Blackhawks ended long team sports drought
The Jeff Williams’ Pea Ridge football program were back on the field Friday with a benefit game/ scrimmage with the Elkins Elks at Blackhawk Stadium.
Adhering to the statemandated covid-19 policy, every other row in the stands was taped off, and social distancing rules were in effect.
Pea Ridge and Elkins had a long running football rivalry dating way back, a rivalry which ended after 2015 when the Elks decided to break off the series. Elkins last defeated Pea Ridge in 2010 by a 25-8 count, but the Hawks’ steadily improving program under then coach Tony Travis rattled off five straight wins averaging 30-10. Since the end of the series, the Hawks became one of the most dominant teams in the 4A classification.
Times have changed as well as the coaches.
Elkins is in their first year as a member of the 4A-1 Conference, the league the Hawks exited as they ascended into the 5A West. Bryan Hudson heads up the Elks program. The Elks have made the 4A playoffs the past two years when they were assigned to the 4A-4 Conference. The Hawks moving up to 5A helped in the decision to move Elkins to the 4A-1, a move which will greatly cut down on the Elkins’ travel mileage.
The game Friday was not an official contest as it was a fundraiser for the Arkansas Activities Association. Game formats vary with the teams involved but in years past, varsity starters have played half the contest with other units brought on for second half action. Much more informal than a regular game, the action Friday gave each coach a chance to see how his alignments work prior to actual official competition next week.
Elkins is a team on the rise in Hutson’s third year at the helm with 42 athletes on his roster, a school record or close to it, Most importantly, the Elks have 10 of the 12 starters back on offense as well as defense this season. Hooten’s football rate them as the third best team in the 4A-1 this year and 25th best in the 4A state rankings. They have a senior-laden team with a solid junior class.
Though I have not read of any losses on the Elks roster, senior all-state quarterback Kain Johnson (2,000 yds., 24 TDs) was not on the official roster last week. They have Maddox Benard, a junior, and Kayson Drummond, a sophomore, off a great season in junior high.
The Washington County team utilizes the spread offense, and they have an excellent receiver in Trevor Shumate, who won a gold medal in last springs’ 4A Indoor Track Championships as a hurdler. Cody Drummond, Kale Drummond, Tyler King and Josh Allan were all effective receivers in 2019 with sophomore Aden Williams coming off a huge junior high campaign last fall catching the ball.
The Elks’ Kelynn Daniel (6’2”, 265 lbs.) is touted by Williams as the best lineman in the 4A-1 with fellow lineman Lane Wilhite a force at guard (6’0”, 270 lbs.). Kale Drummond and speedy Trevor Shumate racked up a lot of tackles in 2019 and will work at linebacking positions.
Going over the Blackhawk stats, in Coach Williams’ first year on the Ridge, he will have half the starters back from last year’s 4A playoff team. His roster will likely command a lot of depth moving up from the typical turnout of between 20 and 30 players around 1999 to over 80 of recent years. The virus scare may affect the turnout somewhat.
Williams will probably turn to senior quarterback Zac Withrow to throw the ball a lot this year with the Hawks going to a more passing dominant team. Junior receiver Trevor Blair was moved up to start varsity as a freshman on a good team. Quick with good hands, Blair will keep defenses honest. Will Anderson, Cole Brown and Marcus Nobles will be on the field catching passes.
Running the ball this fall will be returning players Carlos Martinez and Joe Adams. Both with speed, they will add the balance needed for the offense. Anchoring the offensive line will be 6’3”, 240-lb. senior Mike Ericson. Strong, athletic and mobile, Ericson also competes as a basketball player with his talents at blocking central to the Hawk offense. He will be joined by senior Cooper Tillman (6’0”, 215 lbs.) and senior Thad Timmons (6’1”, 290 lbs.) as the nucleus of a strong offensive.
On defense, Anthony Bleything (6’1”, 245 lbs.) will play nose guard to make the best use of his ability to rush and pursue. Seniors Samual Tillman (6’0”, 225 lbs.) and Joe Jimenz (6’0”, 210 lbs.) will play alongside Bleything to hold back opponents’ offense.
A transfer student from Rogers, Andrew Guyll has made some noise for the linebacking position with Clayton Henson, Jake Ingram, J.T. Roses and Jorge Vasquez all in the mix for playing time. Junior Logan Stewart will likely lead the defensive secondary where he recorded a lot of tackles in 2019. Cole Brown, Carlos Martinez, Joe Adams and Caleb Neil will be called on to roam the outside perimeters on defense.
This week, the Elks take on the Lincoln Wolves in the season opener. Lincoln is now a 3A school after a spell as one of the smallest schools in the state in 4A. Pea Ridge will travel to Shiloh for their first regular game.
It will be a different kind of year for the Hawks, having only officially played Farmington, Prairie Grove, Harrison and Shiloh prior to this year. Six of the seven district games will be first time meetings.