FARMINGTON - Overshadowed on Friday, 13-7, loss at home against Pea Ridge was the supreme play of Farmington's defense, which didn't allow Pea Ridge to convert a single third down in the first half.
The Blackhawks were 0-6 and held to 76 yards of total offense over the first two quarters. Farmington coach Mike Adams found a positive note in how the Cardinal defense was able to contain Pea Ridge for much of the game.
PEA RIDGE 13, FARMINGTON 7
Pea Ridge^0^0^13^0^—^13
Farmington^0^7^0^0^—^7
Second Quarter
Farmington — Javan Jowers 7-yard run (kick), 9:18
Third Quarter
Pea Ridge — Jakota Sainsbury 1-yard run (kick), 4:51
Pea Ridge — Jakota Sainsbury 1-yard run (kick), 2:48
"Our defense played really well, that team is averaging almost 50 points a game," Adams said. "Playing a team like this will help us get off to a good start in our conference."
Pea Ridge had scored 91 points in their first two games of the season, winning 41-22 over Booneville and 52-6 against Green Forest, but they had all sorts of trouble against Farmington.
Farmington linebacker Niles Thomas intercepted Pea Ridge's first pass of the game, returning the ball to the Blackhawks' 8. Farmington turned the ball over on downs when Duncan Truesdale stopped a jet-sweep for a 6-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the 9. On the last play of the first quarter, Farmington senior Trenton McChristian returned an interception 29 yards to the Blackhawk 16. Farmington again failed to score, turning the ball over on downs. Pea Ridge was not so lucky the third time. Skyler Montez ran a pick back 40 yards to the Pea Ridge two. After a penalty, Javan Jowers took a quick-pitch left and scored a 7-yard touchdown run with 9:18 left in the second quarter. Farmington led 7-0 at the half.
The pendulum swung the other way in the second half with Farmington doing so many things wrong, they were living on a prayer which looked like grace might answer until the late turnover on downs sealed their fate. Multiple mistakes on a key series in the third period would dog Farmington like a compound fracture for the rest of the game. The change of fortunes began when Pea Ridge senior middle linebacker Wyatt Weber intercepted a Farmington pass and returned the football into Cardinal territory with 9:48 remaining in the third period.
Three plays later Farmington jumped off-sides on defense giving Pea Ridge a first down at the Cardinal 41. Pea Ridge quarterback Jakota Sainsbury converted another third down on a keeper to the Farmington 28. The Cardinals were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the run and the penalty moved the ball to the 13. Sainsbury ended a 31:09 scoring drought in the game for the Blackhawks with a 1-yard touchdown. The extra-point kick tied the game at 7-7. The Cardinals didn't field the ensuing kickoff which was recovered by Jacob Torres at the Cardinal 29. After an incomplete pass, Pea Ridge kept their attack on the ground, going the 29-yard distance to pay dirt in six plays capped by Sainsbury's quarterback sneak on fourth-and-goal from the Farmington one. Farmington blocked the point-after kick, but Pea Ridge had seized a 13-7 lead with three minutes to go in the third period which they would not relinquish.
Sports on 09/21/2016