Perfect Storm Dampens Cardinals

The setting at Blackhawk Stadium represented the perfect storm Friday for the visiting Farmington Cardinals, who lost 26-7.

The previously winless Pea Ridge Blackhawks came into week nine with the third best point-production in the league. The Blackhawks had a pair of early season nonconference victories taken away by forfeit when a ruling went against them. The Blackhawks were in position to upset league front-runner, Prairie Grove, in week eight driving deep into Prairie Grove territory in the final minute with the score tied at 28-all before a fumble was scooped up by Prairie Grove and returned for a touchdown.

The Cardinals surrendered a 71-yard, 12-play scoring drive after kicking off with Shane Ivy’s 16-yard touchdown concluding the Pea Ridge march which chewed up 5:57 of the first quarter. The Cardinal offense then pushed the ball inside the Blackhawks’ 10 before going in reverse and losing the ball on downs at the 18. Pea Ridge again drove the length-of-the-field with Seth Brumley’s first score giving the Blackhawks’ a 14-0 lead.

Farmington took the opening kickoff to start the third quarter and moved into Blackhawk territory before losing a fumble on a pass play. For the third time in the contest, Pea Ridge sustained a long drive, this one of 64 yards climaxed by Ivy from 2 yards out.

Two promising drives ended in frustration for the Cardinals with fumbles lost deep in Blackhawk territory and Pea Ridge increased their lead to 26-0 on a Brumley 4-yard keeper but Farmington was able to execute their hurry- up offense completing their only scoring drive in 2:57 on Justice Hobbs’ 1-yard run with Brice Waggle at quarterback. Waggle was 2-2 for 20 yards.

Pea Ridge won 26-7 and the Cardinals entertain Lincoln in the regular-season finale on Friday battling for the right to host a home playoff game in what may be the last meeting between the schools with Farmington moving to 5A.

“Home field is huge, particularly in our classification (4A) where there is no regionalization,” said Farmington coach Mike Adams. “It’s a lot better to stay home and play instead of taking a six hour bus ride and have to play in an unfamiliar place.”

Cardinal defensive end Gabe Sequichie credits nose guard Thomas Clay with opening up things for the rest of the defense.

“Every team we have played so far has realized they have to doubleteam Thomas. If they block the defensive ends that’s going to leave the linebackers open and if they block the linebackers that’s going to leave the defensive ends open. That makes our defense an even bigger threat to have big boys on the line.

“He [Thomas Clay] is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever played with. It’s definitely a pleasure to play with someone who has that kind of heart. I believe that if everyone on our team played with that kind of heart there’s no doubt by the end of the season we’d be wearing state championship rings.