Pea Ridge Keeps Streak Going
PEA RIDGE — Pea Ridge was in command with a 21-0 lead over Gravette on the 4A-1 Conference opener last Friday.
But the Blackhawks (4-0, 1-0 4A-1) had to hang on at the end after Gravette (1-3, 0-1) scored a pair of second half touchdowns and had the ball with a chance to tie the game late.
“We’re up 21-0, and then we jump-started that drive there with a 15-yard facemask and got them out of a hole down there and got them going a little bit,” said Pea Ridge coach Tony Travis after his team gave up a long drive that helped Gravette climb back in the game. “They got the momentum, and when it swung, it swung hard. And the next thing you know it’s 21-13.”
The Blackhaws ran the ball effectively against Gravette, with senior Dayton Winn rushing for 193 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Austin Easterling was also effective in the run game, adding a long scoring run.
Travis said the Blackhawks’ offensive line played a solid game against what he called a tough Gravette defensive front.
Pea Ridge will face another stern test this week as it travels to Lincoln to take on the unbeaten Wolves. Lincoln (4-0, 1-0) posted three straight shutouts to open the season.
Brody Gets Hot For Gravette
PEA RIDGE — Gravette was down three touchdowns and showing few signs of life when its passing game suddenly started to click in a 21-13 loss to Pea Ridge last Friday.
Quarterback Chase Brody connected on eight straight passes at one point late in the game, leading the Lions (1-3, 0-1 4A-1 Conference) back from a 21-0 deficit. Brody directed a long scoring drive, then tossed a short TD pass that pulled the Lions within 21-13 with 11 minutes left.
“I thought Chase played excellent all night,” Gravette coach Bill Harrelson said. “He ran hard when he ran the ball, he completed pass-after-pass, he made big third-down completions.
“Chase Brody is a leader and he’s done a great job all year.”
Harrelson said the passing game is something the Lions can hang their hats on moving forward as the season approaches the midway point.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt we’ll try and build on our passing game,” Harrelson said. “And we’ll try and do more and just keep going.”
The Lions will take on longtime Benton County rival Gentry on Friday.
CHIP SOUZA
Wolves Won’t Play In New Stadium This Season
School officials at Lincoln decided last week that all home football games this season will be played at the Wolves’ old stadium instead of its new facility on Highway 62.
Lincoln opened its new school in August, but the football facility located just west of the building is not quite ready. That means Friday’s homecoming game between Lincoln (4-0, 1-0 4A-1 Conference) and Pea Ridge (4-0, 1-0) will take place at the football field just north of the town square.
“The new stadium isn’t quite ready to go,” Lincoln coach Brad Harris said. “There’s still a lot of dirt around the field and concession area. So, instead of rushing things, we’ll open the new stadium next year when the landscaping and everything is finished and people can see what a nice place we have.”
Playing at the old stadium won’t diminish the excitement of Friday’s game between Lincoln and Pea Ridge, which both opened conference play with victories. Lincoln won 37-6 at Berryville, while Pea Ridge held off Gravette 21-13 at home.
Dalton Simmons rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns, while sophomore quarterback Drew Harris threw for 196 yards and one touchdown for Lincoln. Pea Ridge beat Gravette behind Dayton Winn, who rushed for 193 yards and took a screen pass 46 yards for a touchdown.
It was the first win for Pea Ridge over Gravette since 1994.
“I think we’re very similar to Pea Ridge and we’re both teams that maybe have surprised some people this year,” Harris said. “I know we’ve got to do a good job against Winn because, if he gets a little space or we miss a tackle, he’ll hurt you.”
— RICK FIRES
Tigers Ready For Rivalry Week
Every time Farmington and Prairie Grove meet up in the Battle of Highway 62, it is guaranteed to be one of the biggest rivalry games of the high school football season.
But with both teams still undefeated and playing for the top spot in the 4A-1 Conference, this year’s game — to be played this Friday in Prairie Grove — figures to be one of the best in years.
“It’s always a big game when we play Farmington,” Prairie Grove coach Danny Abshier said. “It’s like they say, you can throw the records out every year.”
While Prairie Grove has looked very impressive on defense getting out to a 3-0 start this year, Abshier said scoring points against Farmington’s defense will be a key on Friday.
“We’ve got to find a way to score,” Abshier said. “We’ve got to find a way to sustain some drives.
“And then on defense we have to slow down (Spencer) Boudrey and then stop their pass.”
Prairie Grove could be without lineman Luke Johnson, who suffered a leg injury in the first quarter last week at Ozark. Abshier said Johnson is still day-to-day.
— VERNON TARVER