'Hawks lose heartbreaker at Gentry with a late turnover
Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The 'Hawks lost a heartbreaker to the Gentry Pioneers with a late turnover preserving a 14-8 victory for the hosts.
Hoping to earn their first victory of the season, a strong defensive stand by the 'Hawks late in the game seemed to set the stage for a dramatic come from behind triumph. An inadvertent snap from center with the 'Hawks near the Pioneer goal line snuffed out the 'Hawks last chance. The game's emotional roller coaster left Pea Ridge head coach Mark Laster speechless.
Although rated an eightpoint underdog to the Gentry squad on their homecoming day, the 'Hawks nevertheless entered the game with high hopes after showing steady improvement over the past few games. The Pioneers'Caleb Ramsey put the 'Hawks into a hole early as he threw a 79-yard touchdown bomb to Robert Henderson on the fourth play of the game. The kick was good, lifting Gentry to a 7-0 lead with 10: 33 showing in the first quarter.
The 'Hawks' Tyler Ramsey was successful early, rushing for 12 yards on his first two carries. A Kip Kelly five-yard run put the ball at midfield but three other rushes by Pea Ridge netted just three yards as the Pioneers took over on their own 47.
The teams traded punts until a fierce 'Hawks pursuit knocked the ball loose on Gentry's own 23 yard line. Penalties pushed the 'Hawks back but Pea Ridge cashed in when Kelly found Corey Trevathan open in the end zone for a 29 yard touchdown with 11: 23 left in the half. The kick was blocked to leave Gentry ahead 7-6.
The 'Hawks held Gentry to a 3 rd and 15 situation, but the Pioneers' Ramsey came through again as he again found Henderson running down the sidelines. The Gentry receiver hauled in the pass over the outstretched arms of a 'Hawks' defender to reach paydirt for a 71 yard scoring play as the Pioneers now led 14-6 with 10: 56 left in the half.
They went back to trading punts for a while until Korey Gann came up with a big interception and 28 yard run back to give Pea Ridge the ball on the Pioneer 37. The drive was short-lived as the Pioneers intercepted it back on the very first play from scrimmage as Gentry went into intermission up 14-6.
The 'Hawks got the ball to begin the half but a big quarterback sack compounded by a intentional grounding call on 4 th down gave Gentry the ball on the 'Hawks 29. The Pioneers managed a first down to the 'Hawks 14 and ran eight plays but couldn't crack the 'Hawks defenses the threat ending with an interception and run back to the Gentry 36. Two running plays netted two yards with the Pioneers intercepting a 3 rd down pass to take over on their own 35. They could not move the ball and a fierce punt rush by the 'Hawks along with a mishandled snap led the Pioneer punter to kick the ball out the back of end zone for a safety, getting Pea Ridge two points as the score now stood at 14-8 with 4: 11 left in the third period.
The teams traded punts until Pea Ridge launched a 14 play drive that reached the Gentry 25. Ramsey rushed six times for 36 yards with Kelly rambling twice for 14 yards to spark the drive. The drive ran out of team on the 25 and Gentry got the ball back on downs.
Gentry then launched their best drive of the game to eat up nearly five minutes and moving into Pea Ridge territory at the 42. The 'Hawks held however, and got the ball back with just over two minutes remaining in the game.
The 'Hawks crossed up the Pioneer defense as Kelly hit little-used receiver Cameron Thompson for two big yardage plays, passes of 13 and 14 yards to give Pea Ridge a first down on the Gentry 31. The Pioneers, desperate to stop the passing game, committed pass interference to give the 'Hawks a first down on the 16 yard line. The roof fell in on second down when the ball was inadvertently snapped early, hitting Kelly, who was looking to the sidelines for the next play, in the side of his head. The ball bounced Gentry's way with the Pioneers covering it on the 17 yard line then running out the clock for the win.
The 'Hawks' Ramsey led all rushers with 79 yards on 13 carries, with Ryan Walker gaining six yards on one carry while Denver Bell had -1 yards on 11 carries. Gentry's four big sacks of Kelly left him with negative rushing yardage with Kelly completing eight passes for 86 yards. Thompson caught three passes for 43 yards.
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