GENTRY -- Pea Ridge coach Tony Travis warned his team that even though Gentry had not won a game this season, the Pioneers were dangerous.
The Blackhawks took that message to heart after Gentry took a first-quarter lead Friday night. Stone Faulkenberry connected on a pass to his brother Jake for a touchdown. Alex Ellis put one between the posts for the extra point.
The Pea Ridge defense held the Pioneers without a first down in the second and third quarters and pulled away for a 30-14 victory to start 4A-1 Conference play.
"We talked about it coming over here and even before the game, Gentry's offense is capable of scoring," Travis said. "They have some play-making ability. I think our depth played a factor. We got to play a lot of guys just one way, while they had a lot of guys going two ways.
"But we had some timely catches, especially on third and fourth down, that helped the cause."
Gentry coach Brian Little said the difference in depth was key in the game. Pea Ridge had a team with twice the number of Gentry's players.
"They two-platooned us," Little said. "We have some kids who are fighting, and I'm proud of them for that. Week in and week out, the competition is tough. But I'm proud of their effort."
The Blackhawks defense locked down the Pioneers offense, after the first-quarter touchdown. Pea Ridge held Gentry without a first down for almost three quarters to improve to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the 4A-1.
Travis said his defense just did a good job pursuing after the first quarter.
"I felt like we did a good job getting off blocks and hustling to the football," Travis said.
Pea Ridge quarterback Seth Brumley helped give the Blackhawks the lead for good with a big touchdown pass on fourth down in the second quarter.
Brumley found senior Nick Hardy on a perfect fade in the corner of the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 17. The duo hooked up again for the two-point conversion on the next play for a 14-7 Pea Ridge lead with 8 minutes, 20 seconds left in the half.
Brumley, who also ran for a touchdown, followed that up with three big completions on a 55-yard touchdown drive before halftime. Garrett Easterling finished it off with a tough 7-yard touchdown run for a 21-7 Pea Ridge lead at halftime.
The Pioneers picked up another touchdown in the fourth on a six-yard run by Kevin Easter. Ellis kicked another for the Pioneers' final point of the night.
EXTRA POINTS
• Gentry starting quarterback Stone Faulkenberry was injured late in the first half and did not return. Pea Ridge defensive lineman Jonathon Small left the game in the first quarter with concussion-like symptoms, Travis said.
• The Pioneers played three different quarterbacks.
• Pea Ridge senior running back Shane Ivy did not play Friday, but coach Travis said he would return next week.
UP NEXT: The Pioneers (0-4, 0-1) travel to Berryville next week, while Pea Ridge plays host to Lincoln.
HOW THEY SCORED
Pea Ridge 30 Gentry 14
Pea Ridge 6 15 2 7 -- 30
Gentry 7 0 0 7 -- 14
FIRST QUARTER
Pea -- Brumley 31 run (kick failed, 9:26. Gent -- J. Faulkenberry 23 pass from S. Faulkenberry (Ellis kick), 4:24.
SECOND QUARTER
Pea -- Hardy 17 pass from Brumley (Brumley-to-Hardy), 8:20. Pea -- Easterling 7 run (Edwards kick), 2:05.
THIRD QUARTER
Pea -- Safety, 5:42.
FOURTH QAURTER
Pea -- Patton 3 run (Edwards kick), 2:47. Gent -- Easter 6 run (Ellis kick), :35.6.
Sports on 10/01/2014