Living On A Prayer

FARMINGTON - Farmington remained one play away from tying the game until a fourth-down incomplete pass with 40 seconds left allowed Pea Ridge to escape with a 13-7 win Friday.

The contest played at Farmington's Allen Holland Field was the first meeting between the two schools since Farmington left the 4A-1 Conference following the 2013-2014 school year. Both teams made mistakes. Pea Ridge survived three first-half interceptions with solid defensive play, holding Farmington to seven points off the three turnovers. Pea Ridge Coach Stephen Neal said the game tested his team's ability to handle adversity.

"This was a huge test for us because of the way their defensive front plays," Neal said. "If we can't complete some play-action passes, we're in for a dogfight."

Pea Ridge was able to hang on only because their defense played lights out - equaling the Farmington effort. Farmington's only touchdown came on an 8-yard run by Javan Jowers after taking a pitch. The score was set up by Skyler Montez's 40-yard interception return. Pea Ridge took a 13-7 lead on a pair of Jakota Sainsbury quarterback sneaks in the third quarter.

Farmington experienced all kinds of woes in the second half, but Pea Ridge couldn't put any more points on the board due to the dogged defensive effort by the Cardinals. On the second play of the fourth quarter, Farmington drew a 15-yard penalty for roughing the kicker during a Pea Ridge punt. With the yardage marked off, Pea Ridge kept the ball but failed to score when Trenton McChristian picked off a pass that bounced off a Blackhawk receiver deep in Farmington territory. He was tackled at the 16 and Farmington had 10:58 to work with but turned the ball over on downs when Pea Ridge sophomore Mason Harwell broke up a fourth-down pass.

Farmington linebacker Jake Oskey stopped two runs and Montez deflected a pass forcing Pea Ridge into fourth-and-nine at their own 31. Robby Pickthall attempted to punt amidst a big rush but the kick was partially blocked by Farmington. The Cardinals did not fall on the ball when the short kick came down. Pea Ridge jumped on the ball, reacting as if Farmington had touched the ball on the ground. The officials awarded possession to the Blackhawks at their own 42 with 7:22 showing on the fourth-quarter clock. The ruling angered Farmington fans and coaches with Adams telling the referees, "We got it on video. He didn't touch it. That's horrible."

Late in the game, Farmington punter Kelton Price bobbled the snap, but managed to avoid a big Blackhawk rush and got off a desperation two-handed shovel pass, which was caught and carried for a first down. The Cardinals still couldn't generate a first down and Farmington lined up in punt formation on fourth-and-14 from their 31 but a low snap hit the upback. Oskey fell forward on the fumble but the ball turned over to Pea Ridge on downs at the 29 with the clock down to 3:47.

A block-in-the-back penalty cost the Blackhawks 15 yards. Farmington defensive end Jayden Goff and Price made tackles to put Pea Ridge in fourth-and-16 from the Cardinal 37. The ball was punted laterally out-of-bounds preventing a return and Farmington took possession at their own 28 with 1:46 remaining in the contest.

Despite costly mistakes, the Cardinals still were one play away from tying the game. They did convert a fourth-down with Trey Waggle passing to Staten, who initially bobbled the ball before hanging on at the Cardinal 47; but their drive to stay alive ended with an incompletion on fourth-and-7 from midfield. Pea Ridge ran out the clock and claimed a 13-7 win to improve to 3-0. With the loss, Farmington fell to 1-2.