This Friday, the Pea Ridge Blackhawks led by Stephen Neal, will launch into the 2019 4A State Football playoffs by hosting the Lonoke Jackrabbits of the 4A-2 District.
Located east of Little Rock, the Rabbits come into the game with an identical 6-4 record as compared to the Hawks thus far in 2019. They were 5-2 in their district, ending in an unusual four-way tie for the league championship. The tiebreaker was a doozie with the Rabbits coming out of it with the fourth seed. They tied with No. 1 seed Batesville Southside, No. 2 seed Riverview and No. 3 seed Central Arkansas Christian.
Lonoke lost by 48-21 to Southside and just 28-21 to Central Arkansas for their two league losses. Their non-league losses were to 5A Beebe (45-44) and 3A Carlisle (38-13). Their ranking is not particularly high, currently holding down the No. 33 slot in 4A. Southside is ranked No. 22, Riverview No. 23, with Central Arkansas No. 28.
The Rabbits are led by 5'8" sophomore quarterback Spencer Pepper who had nearly 1,000 yards passing and a little over 500 yards rushing in his teams first six games. Lonoke has not posted any new stats since Oct. 11, so things may have changed since them. Pepper had 100% of the passing yardage and 67% of the rushing yardage at that point. It would seem that stopping Pepper will be the key to turning back the Hawks' first-round opponent.
Anthony Parks, 5'8", 155 lbs., is the next best rusher with a 3.8-yard rushing average at last report. The top two targets for Pepper to throw to are Parks and Cody Lucas, 5'9" 150 lbs.
Far and away their most active defender is 5'10" 170-lb. Dayton Smith who was averaging almost 14 tackles per game, The next best defender tackle wise in Carson Divinney, who was averaging nine tackles per contest.
The Rabbits' linemen are not particularly large with few weighing much more than 200 pounds. The team roster lists 31 players. They are coached by Harry Wright, who is in his first year as a varsity head coach.
Lonoke popped Prairie Grove last season 35-26 in the first round before losing to Ozark 34-0 in the second round. They missed the playoffs in 2017 and 2016 and lost to Gosnell in the first round 54-34. The first round in 2015 was their last playoff appearance. They qualified for the playoffs in 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 but were eliminated early.
The winner of the Pea Ridge/Lonoke contest will take on the winner of the Batesville Southside/Star City that will be played in Batesville. Star City is 6-4 but are ranked 14th, above Southside's 22nd slot. If Pea Ridge wins and Star City wins, the second round game will be in Pea Ridge, but if Southside successfully defends their home turf, they will host the second round no matter who wins in Pea Ridge.
Southside was destroyed by Riverview 35-7 early in the season, but the Riverview Raiders lost their last two games after going 5-0 in their first league games. Their convincing 26-14 loss to Lonoke boosted the Jackrabbits' ranking, placing them in Pea Ridge for the opening round.
The other four teams in the Hawks' sub bracket are No. 5-ranked Ozark (9-1), No. 12-ranked Malvern (4-6), No. 6-ranked Warren (9-1), and No. 27 Elkins (5-5). The survivor of these four teams will play the survivor of the Pea Ridge/Lonoke/Star City/Southside matchups for a spot in the state semi-finals. The odds on favorite to be the semi-final opponent from the Hawks' sub-bracket is rated to be Little Rock Robinson.
Robinson's Senators are ranked No. 3 in the state with a 9-1 mark. They won the top seed in the dangerous 4A-7 conference though they tied with Nashville and two-time defending state champion Arkadelphia. Robinson took second in last year's playoffs.
Other 4A-1 teams in action
Winning the 4A-1 gave Shiloh the easiest first two round draws as they open with 29th-ranked Heber Springs (4-6) then face the winner of 17th-ranked Pocahontas (7-3) and 31st-ranked Gravette (4-6) game. However, they will have to get by No. 4-ranked Nashville to make it to the semi-finals. Defending champion Arkadelphia is also on their side of the bracket whom they might see in semi-final action.
Gentry grabbed their highest seed in several years, crushing Gravette 37-7 in the league finale to finish 7-3 and earn a first round playoff game in North Little Rock to take on the Central Arkansas Christian Mustangs. CAC is also 7-3, taking the No. 3 seed from the 4A-2.
The Hawks played CAC on the road in 2015, defeating the Mustangs 3-0 when a heavy rainstorm reduced the field to a muddy quagmire with no one threatening to score over four quarters. In the overtime, the Hawks' Elliott could hit a field goal with the other side not as fortunate with the lone kick propelling Pea Ridge into their first ever semi-final action in school history.
