'Hawks take down Gravette 42-28

Run record to 6-0

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Annette Beard

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The undefeated Blackhawk football team protected their unblemished record by defeating the Gravette Lions 42-28 last week, setting the stage for a battle for control of the conference this Friday with the other undefeated team in the league, Prairie Grove.

"I was glad our defense got to see as good a running back as they have seen all year in Gravette's Austin O'Brien," coach Stephen Neal said. "It was quite a challenge for our defense and the experience will help us down the road."

Senior speedster Drew Winn had a big night, rushing for an astounding 314 yards on just 20 carries, scoring four of the 'Hawks' six touchdowns. His yardage total shot him to the top spot in rushing yards for the district at 1,174, just a bit under a 200-yard per game average.

The game got off to an inauspicious start when Gravette short kicked the opening kickoff, with the Lions recovering on the 'Hawk 38. With the speedy trio of Winn, Jordan Witcher and Hayden Holtgrewe back to receive kickoffs, the Lions opted to short kick every kickoff they attempted but were only successful once in a takeaway.

The Lions' first possession starting in 'Hawk territory didn't pan out as the Pea Ridge defenders ganged up to hold heralded Lion running back Austin O'Brien to just 2 yards on three carries, forcing an early turnover on downs.

Starting from their own 31, the 'Hawks used a 3-yarder by Winn and a 9-yard run by Robby Pickthal to gain a first down to the 46. Two short runs and a dropped pass forced a punt, with the Lions setting up on their own 19. With O'Brien bottled up by 'Hawk defenders, the Lions could not move the ball and were forced to punt the ball back on fourth and 2, with the ball rolling to the 'Hawk 33.

The 'Hawks came out throwing, with Jakota Sainsbury flipping an 18-yard pass to Witcher to the Lion 49. Winn burst through for 16 yards to the Lion 33 on the next play, where Sainsbury lofted a perfectly timed pass into the corner of the end zone where Holtgrewe ran under it, catching it for the game's first score. Evan Green punched the PAT through for a 7-0 lead with 4:07 left in the first quarter.

With the 'Hawks' attention directed to O'Brien, Lion quarterback Tajae White slipped loose for 19 yards to the Gravette 46. An second and 10 pass two plays later was considerably overthrown, but a referee decided to flag a 'Hawk defender for interference to give the Lions a first down in Pea Ridge territory at the 39. O'Brien finally got untracked and three runs totalled more than 20 yards to get the Lions close at the 22. A fourth down kick from there went wide, giving the 'Hawks the final play of the first quarter. What a play it was, as Winn brought the crowd to its feet by dashing 71 yards to the Lion 7, breaking tackles, spinning loose and side stepping a host of defenders on the way.

Pickthal punched it on on the first play of the second quarter from the 7, with Green converting the point after again. Four seconds into the second period, the 'Hawks were out on front of the visitors 14-0.

The two touchdown deficit fired up the Lions, as they leaned on White to move the ball downfield. Runs of 4, 5, 5 and 8 helped move the visitors into 'Hawk territory again, this time to the 36. A holding penalty and stiffer defense forced a punt with the 'Hawks taking over on their own 20.

The 'Hawks didn't have the ball long as all it took was two runs by Winn and Pea Ridge was in the end zone for the third time. The first jaunt was an 18-yarder, but the second run went the last 62 yards, with the senior all-stater bouncing defenders to scoot into the end zone with 7:17 left in the half. Green's perfect kick ballooned the score to 21-0.

O'Brien and White worked their running back tandem to perfection as they alternated carries and moved the ball into Pea Ridge territory for the fourth time. This time, they fooled 'Hawk defenders with a pass to O'Brien who threaded his way for 37 yards to paydirt. Childress converted for the guests and Gravette closed the gap to 21-7 with 4:24 left.

The 'Hawks responded by banging out three straight first downs to quickly move into Lion territory. Winn started things off with a 10-yard run followed by two passes from Sainsbury to Holtgrewe that netted 12 then 14 yards. A 3-yard catch by Witcher was followed by a 10-yard dash by Winn which gave the 'Hawks a first down on the Gravette 16. A sack by the Lions pushed the 'Hawks back, but a subsequent 17-yarder to Holtgrewe set the 'Hawks up first down on the Lion 5. A short pass to Witcher put the 'Hawks on the Lion 3, where Winn rammed it in on the next play. Green's kick made it 28-7.

With the clock running out, the Lions went to the air on their next possession but they were derailed when Carson Rhine intercepted a pass to extinguish the Lions' last chance of the half.

Gravette came out of the half determined to erase the large halftime deficit. With O'Brien doing the bulk of the damage, the Lions drove 85 yards on just six plays, the biggest of which was a 65-yard run by O'Brien who broke tackles and refused to go down. With a first and 1 on the 1, the Lions' Soule rammed it in for the score. Childress' kick narrowed the gap to 28-14 with 9:56 showing on the clock.

The score fed the Lion defense as the fired up visitors held the 'Hawks to -1 yardage on their first series, getting the ball back on the

Sports on 10/11/2017