewarded with their highest poll position ever after their upset win over Central Arkansas 3-0 last week.

Pea Ridge cracked the top 10 last week with an upset win over Pulaski Robinson, debuting in the No. 8 position. The 'Hawks join 4A-1 league member Prairie Grove in the state's final four. The Tigers crushed Star City 50-21 for their semi-final position.

The road to the final four was a bit easier for the Tigers, as they will have played three No. 3 seeds and a No. 4 seed. By contrast, the 'Hawks will have played a No. 4 seed, a No. 2 seed, and two No. 1 seeds.

Arkadelphia, a No. 4 seed, is all that stands between Prairie Grove and a trip to Little Rock for the state championship. Pea Ridge will battle Nashville, an undefeated No. 1 seed.

Nashville is led by senior Leonard Snell, the Scrappers quarterback who has passed for over 1,600 yards while also rushing for more than 1,500 yards, Snell has incredibly accounted for 36 touchdowns, rushing for 20 and adding 16 more through the air.

While Snell is their big gun, Nashville also has Darius Hopkins, a running back who has rushed for more than 1,400 yards while scoring 22 touchdowns. The Scrappers have some rather large linemen who have opened holes for their rushing game, the 'Hawk defense will have their work cut out for them.

Nashville has a 60-man roster, but a number of their players play both sides of the ball so perhaps depth will prove to be a Hawk advantage.

MasPreps/CBS state 4A poll

1. Nashville 13-0

2. Prairie Grove 12-1

3. Warren 10-2

4. Dardanelle 12-1

5. Pea Ridge 11-2

6. Central Arkansas 11-2

7. Arkadelphia 8-5

8. Fountain Lake 8-4

9. Robinson 9-3

10. Ashdown 8-4

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Editor's note: John McGee is an award-winning columnist, sports writer and is the art teacher at Pea Ridge elementary schools. He can be contacted through The Times at [email protected].

Sports on 12/02/2015