Positive Energy Comes From Loss

FARMINGTON - Friday's 13-7 nonconference loss to Pea Ridge won't affect Farmington's 5A West status; yet the game may serve as an incentive for the underachieving Cardinal offense.

Looking at game video this week, a number of players could be telling themselves, "We're better than that." Against Pea Ridge, Farmington's offensive efficiency was hampered by an inability to run the football. They had six total rushing yards in a second half meltdown that included one fumble lost and an interception. Egos that may have been inflated after a week two, 43-0, win at Huntsville have been brought down to earth.

According to last year's starting quarterback, Brice Waggle, who was on hand to cheer for his former teammates, including this year's starter, Trey Waggle, his younger brother; Farmington head coach Mike Adams likes to use the run to set up the pass.

"I think the run game always opens up the passing game, that's always been his motto," Brice Waggle said. "Instead of two safeties out there, there's only one."

Problem was, Farmington didn't run the football effectively Friday. Further hindering the Cardinals were a flurry of dropped passes, blown reads, wrong routes and a breakdown in communication between the various components that make up an offense. Farmington fans can bet each of these areas will be addressed this week in practice.

"During my time (at Farmington), it was Coach Sutton, now, I think it's Coach Hornbeck, they spend a lot of time with the receivers," Brice Waggle said. "They do a lot of drills in practice that really help them out."

Brice Waggle, who is now playing college football at Northeastern State University at Tahlequah, Okla., also foresees Trey's development continuing.

"He's never played a high school game in his life (as quarterback), until the Prairie Grove game, that was his first high school game," Brice Waggle said. "From Prairie Grove to now, he's already getting more comfortable. He's making better throws and better reads."

The focus will be on executing every play. Adams will lead by example, saying he didn't have the offense prepared to perform well against Pea Ridge.

"Offensively, I obviously didn't have them prepared," Adams said, questioning whether the unit had even generated 100 yards of total offense in the game. "

Farmington led in the first half with only 48 yards of offense because they didn't turn the ball over, running off 28 plays to Pea Ridge's 22. The Cardinals had eight first downs to six for Pea Ridge and converted four of eight third downs, but got into fourth down three times and only converted once. Farmington had 99 yards of offense in the second half. The lone Cardinal touchdown, an 8-yard run by Javan Jowers, was set up by Skyler Montez's 40-yard interception return. Pea Ridge scored twice on Jakota Sainsbury quarterback sneaks in the third quarter.