GREENLAND — Dayton Winn rushed for 143 yards as Pea Ridge defeated Greenland 48-7 Friday at Jonathan Ramey Memorial Stadium.
On the opening drive of the game, Winn capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive with a 19-yard touchdown run to give the Blackhawks the initial lead.
While the Pea Ridge offense kept rolling and never surrendered the lead, the Pirates answered the Blackhawks’ second touchdown when Blade Snider returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to cut into the lead. Snider’s return was the only time the Pirates sniffed the end zone, however.
Greenland did not record a single first down, instead being held to eight three-and-outs and losing a fumble on its only other offensive drive.
“This is probably the worst night of offense in my 22 years of coaching,” Greenland coach Lee Larkan said. “In all of football, this answers everything — you’re either the hammer or the nail and tonight on every play, we were the nail.”
With the ball in Pea Ridge’s hands often, the Blackhawks were able to execute the option, led by Winn’s 7.5 yards per carry and two touchdowns, which does not include a 91-yard run before halftime that was called back because of a holding call.
“He had a big one called back, but he played well and he’s a special player,” Pea Ridge coach Tony Travis said. “We need him and we knew that last year.”
In addition to Winn’s two touchdowns, fellow senior quarterback Austin Easterling added three touchdowns as well. The signal caller rushed for two touchdowns and threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Daniel Beard before exiting the game with a 41-7 lead.
“We have a great group of seniors that have really provided a lot of leadership for us,” Travis said. “I was really encouraged with how are young guys came in and kept up the intensity tonight. I was proud of those guys.”
Among the youthful contributors for the Blackhawks was Winn’s younger brother, Dakota Winn, who scored the final touchdown of the game.
With conference play beginning next week for both teams, Pea Ridge (3-0) will host the Gravette Lions in the 4A-1 opener.
“I think this game prepared us well and we’re excited as we move into conference play and look forward to working toward our next goals,” Travis said. “We haven’t done well against Gravette as of late and we have a big week ahead of us, but I know our guys are going to be excited and they’re ready to roll.”
Greenland (1-2) will look to bounce back from back-to-back nonconference losses as it hosts the Melbourne Bearkats in its 3A-1 Conference opener.
“Pea Ridge is a good football team, but they weren’t that much better than us,” Larkan said. “We’re going to have to reach down inside and find something to get us going.”
PEA RIDGE 48, GREENLAND 7
Pea Ridge 14 17 10 7 — 48
Greenland 7 0 0 0 — 7
First Quarter
Pea — Day. Winn 19 run (DeLeon kick), 7:21.
Pea — Easterling 2 run (DeLeon kick), 0:48.
Green — Snider 71 kickoff return (Barausse kick), 0:35.
Second Quarter
Pea — FG DeLeon, 10:32.
Pea — Easterling 15 run (DeLeon kick), 7:02.
Pea — Day.Winn 1 run (DeLeon kick), 2:53.
Third Quarter
Pea — FG DeLeon 25, 9:39.
Pea — Beard 32 pass from Easterling (DeLeon kick), 6:22.
Fourth Quarter
Pea — Dak. Wynn 5 run (Klein kick), 4:53.