Lincoln Homecoming Game Goes Awry

BLACKHAWKS HAND LINCOLN CONFERENCE LOSS

LINCOLN — All scoring in the first three quarters belonged to visiting Pea Ridge as the Blackhawks handed Lincoln their first conference loss in the 4A-1, 35- 9, on Friday.

Lincoln celebrated homecoming but the Blackhawks didn’t cooperate. Pea Ridge’s senior runningback, Dakota Winn, came into the game with 621 yards rushing on 63 carries for an average of more than 155-yards-per game. He didn’t get his average on Friday, finishing with 136 yards on 21 carries but presented enough of a threat to open up the passing game.

Pea Ridge hasn’t thrown the ball a lot this year but scored on three touchdown passes as Lincoln adjusted their defense to try to hold Winn in check. Senior quarterback Austin Easterling came in just 9- of-24 for 153 yards and nearly doubled his season passing yardage with 126 against Lincoln.

Within a span of just over four minutes in the third quarter, Daniel Beard caught touchdown passes of 53 and 5 yards from Easterling as Pea Ridge opened up a 28-0 lead.

A mere 3: 46 later, Pea Ridge scored again on another long pass to Jack Rapp of 59 yards and Lincoln trailed 35- 0 after three quarters.

Lincoln forced Pea Ridge to punt on their first series, but the Wolves couldn’t keep their drive going and Winn ripped off a 50yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Dalton Morgan scored for Pea Ridge from 2 yards out midway through the second. The Wolves then drove to the Pea Ridge 3 but turned the ball over on downs. Dalton Simmons intercepted a Blackhawk pass to end the visitor’s final threat and Lincoln trailed 14-0 at halftime.

The Wolves put together a sustained drive and finally got on the board with Johnny Yang’s 3-yard touchdown run with 8: 43 remaining in the game and tacked on a safety when they tackled the Pea Ridge punter in the end zone. The game was scoreless over the last 5:30 and Pea Ridge won 35-9.

On the positive side for Lincoln, Simmons gained 67 yards on 13 carries, while Drew Harris added 32 yards on 6 rushes and Yang had 4 runs for 27 yards including Lincoln’s only touchdown. Drew Harris was not intercepted, completing 14-of-27 passes for 140 yards.

Next up for the Wolves is U.S. 62 rival, Prairie Grove, which is coming off an emotional 27-21 win over Farmington. Lincoln will host the Tigers on Friday at their old high school field.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RON MOONEY Lincoln’s Dalton Simmons leaps over Dayton Winn, of Pea Ridge, during the Wolves’ Homecoming game on Friday. Pea Ridge defeated Lincoln 35-9.