GRAVETTE — A passing contest was the last thing either coach expected between Gravette and Pea Ridge on Friday, but that’s what Gravette coach Bill Harrelson and Pea Ridge coach Tony Travis got in Lions Stadium.
The undefeated Lions prevailed 42-28 in the 4A-1 Conference opener, but it didn’t come easy.
With both teams sporting explosive running backs, it was a surprise that the game was decided largely through the air. Gravette (4-0, 1-0 4A-1) and Pea Ridge (2-2, 0-1) combined for 431 yards passing on the night.
Gravette was set to stop Pea Ridge running back Dayton Winn, who was averaging more than 150 rushing yards per game.
“We knew he was one of the best backs in the district,” Harrelson saidof Winn. “But they did a good job taking advantage with the pass. I thought we had good coverage, but their quarterback threw the ball right on the money and they made great catches.
“Nothing you can do about that.”
Travis said the Blackhawks knew coming in they would have to find a way to make Gravette respect the pass to have a chance.
“We want to run the ball and Gravette is great at stopping the run,” Travis said. “It was rough going in there, and they made some big plays through the air that were hard to recover from. But we played the No. 4 teamin the state tonight and fought to the end.”
Gravette running back Darrick Strzelecki was dependable around the goal line, scoring four short touchdowns. But quarterback Clayton Alexander produced the biggest plays, throwing for 246 yards.
Alexander struck first, hitting a wide-open Tyler Greenhaw streaking down the right sideline for a 61-yard touchdown. On the Lions’ next possession, Alexander continued the aerial show by completing four more passes. He finished the drive himself with a 1-yard scoring sneak.
Down 20-0 early in the second quarter, the Pea Ridge defense stood up. Tackles-for-loss by Rico Schneider and Blake Roughton and a fourthdown sack by Tyler Handy forced a turnover-ondowns.
Energized, the Blackhawk offense took flight. Tailback Dayton Winn got behind the defense and was hit in stride by Austin Easterling for a 65-yard score.
The Blackhawks scored again after three bigpasses from Easterling to Braxton Caudill, the last of which found the end zone with less than 1 second left in the half. Easterlingfinished with 185 yards passing and two scores.
The Lions were able to hold off Pea Ridge in the second half with a morebalanced attack.
This week, Gravette travels to Gentry, while Pea Ridge hosts Shiloh Christian.
Sports, Pages 9 on 09/28/2011