McGEE: Blackhawk football team hopes go to semi-final playoffs for fourth year in a row

for the next round and take on top ranked Robinson.

For the first time in recent memory, Prairie Grove is not opening the playoffs at home. The No. 29 ranked Tigers are having to travel to No. 26 Lonoke. If they can get past the Jackrabbits, they will travel to Ozark to play the No. 10 ranked Hillbillies. Ozark got a bye this year so won’t play until next week. The survivor of all that will have to play the winner of the above games that included Robinson.

The last section of the brackets has no teams from the 4A-1 in it, though it does have four of the top ranked teams in the state. No. 3 Warren, No. 8 Stuttgart, No. 9 Arkadelphia and No. 12 Dardanelle will fight it out to play the winner of the bracket including Shiloh in semi-final action.

The key to the ’Hawks making the semi-finals for the fourth year in a row and to have a shot at another state final berth is limit mistakes and eliminate turnovers. The ’Hawks first, second and 10th games of the season saw the ’Hawks have significant issues taking care of the football and those problems contributed to the ’Hawks’ three losses this season.

As head coach Stephen Neal remarked last week: “We still have not had our best game. We have room to improve and we will work towards that next week. We are better than we have played.”

While the road may be tough and perhaps a bit daunting, the team has an opportunity to do something special.

4A-1 final Football standings

1. Shiloh 7-0

2. Pea Ridge 6-1

3. Lincoln 5-2

4. Prairie Grove 4-3

5. Gentry 3-4

6. Berryville 2-5

7. Gravette 1-6

8. Green Forest 0-7

MaxPreps/CBS Current 4A football poll

1. Robinson 9-1

2. Shiloh 9-1

3. Warren 9-1

4. Bauxite 8-2

5. Rivercrest 9-1

6. Dumas 9-1

7. Nashville 8-2

8. Stiuttgart 8-2

9. Arkadelphia 5-5

10. Ozark 8-2

11. West Helena 8-2

12. Gosnell 6-4

13. Dardanelle 8-2

14. Heber Springs 6-4

15. Hamburg 7-3

16. Pea Ridge 7-3

17. Fountain Lake 6-4

18. Trumann 7-3

19. Westside 7-3

20. Harmony Grave 5-5

21. Southside 6-4

22. Mena 7-3

23. Elkins 7-3

24. Lincoln 8-2

25. Star Cit 4-6

26. Lonoke 5-5

27. Central Arkansas 5-5

28. Ashdown 3-7

29. Prairie Grove 5-5

30. Pottsville 5-5

31. Bald Knob 4-6

32. Pocahontas 4-6

33. Crossett 3-7

34. DeWitt 4-6

35. Gentry 3-7

36. Berryville 4-6

37. Malvern 0-10

38. Brookland 2-8

39. Highland 1-9

40. Riverview 2-8

41. Dover 2-8

42. Cave City 1-9

43. Waldron 2-8

44. Subiaco 1-9

45. Mills 0-10

46. Monticello 1-10

47. Gravette 1-9

48. Green Forest 1-9

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Editor’s note: John McGee, an award-winning columnist, sports writer and art teacher at Pea Ridge elementary schools. Email him at prtnews@nwadg.com.