PEA RIDGE -- Pea Ridge is headed to the state quarterfinals for the first time in school history after beating Pulaski Robinson in a 28-27 thriller Friday at Blackhawk Stadium.
The Blackhawks (10-2) earned their second consecutive 10-victory season by forcing five first-half turnovers, running the ball at will in the second half and stopping a two-point conversion after Robinson scored in the final seconds.
"It's a big step for our program," Pea Ridge Coach Tony Travis said. " So proud of these guys and hopefully we can keep it going next week."
Robinson (9-3) got the ball trailing 28-21 with 1 minute, 37 seconds left and needing to go 77 yards. Facing a fourth-and-3 at the Pea Ridge 18 with 14 seconds left, Senators quarterback Brennen Johnson found Arkansas commit TJ Hammonds for a score with eight seconds left.
Robinson lined up for the 2-point conversion with Hammonds at quarterback, but a false start backed them up to the 8-yard line and a Johnson pass was batted down in the end zone.
"We had a play that was wide open and we jumped offsides," Robinson Coach Todd Eskola said. "We made the decision to try to win it in regulation. We score on it, it was wide open and we jump offsides. We changed and there was some contact in the end zone (on the ensuing pass), but that's the breaks."
Junior running back Zaine Holley ran for a game-high 142 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries for Pea Ridge. Sophomore Drew Winn ran for two second-half touchdowns, the latter of which was a 15-yarder that gave the Blackhawks a 28-21 lead with 10:30 left in the game.
Pea Ridge ran for 191 yards in the victory, including 117 in the second half after averaging only 3.7 yards per attempt in the first two quarters. The Blackhawks ran the ball on 25 of their final 28 offensive snaps and were able to disrupt the Senators' defense for much of the second half.
"Disappointed in the way we ran the ball consistently in the first half, so we got after them a little bit at halftime, challenged our offensive line," Travis said. "I think we've got a good offensive line and they responded in the second half with some good drives.
"But the story of the night was our defense. They played outstanding against one of the best offensive teams I've ever seen in 4A. Those guys have weapons everywhere."
Johnson threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns while Hammonds had six catches for 76 yards, including the late score, but Robinson's offense was crippled by the early turnovers. The Senators lost four fumbles and threw an interception in the first half. They finished the night with six fumbles.
Two of the first-half turnovers led directly to Pea Ridge points, including a costly miscue late in the first half. Johnson was stripped by Bradley Beavers and the ball rolled backwards almost 30 yards before James Tackett scooped it up at the 2-yard line and fell into the end zone to tie the game at 14 heading into intermission.
"Can't turn it over as many times as we did and expect to win," Eskola said. "We were lucky to be in the ball game as bad as we played."
Pea Ridge will face Central Arkansas Christian next week on the road in Little Rock.
Sports on 11/21/2015