Defense shines in 'Hawks 24-7 conquest

No. 25 Tristin Brewer^Jr.^5’9”^200 lbs.
No. 25 Tristin Brewer^Jr.^5’9”^200 lbs.

John McGee

Special to The TIMES

"While we didn't play great, we did play well," Blackhawk football coach Stephen Neal said after Pea Ridge disposed of former conference rival Farmington 24-7 Friday.

Big plays on offense coupled with gritty play of the defense paved the way to the 'Hawks 12th consecutive non-conference victory and set the Blackhawks up at 3-0 heading into the district season beginning this week.

All-state tailback Drew Winn led the offense with 146 yards on 22 forays, scoring the team's second touchdown. In spite of having several passes tipped by Cardinal defenders, quarterback Jakota Sainsbury still completed 14 of 25 for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Hayden Holtgrewe caught six for 81 yards and a score with Jordan Witcher hauling in five passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Junior Carson Rhine had a standout game, stopping a certain touchdown run by running down a ball carrier from behind, then teaming up with Gavin Warden in the closing seconds of the first half to bat away a pass that could have sent the visitors into intermission with a lead.

The first half did not go as planned as a whopping 10 penalties were called on the 'Hawks, forcing four punts while erasing a lot of big yardage plays. Farmington had but one flag thrown on them until the last two minutes of the half, leading to a halftime yardage advantage of 285-142 in favor of the Cardinals. However, the 'Hawks came out of the intermission fired, holding the Cards to 92 yards in the second half while picking up 177 yards of their own.

The game started out like it could quickly get out of control as Witcher returned the kickoff 36 yards to the Cardinal 49. Two plays later, Witcher made a cut across midfield, took a Sainsbury pass then rambled into the end zone for the game's first score. Evan Green's kick split the uprights and the 'Hawks had a 7-0 lead with only 56 seconds gone from the clock.

After Luis Reyes kicked off into the end zone, the Cards Caleb Williams bulled his way for 20 yards on a first down play to the Cardinal 40. The 'Hawk defense then stuffed a rushing play, forced a fumble which the Cards hung onto, then forced an incomplete pass to get the ball back on fourth down. The subsequent punt was shanked due to a hard rush by the 'Hawks and soon Pea Ridge had a first down on their own 48. However, two incomplete passes sandwiched around two penalties forced a Pea Ridge punt.

Jackson Tillman sacked Farmington quarterback Andrew Waggle on first down for a 2-yard loss and two plays later, Mike Mahoney knocked down a third down pass to force another Cardinal punt. Pressure by the 'Hawks resulted in another shanked punt, which traveled but 15 yards to give the 'Hawks possession on their own 45.

After a short run by Winn, the flags were flying, and after an incomplete pass in a 3-11 situation, the 'Hawks had to punt again. The Farmington pressure was too great as they bowled over punter Sainsbury after he got it off, resulting in an automatic first down and the ball on the Cardinal 41. After a short run by Winn, Sainsbury hit Witcher with a pass and he advanced it 2 yards past the first down marker. He was met by a Cardinal defender there, who pushed him backwards until he went out of bounds behind the first down marker. The referee incorrectly marked the spot away from the forward progress with the 'Hawks turning the ball over on downs a play later.

The Cardinals were elated with their good fortune, and used a penalty against the 'Hawks and the legs of Williams to get downfield to tie the game at 7-7. Williams ran 43 yards on five carries, the last one a 3-yarder into the end zone with 2:09 left in the quarter. The kick was good to complete the comeback.

Witcher got off another great kickoff return, bringing the ball back 30 yards for a first down in Farmington territory at the 47. After a 4-yard pass to Wright, Holtgrewe ran a reverse for 9 yards and a first down, but a flag came out to negate the play. A fumble on the next play was recovered by the 'Hawks, but only after a

Sports on 09/20/2017