Blackhawks thrash Tigers 48-0
’Hawks to host Shiloh Friday for Senior Night
The Pea Ridge Blackhawks went through their final tune-up game before the season finale, completely dominating Green Forest’s Tigers 48-0 to set up a final winner-take-all game this week with Shiloh.
Junior Samuel Beard led the way with a 160-yard three-touchdown effort on 19 carries. The leading rusher in the 4A-1 District, Beard put together his stats in the first quarter and one play into the second quarter. After scoring on a 58-yard jaunt on his first carry in the second quarter, Beard left the game, making way for reserves who were used liberally in a relatively easy win.
The ’Hawks rolled up nearly 500 yards of offense as opposed to just 120 total yards by the hosts. Green Forest could only pick up 34 yards on the ground against the ’Hawks’ stout defense.
“The boys carried out the game plan as practiced,” head coach Stephen Neal remarked, “and we had the opportunity to get a lot of players into the game. We have a tough game this Friday with Shiloh and we will be ready.”
The Tigers had first possession, but were stopped when their first three runs netted but a yard a carry. Beard carried three times for 16 yards and a first down on the Tiger 36. Three more runs by Beard picked up 18 yards to the Tiger 13 and three plays later, Beard was in the end zone, the last run a 1-yarder with 6:23 left in the first period. Junior Luis Reyes split the uprights for a 7-0 lead.
The Tigers rushed four times for just 2 total yards, with Mike Mahoney and Gavin Warden hitting ball carriers for losses. A 12yard pass gave the Tigers a little momentum, but without any success on the ground, Green Forest had to punt again.
Beard opened the possession with a 10-yard run to the Tiger 43. Two plays and 10 yards later, Beard rushed for another first down this time at the Tiger 33. Two more Beard runs totaled 14 yards and a first down on the Tiger 19. Three more jaunts by Beard took the ’Hawks into the end zone again, with the Blackhawk tailback finally scoring from 8 yards out with 0:17 left in the period. Reyes was good on the PAT again for a 14-0 lead.
Blackhawk defender Xavier Aguilar sacked the Tiger quarterback for a 3-yard loss in the first play after the kickoff, dooming the home boys to punt for the third time with 11 minutes left in the half. A great 30-yard run back by the ’Hawks’ Cole Brown was nullified by a penalty flag but the setback only delayed the inevitable for a few seconds. Beard launched a 58-yard scoring run on the first down play, pushing the ’Hawk lead to 20-0 with 10:47 left in the half.
While the Tigers still could not make headway on the ground against the ’Hawks, they finally connected on a 45-yarder to get into Blackhawk territory for the first time at the Pea Ridge 35. They still could not move the ball on the ground, and after failing to move the chains on three tries, the Tigers were short on a 45-yard field goal.
The ’Hawks took over from their 20 and it took just four plays to get back into the end zone. This possession was to bed a passing attack, with quarterback opening with a 5-yarder to Trevor Blair. A 6-yard toss to Peyton Galbraith gained a first down to the ’Hawk 31, and when Carson Rhine saw no one open on second down, the senior play maker dashed up field for 3 yards, avoiding a sack. Rhine’s next play was a 66-yard bomb to Blair who cruised into the end zone with 6:36 left in the half. Reyes’ kick was true resulting in a 27-0 lead.
Justin Koon dropped a Tiger ball carrier for a yard loss on first down, and two plays later, the Tigers elected to punt away for the fifth time.
The next ’Hawk possession saw Tristin Brewer tasked with running the ball. Though only having two carries, it was all the ’Hawks needed to score again. The first run produced 15 yards and his followup effort tacked on another 38 yards to score standing up with 6:10 left in the half. Reyes’ kick was true again and Pea Ridge led 34-0 which would be the score at the half.
The ’Hawks got the ball to start the second half, and this time sophomore Carlos Martinez was called on to fill the tailback position. His first run netted 11 yards, with his next two runs combining for 12 yards and a first down on the Tiger 33. Martinez nearly broke one on the next call, gaining 15 yards to the Tiger 19. Two more Martinez runs totaled 13 yards, and three plays later, Martinez scores on a 3-yard run. Reyes’ kick with 8:06 on the clock showed the ’Hawk advantage had risen to 41-0.
Justin Koon came up with an interception on the Tigers’ next possession, and when the ’Hawk reserves could not cash in on it, the two teams eventually traded punts. With the ’Hawks’ next possession that began on the Blackhawk 48, Martinez took a hand off on second down, then raced 52 yards into the end zone for the ’Hawks’ last score. Reyes punched through his sixth PAT kick to set the final score at 48-0.
Besides Beard’s heroics, Martinez had a great night hauling the pigskin 16 times for 138 yards. Brewer ran twice for 50 yards with reserve quarterback Zac Withrow rushing twice for 28 yards. Rhine was three for three in passing for 77 yards. Blair was his top receiver, catching two for 71 yards.
There were 27 Blackhawks who recorded a tackle in the contest, with David Wood leading the way with nine tackles. Toby Dunning was second with seven tackles with Arnoldo Rascon, Jake Adams, Justin Koon and Xavier Aguilar each coming up with four stops.
The playoff seeds to be awarded to teams from the 4A-1 will be decided this Friday night in head to head competition. The Pea Ridge/Shiloh game will yield the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, with the Prairie Grove/Lincoln game this week to determine the No. 3 and No. 4 seedings. Gentry plays Gravette this week with a Gentry victory clinching the Pioneers playoff berth as a No. 5 seed. A Gravette upset would put Gentry and Gravette into a 3 way tie with Berryville with the playoff team determined by the tie breaker system.