A bridge too far — ’Hawks take it on the chin
Pea Ridge was coming off three stellar seasons entering the 2018 football season. Fielding a very inexperienced young team while gaining experience against a very potent 5A football power like the Harrison Goblins proved to be a bridge too far as Pea Ridge took it on the chin in a 45-14 loss.
“We made far too many mistakes tonight, something you just can’t do against a team as good as Harrison,” head coach Stephen Neal remarked. “We will learn from our mistakes and all I can really say is that we put another brick into our foundation.”
The Blackhawks had the good fortune of going on offense to start the game. The good luck soon went bad with a fumble giving the ball to Harrison who then turned it into a touchdown only moments later. The Goblins’ All-State running back Gabe Huskey ran it in from ’Hawk 3 with only 44 seconds into the game. Max Paynes’ PAT kick was good to put the hosts ahead 7-0 with 11:16 showing.
The quick score fired up the Goblins and shut down the ’Hawks’ attack, getting the ball back deep in Pea Ridge territory at the ’Hawk 31. Three rushes pushed the Goblins to the ’Hawk 11 yard line where Brooks Both ran it in for the next score. Payne’s kick made it 14-0 with 7:30 left in the initial quarter.
The ’Hawks could still not move the ball, punting back to the hosts who took over on their own 40. However after a 10-yard pass by Ben Johnson and a 5-yard run by Huskey put the Goblins into ’Hawk territory at the 40, Baker Fairchild broke through to sack the quarterback for a 2-yard loss. On third and 6, Johnson thought he had a man open for a pass but Justin Koon dashed in to spill the play forcing a fourth down. The Goblins Huskey, moved the chains again with a very tough 6-yard run in traffic.
Harrison got a short run on first down, but the ’Hawks sniffed out the next three pass plays, stopping them all from completion, regaining the ball on downs at the ’Hawk 32. The first two ’Hawk runs lost yards, and a third and 14 situation forced a pass play which the Goblins intercepted at the ’Hawk 20.
Harrison turned to Huskey to carry the load and he rushed four consecutive times for just 11 yards to the ’Hawk 9. The ’Hawks shut the Goblins down at this point, forcing the hosts to attempt a 25-yard field goal which sailed through for a 17-0 lead with 11:21 left in the half.
Pea Ridge went to the air at this point but could not shake the Goblins’ secondary, quickly facing a fourth and long on their own 31. A good 37-yard punt by Luis Reyes sending them back across the midfield stripe. Johnson hooked up with Huskey on a 17-yard pass then flipped an 18 yarder three plays later to get to the ’Hawk 31. Three Harrison runs got the hosts to the ’Hawk 9 where Huskey took it in on two plays, the last one a 1-yard run with 5:47 left in the half. Payne was good on the PAT to boost Harrison ahead to 24-0.
Things went from bad to worse when Harrison came up with another interception, putting the Goblins in business on the Pea Ridge 41. A pass and run gave Harrison a first down in the ’Hawk 26. Johnson then found Rilee Jones open in the end zone for a 26-yard pass completion another touchdown. Paynes’ kick made it 31-0 with 4:54 left in the half.
Carson Rhine made an outstanding kickoff return, getting the ball across midfield to start play. However, Pea Ridge gained but a yard in their next series, forcing another Reyes punt which pinned Harrison back to their own 15-yard line. Harrison then ran three straight runs for 32 yards to the Harrison 47. The Goblins gained 8 yards on first down, but suffered an incomplete pass which was followed by a Gavin Warden’s dropping a Goblin ball carrier for a 4-yard loss on third down. The play forced an Harrison punt.
The ’Hawks picked up a 5-yard run by Samuel Beard but incomplete passes eventually turned the ball over to the Goblins with around 40 seconds left in the half.
Two quick rushes netted 38 yards with the final blow coming on a perfectly thrown Johnson pass to Jones in the end zone, Although well covered, Jones made the catch with 2 seconds left in the half. Paynes’ successful kick pushed the Goblin advantage to 38-0.
Pea Ridge broke the second half scoring ice, with Tate Busey hooking up with Brayden Ralph on a 34-yard scoring play two plays after the ’Hawk defense got the ball back on downs on the Harrison 41. Reyes drilled the extra point to narrow the deficit to 38-7 with 8:12 left in the third quarter.
Harrison responded to Pea Ridge with a six-play scoring drive with Huskey running it in from 29 yards out. Payne was good again and Harrison led 45-7.
Neither team threatened to score again until the fourth quarter when the ’Hawks’ Beard dashed in 24 yards out for the score. Reyes was good again as the final score was set at 45-14.
Beard led the offense with 79 rushing yards on 13 attempts and scored one touchdown. Through the air, Tate Busby was three of 17 for 50 yards. Ralph and Brayden Galbraith were responsible with leading the receiving corps with one catch apiece.
The defense was led by a very active Carson Rhine who recorded 14 tackles to lead the way. Gavin Warden picked up eight stops, with Justin Koon making six stops. Tied at five tackles each were Tristan Brewer, Mason Harwell and Jake Adams with Mike Mahoney and Reyes getting four tackles each.
Rhine did a great job with the kick returns, picking up 66 yards on four tries. Koon returned two kicks for 43 yards.
The Blackhawks stay on the road this week, traveling to central Arkansas to take on the 5A Maumelle Hornets. Maumelle has had a few 10 win seasons in the past decade and will be a stiff test for the young Blackhawks.