PEA RIDGE — Farmington football coach Mike Adams told his players all week he wanted them to play with a sense of urgency Friday night.
It only took one offensive play for Adams to see the Cardinals were listening during their 40-6 win at Pea Ridge.
Quarterback Deon Clay found Jared Martin for a 62-yard touchdown pass on Farmington’s first play from scrimmage, kicking off a big first half that helped the Cardinals (7-2, 4-2) cruise to the win.
Clay led Farmington by completing 15 of 21 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns, both of which came in the first quarter.
“We know Pea Ridge is a big, physical team,” Adams said. “They’re bigger than us, and we knew we had to take the fight to them. We really, purposely, tried to get some big plays on them early.”
Clay’s strike to Martin stunned a Pea Ridge team hoping to pull off an upset on its home field. The Blackhawks (3-6, 1-5) did put together a 14-play, 69-yard drive capped by Braxton Caudill’s 4-yard touchdown run. But when Pea Ridge failed to tie the game with a two-point conversion, Farmington took over.
Clay, who completed 14 of his first 15 passes, found Spencer Boudrey for a 48-yard score on Farmington’s next possession. Martin scored the Cardinals’ third touchdown on a one-yard run, giving Farmington a 23-6 halftime lead.
“We went to the no-huddle and tried to wear them out a little bit,” Adams said of a first half in which Farmington outgained Pea Ridge 256-87. “We executed our game plan pretty well.”
Said Pea Ridge coach Tony Travis: “A first-play touchdown really got us on our heels. ... We got our heads down at that point.”
Farmington eased off the aerial attack in the second half, attempting only three passes. But Jonathon Sims helped the Cardinals eat clock and wear down Pea Ridge, rushing for 46 of his 83 yards in the second half. It included a 4-yard touchdown run that gave Farmington a 30-6 lead early in the third quarter.
After Jesus Magana’s 35-yard field goal made it 33-6, running back Javier Claudio capped the scoring with a 22-yard touchdown run.
Pea Ridge’s offense was led by running back Dayton Winn, who had 51 yards in the loss. Quarterback Austin Easterling also completed 5 of 9 passes for 52 yards for the Blackhawks.
“I’m disappointed,” Travis said. “I felt like we could put on a better showing than we did, especially with a playoff spot on the line. Farmington played like a team fighting to get in the playoffs.”
GameBreaker
Why Farmington Won
Quarterback Deon Clay hit Pea Ridge for big plays early, throwing 62- and 48-yard touchdown passes in the first quarter to give the Cardinals a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Why Pea Ridge Lost
Pea Ridge’s run-oriented offense couldn’t keep up with Farmington’s quick-strike passing attack, managing 87 yards (68 on the ground) in the first half.