Blackhawks fall to 5A powerhouse Harrison
The Harrison Goblins lived up to their ranking as the eighthbest football team in Arkansas regardless of class as they handed the Blackhawks a 42-7 defeat in the opening contest of the 2019 season.
“Coach (Joel) Wells has really built an outstanding team,” Pea Ridge head coach Stephen Neal remarked, “and they are going to win a lot of games this year.”
“I was very pleased with the way our boys competed especially with the amount of effort they put into it,” Neal continued. “We will get better as we go forward. We kind of shot ourselves in the foot early on but we didn’t give up.”
Harrison was on pace in 2018 to defeat defending state champion powerhouse Pulaski Academy in the 5A semi-finals when a series of turnovers ended their season. With the overwhelming bulk of last year’s powerhouse team back in the fold and counting on a squad half of which are experienced senior athletes, Harrison is on track to have their best season in history.
Blackhawk senior quarterback Tate Busey led the ’Hawks’ air attack with a nine of 17 performance for 80 yards. Hunter Rains led the way in receptions with six with Trevor Blair coming up with the most receiving yards with 52. Senior tailback Samuel Beard was the heart of the ground attack, rushing 24 times for 75 yards against a very stout Harrison defense.
The Goblins served early notice that they would be a tough force to overcome. Forcing Pea Ridge to start play from its own 10-yard line to begin the game, Harrison’s defensive line hung seven yards in losses on the home boys to force a punt from the ’Hawks’ 3-yard line. A shanked punt then put the visitors in business on the ’Hawk 16 with the Goblins twice all-state Gabe Huskey taking the ball to the end zone on their first play, leading to a 7-0 Harrison lead with 10:22 left in the first. Max Payne converted the kick for Harrison.
Pea Ridge refused to back down in the face of the sudden deficit, tying the score 12 plays later on a 2-yard play. Beard started the drive from the ’Hawk 20 with a pair of rushes. Later in the drive, Beard rushed for 3 and 4 yards on successive carries where Busey tossed a 6-yarder to Rains for a first down on the Harrison 41.
Facing a third and 4 from the Goblin 35, Busey picked up 5 on a keeper for a first down on the Harrison 30. On the ’Hawks’ next offensive play, Beard broke loose, rushing for 12 yards, hammering through Goblin defenses for first down on the Harrison 13. Busey then rolled out left on the next play and very nearly broke into the end zone, gaining 10 yards before being stopped on the 3-yard line. Two plays later and Beard was in the end zone. Luis Reyes booted the extra point and the game was knotted at 7-7, dismaying the visitors’ side of Blackhawk Stadium.
The tie did not last as Harrison got a good run back on the kickoff to their own 43, when Goblin quarterback Cole Keylon hit receiver Colton Shaver with a 17 yarder to the ’Hawk 40. Three runs by Huskey restored the lead for the guests at the 3:53 mark. The Harrison all-state back punched it in from the ’Hawk 4. Payne’s kick put Harrison back ahead 14-7.
Starting from their on 20, the Blackhawks got a 5-yard pass from Busey to Rains to start a comeback, but the next two plays