Pea Ridge 2-0 on Winn’s monster week
PEA RIDGE 29, BOONEVILLE 19
BOONEVILLE — Pea Ridge found itself down by more than two touchdowns after the first quarter but still found a way to win its second game in the span of five days.
Blackhawks running back Drew Winn led the way again Friday to take a 29-19 victory against Booneville at Bearcat Stadium. Pea Ridge opened the season Monday with a 5030 victory against Hamburg in Conway.
Winn rushed for 166 yards and 3 touchdowns while carrying the ball 24 times against the Bearcats. Winn also finished with 170 yards and 4 touchdowns against Hamburg.
“This gave us a great challenge,” Pea Ridge Coach Stephen Neal said. “We were able to overcome against a great program. We challenged our kids, if we want to be where we need to be, we have to play the best. Not late in the season but early.”
Booneville (0-1) couldn’t have asked for a better first quarter, taking a 19-0 lead early in the game by scoring on its first three possessions.
Pea Ridge (2-0) bounced back by allowing no points on Booneville’s next nine possessions.
“I was worried because we still are a little young,” Booneville Coach Scott Hyatt said. “But they came out ready to play. We just made some mistakes you can’t make and still win football games. That’s part of growing up.”
The Blackhawks were able to get back in it behind a strong effort from Winn, who scored the last three touchdowns of the game.
Pea Ridge took the lead for the first time when Winn picked up a fumble on fourth and 11 and ran it in for a 22yard score. That gave the Blackhawks a 22-19 lead after a two-point conversion.
“There were some kids on our sidelines after he scored on that play that just said, ‘That’s just Drew being Drew,’ ” Neal said. “That’s just what he does. He makes plays regardless of how he gets the ball in his hands.”
Winn closed the game out with a 47-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 2919 with just 2:01 left in the fourth quarter.
“If we get the ball to him by a fumble or a hand off, good things happen,” Neal said.
Booneville was led by running back Carson Ray, who finished with 17 carries for 83 yards and 3 touchdowns.