Blackhawks trounce Wildcats

Blackhawk running back Zaine Holley and the Pea Ridge Blackhawk defense was too much for the Trumann.

Holley, a junior, ran for four touchdowns to lead Pea Ridge to a 42-6 victory over Trumann Friday in a Class 4A playoff game at Blackhawk Stadium. Pea Ridge (92) advanced to the second round against Pulaski Robinson.

The Blackhawks have won four consecutive games, including a 24-21 road victory over Shiloh Christian that secured a No. 2 seed. Pea Ridge lost in the second round last year, 45-34 to Malvern, after winning the 4A-1 Conference championship and receiving a first-round bye.

“This was a lot tougher game than the score would indicate,” Blackhawk head coach Tony Travis said. “They did a good job of keeping the ball away from us in the first half. Our defense played well all night against an offense that we don’t see a lot of with their tight formation.”

Holley supplied most of the offense for Pea Ridge with touchdown runs of 8-, 40-, 2- and 38-yards. The Blackhawks defense was stout again after holding Shiloh Christian scoreless in the second half of last week’s victory.

Trumann finally scored late in the third quarter and even that touchdown was a challenge. Quarterback Connor Haag was hit hard and fumbled at the end of a 9-yard run but Kevonte Andrews recovered for the Wildcats.

“We were worried coming out after such a huge emotional game last week,” Travis said. “That was a concern all week long. We were a little flat early and we challenged them at halftime.”

Pea Ridge led 14-0 at halftime after Trumann (6-5) missed an opportunity to score late in the second quarter. The Wildcats picked up five first downs and drove to the Pea Ridge 4 before Blackhawk senior Ethan Burton recovered a fumble to end the threat.

The Blackhawks reached the Trumann 28 on its possession but the Wildcats held after a sack by Andrews for a 7-yard loss.

Pea Ridge started the scoring in the second quarter when Blackhawk sophomore Hayden Holtgrewe caught a 12-yard pass over the middle from Blackhawk sophomore Jakota Sainsbury. The touchdown was set up when Sainsbury completed a 20-yard pass to Blackhawk junior Britton Caudill on a slant rout. Trumann fumbled on its next possession and Holley scored on an 8-yard run after he ran for 28 yards up the middle.

The Blackhawks host Robinson High School Senators from Little Rock Friday in Blackhawk Stadium in the second round of state playoffs.

Special to The TIMES Sophomore Blackhawk Robby Pickthall ran the ball as Kolton Jones of Truman closed in on the tackle at Blackhawk Stadium during the first round of state playoffs Friday, Nov. 13.

Special to The TIMES Blackhawk senior Gage Cawthon, No. 10, opened up a hole for Blackhawk junior running back Zaine Holley, No. 2, during the first round of state playoffs in a contest against Trumann Friday at Blackhawk Stadium.

Special to The TIMES Blackhawk sophomore Jakota Sainsbury, No. 14, threw a pass that Kevontae Andrews of Trumann attempted to block Friday night in the new battleground, Blackhawk Stadium.