Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Comeback falls short
Blackhawks lose roller-coaster battle with Tigers
PRAIRIE GROVE — Jeff Williams’ Blackhawks jumped ahead of the host Prairie Grove last week, fought to a tie at the half, fell far behind in the third quarter, then came roaring back in the fourth quarter only to see a tying 2-point conversion pass sail just a bit too high as the Tigers hung on to claim a nail-biting 35-33 victory.
With starting quarterback Logan Stewart still out with an injury, starting receiver Zac Withrow went under center and had his first 200-yard passing game, as he threw for 204 yards on 10 completions. Wide receiver Trevor Blair attracted crowds on defense but the junior standout caught all Withrow’s completions for his best day receiving day.
The Withrow to Blair combo was good for four touchdowns, three of which came in the frenzied fourth quarter.
Junior Blackhawk Joe Adams put on a good show running against a very good Tiger rushing defense, carrying the ball 20 times for 70 yards. Adams also scored the game’s first touchdown.
Withrow added 34 rushing yards for 238 yards of total offense. Sophomore Caden Mann chipped in with 15 yards on five tries.
Things didn’t start well for the ’Hawks, gaining no yards in their first series, then allowing the hosts to pick up a pair of rushing first downs to mid-field.
However, the Tigers’ growing confidence evaporated when the ’Hawks covered a loose pigskin on the Prairie Grove 43 to give the visitors a grand opportunity.
Adams ripped off a great run to give the ’Hawks a first down on the Tiger 30. Withrow bulled through for 5 yards with Adams adding 3 more on the next play to set up a fourth and 2 on the Tiger 22. Adams scooted through for 5 and a first down on the 17, and repeated the feat on the next play to the Tiger 12.
Withrow nearly wiggled free, running to the Tiger 4 for 8 yards before getting stopped. Adams got a yard on first down then went the remaining 3 yards to cross the goal line with 4:29 left in the first quarter. Senior Collin Stewart’s kick after gave the Hawks an initial 7-0 lead.
Starting at their 35, the Tigers got 4 yards from Foster Layman, and then an 8-yard pass from Knox Laird to Landon Semrad for a first at their 47. Layman rushed for 5 yards then Laird threw a deep pass to Semrad with the receiver hauling it down to run into the end zone with 2:57 showing. The kick was good, tying the game at 7-7.
With just 18 seconds left in the half, Withrow threw his first of four touchdown passes to Blair for a 13-yard score. Stewart was true again, sending the teams into the locker rooms tied at 14.
Prairie Grove came out of the break launching a ground attack then used Layman, Laird and Grant Hall to cover nearly all the 74 yards to the end zone. Hall scored on a 7-yard dash. The kick was good to put the Tigers back up, 21-14.
Later, the Laird to Sorters combination worked again as Prairie Grove scored from 11 yards out and led 28-14.
With the game slipping out of reach, the ’Hawks had to come up with something, and they did, launching a 12-play scoring drive culminating in an 18-yard Withrow to Blair pass. The kick was blocked, leaving the ’Hawks facing a 28-20 deficit.
Prairie Grove then used four ball carriers to move into Pea Ridge territory at the 48. ’Hawks’ senior Samual Tillman blew up their momentum by knifing past the blockers and dropping Laird for a 7-yard loss back to the Tiger 44, eventually forcing a punt.
After Pea Ridge’s turn on offense, it took the Tigers just two plays to score with Grant Hall sprinting around the end to cruise into the end zone. The kick ballooned the hosts’ lead to 35-20.
After the kickoff the ’Hawks started from their own 20. Blair make an outstanding catch from Withrow to gain 39 yards to the Tiger 41. Withrow made a great throw downfield with Blair out jumping a host of defenders to bring the ball down into the end zone, with the drive consuming no more than a minute. Stewart made the kick and the ’Hawks trailed 35-27.
The ’Hawks went for an onside kick and Blair got his hands on it at the Tiger 48.
Prairie Grove threw up stiff resistance as the ’Hawks got no traction. A fourth down run failed and the Tigers had the ball with 3 minutes to run down to victory.
Layman opened with an 8-yard run but the next two plays went nowhere with the Tigers facing a fourth and 1 with two minutes left. Prairie Grove tried a quarterback sneak and the ’Hawk defense stopped it for no gain, regaining possession for Pea Ridge.
After two incompletions, a third-down pass to Blair from Withrow netted 24 yards to the Tiger 9. Two plays later saw Withrow flip a 9-yard pass to Blair who took it in to score. Having to go for a twopoint play to tie the game, the ensuing pass to Blair failed.
The Tigers running out the clock for a 35-33 win.
The ’Hawks are off this week and will open their 2020 conference season against Alma on Sept. 25.