Prairie Grove got back into the playoffs for the umpteenth time, this time earning a trip to Hamburg (6-4) to take on the 19th-ranked Lions. The Tigers are ranked 24th with a 4-6 record. Pea Ridge beat Hamburg to end their season in 2016, beat them again to start their season in 2017 and then later ended their season in the playoffs with another victory. Hamburg is likely happy to be at home and not playing Pea Ridge from the 4A-1.
Gravette is playing favored Pocahontas this Friday as the fifth seed from the 4A-1. A few years ago, the Lions had to go play Pocahontas on the road and they were the underdogs then, too. Gravette emerged victorious as the level of play of the 4A football teams from northeast Arkansas has been the weakest in the state for the past several years and the Lions exposed that. It could happen again.
I think there is a real possibility that the 4A-1 could win all five of their games in the opening round.
Harmony Reyolds All-State again
Harmony Reynolds earned her second straight All-State honor by finishing 10th at the state finals in Hot Springs Saturday. There were 184 girls competing in the race.
Her time was 21:09 over the 3.1 mile course at Oaklawn Track in downtown Hot Springs. She sparked her team to fourth overall among the 21 teams to earn a final score. Pea Ridge scored 146 to finish behind state champion Harrison (39), Valley View (54), and De Queen (112).
The top three schools were among those moved from 5A two years ago when the Arkansas Activities Association decided to move around the classifications again.
Other LadyHawk finishers were: Liz Vasquez, 31st (22:22); Madisyn Robinson, 36th (22:34); Ryleigh Gilbreath, 39th (222:45); Olivia Scates, 47th (22:56); Dallice White, 55th (23:15); Maddie Vincent, 72nd (24:07); Madison Smith, 79th (24:24); and Allie King, 80th (24:26).
The boys finished in sixth place with 188. The meet was won by Huntsville (68), with DeQueen in second (107), Valley View third (119), Batesville fourth (170) and Farmington fifth (188). Twenty-five high schools scored at the state championships.
The boys were led by junior Levi Schultz who finished 23rd, just 3 seconds from earning boys all-state honors. Schults ran the 5K in 18:23, just behind the last all-state placing Wes Thompson of Pulaski Academy who ran it in 18:20. Other Hawks finishing were: Kevin Vasquez, 30th (18:42); Grandon Grant, 35th (18:48); Josiah Small, 52nd (19:07); Elijah Wiggins, 70th (19:29); Layton Powell, 74th (19:39); Parker Rickard, 75th (19:39); Logan Spears, 78th (19:41) and Jacob Stein, 98th (20:10). There were 218 boys in the 4A finals.
4A State football rankings
Though earning but the third seed from the 4A-7, Arkadelphia ends the regular season as the top ranked team in 4A. While not winning their district crown the past two years, they have won the state championship two times in a row.
This week's big winners were Gentry, Lonoke and Heber Springs. Lonoke jumped up six places with their upset victory over Riverview. This week's big losers were Ashdown and Monticello, dropping five and six spots in the polls, respectively.
1. Arkadelphia^9-1^--
2. Shiloh^10-0^+1
3. Robinson^9-1^-1
4. Nashville^9^--
5. Ozark^91^--
6. Warren^9^--
7. Dardanelle^9^--
8. Pea Ridge^6-4^+1
9. Crossett^7-3^-1
10. Bauxite^6-4^--
11. Mena^7-3^--
12. Malvern^4-6^--
13. Gentry^7-3^+4
14. Star City^6-4^-1
15. Rivercrest^7-3^-1
16. Harmony Grove^4-6^-1
17. Pocahontas^7-3^+1
18. Pottsville^6-4^+1
19. Hamburg^6-4^-3
20. DeWitt^6-4^+1
21. Westside^8-2^+2
22. Southside^7-3^-2
23. Riverview^7-3^-1
24. Prairie Grove^4-6^+1
25. Gosnell^5-5^-1
26. West Helena^5-5^--
27 Elkins^5-5^+1
28. Central Arkansas^7-3^+3
29. Heber Springs^4-6^+4
30. Lincoln^5-5^--
31. Gravette^4-6^-2
32. Monticello^2-8^-5
33. Lonoke^6-4^+5
34. Fountain Lake^2-8^+3
35. Trumann^4-6^--
36. Brookland^4-6^-2
37. Mills^0-10^-4
38. Ashdown^2-8^-6
39. Dumas^1-9^--
40. Bald Knob^3-7^--
41. Berryville^3-7^+1
42. Highland^1-9^-1
43. Stuttgart^1-9^--
44. Waldron^2-8^--
45. Subiaco^2-8^+1
46. Green Forest^2-8^-1
47. Cave City^0-10^--
48. Dover^0-10^--
•••
Editor's note: John McGee, an award-winning columnist, sports writer and art teacher at Pea Ridge elementary schools, writes a regular sports column for The Times. The opinions expressed are those of the writer. He can be contacted through The Times at [email protected].
Sports on 11/13/2019