PEA RIDGE -- Pea Ridge didn't show any lingering effects from last week's huge playoff victory.
[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD: Full results + recaps, photos and more]
Hayden Holtgrewe returned a punt 83 yards for an opening touchdown and the Blackhawks never trailed in rolling past Hamburg 36-24 on Friday night in Blackhawk Stadium in a Class 4A state quarterfinal playoff game.
Pea Ridge (12-1) will host 4A-1 Conference rival Shiloh Christian next week with the winner advancing to the 4A state championship game. Pea Ridge defeated Shiloh Christian 30-13 in the final game of the regular season.
Holtgrewe's big return was one of several big plays by the Pea Ridge special teams, and helped the Blackhawks get off to the kind of start Coach Stephen Neal wanted. Pea Ridge also got a 76-yard kickoff return from Drew Winn to open the second half.
Pea Ridge leaned on its ground game in the fourth quarter to wear down the Hamburg defense. Both Zaine Holley (115) and Winn (110) went over 100 yards. The Blackhawks also exploited the Lions' pass defense as Jakota Sainsbury finished the night 10-of-18 passing for 165 yards and a touchdown pass.
Sports on 11/26/2016