PEA RIDGE -- There will be a moment tonight in War Memorial Stadium when the quietest Pea Ridge player becomes the noisiest.
Blackhawks senior running back Zaine Holley has piled up big rushing totals all season (1,483 yards, 19 touchdowns on 267 carries), but he gets fired up the most during short yardage situations.
"If it's a third-and-2 or a fourth-and-2 and we just need those extra yards, he'll definitely pump up the O-line," said Pea Ridge senior right guard Tanner Flippo. "Sometimes, he'll crack a joke if we're up (on the scoreboard), but he usually just says, 'We need 2 yards. Just give me 2 yards. I know ya'll can give me 2 yards.'"
Mostly, though, Holley prefers to lead by example, whether it be during voluntary 5:30 a.m. workouts, or by staying after practice to get in more reps.
Teammates said they're inspired by Holley's no-nonsense approach.
"I've never seen him skip reps, even when we're outside of school," junior quarterback Jakota Sainsbury said.
The Blackhawks (13-1) will need everything Holley has to give when Pea Ridge takes on Warren (14-0) at 7 p.m. in the Class 4A state championship game in Little Rock. It is Pea Ridge's first state title game appearance.
Holley said he doesn't have any hobbies, other than working out. He has turned a storage area in his family's home into his own personal gym with dumbbells and curl bars.
"It's not much, but it works for me," said Holley, who is 5-8, 180, and pound for pound the strongest player on the team.
Only two players, linemen Beau German and Kamden Boyd, can lift more than Holley, who bench presses 255, power cleans 235 and squats 405.
Holley's strength is one reason he averages 105.6 yards per game, has 9 games with 100-plus rushing yards and has 7 multi-touchdown games. Last season, he rushed for 1,652 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Junior linebacker Robby Pickthall said he won't miss trying to tackle Holley during practices.
"He's so tough to bring down," Pickthall said. "When he wants to lay the boom, he can really lay the boom. And when you have him one-on-one in the open field, he's going to truck you."
Holley blocks with the same amount of enthusiasm, teammates said. He has multiple pancake blocks this season while plowing open running for junior speedster Drew Winn, who has 1,307 yards and 21 touchdowns on 107 carries (12.2 yards per run).
"I know there's going to be an open hole when he's leading the way," Winn said. "There's a few times where they're to the outside and he'll move the guy out of the way. Whoever is there, he'll create an open space to run. He can definitely lay some hits on people."
First-year coach Stephen Neals aid Holley is among the most "upstanding young men" he's ever coached.
"If you were to walk by him in the hallway, you wouldn't know that that was who he was," Neal said. "Not just because of his size, but because of his temperament and the way he carries himself. He's very quiet, very humble, yet one of the most competitive and hard-working kids that I've ever been around."
Holley has rushed for more than 100 yards in all four of Pea Ridge's playoff games, but none were more important than his performance in a 53-28 upset victory over powerhouse Nashville in the second round. That night, he rushed a season-high 33 times for 148 yards and 2 touchdowns while playing with a shoulder injury.
"I told him after the game that he's a true warrior," Neal said. "I don't think Zaine has a breaking point."
CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Pea Ridge
OFFENSE
POS.;NO.;NAME;HT.;WT.;CL.
WR;41;Ryan Higgins;5-8;180;Jr.
OL;56;Kamden Boyd;5-10;205;Sr.
OL;61;Beau German;6-0;270;Sr.
OL;53;Denver Yates;6-3;250;Jr.
OL;54;Tanner Flippo;5-9;180;Sr.
OL;71;Tanner Stamps;6-3;205;Sr.
QB;14;Jakota Sainsbury;5-11;180;Jr.
RB;2;Zaine Holley;5-8;180;Sr.
FB;37;Wyatt Weber;5-9;190;Sr.
WR;23;Hayden Holtgrewe;6-1;160;Jr.
TE;22;Britton Caudill;6-2;215;Sr.
K;3;Evan Green;NA;NA;Jr.
DEFENSE
POS.;NO.;NAME;HT.;WT.;CL.
DL;72;Seth Trammell;5-9;215;Sr.
DL;80;Trevor Hyman;6-0;230;Sr.
DL;45;Mike Mahoney;6-3;250;So.
DL;28;Brett Kirby;6-1;215;Jr.
LB;37;Wyatt Weber;5-9;190;Sr.
LB;24;Robby Pickthall;6-0;195;Jr.
LB;40;Tristin Brewer;5-7;200;So.
LB;13;Jacob Torres;5-5;150;Sr.
CB;6;Drew Winn;5-11;170;Jr.
FS;22;Britton Caudill;6-2;215;Sr.
CB;23;Hayden Holtgrewe;6-1;160;Jr.
P;24;Robby Pickthall;6-0;195;Jr.
Warren
OFFENSE
POS.;NO.;NAME;HT.;WT.;CL.
WR;4;Cade Reep;5-11;160;So.
WR;Keemontrae McKnight;5-8;169;So.
OL;51;Devonta Brown;6-4;265;Sr.
OL;57;Will Woodard;5-8;269;Jr.
OL;55;Gaige Watson;5-9;268;Sr.
OL;74;Joe Morris;6-0;290;Jr.
OL;50;Avery Weaver;5-8;248;So.
QB;15;Hayden Lassiter;6-0;175;Sr.
RB;5;Dennis Daniels;5-11;190;Sr.
WR;13;Treylon Burks;6-3;205;So.
WR;17;Braden Hargis;5-8;165;Jr.
K;13;Sergio Yepes;5-10;190;Sr.
DEFENSE
POS.;NO.;NAME;HT.;WT.;CL.
DL;48;Greyson Ashcraft;5-11;200;Sr.
DL;57;Will Woodard;5-8;269;Jr.
DL;66;Wallace Smith;6-3;310;Jr.
DL;54;Marcus Miller;6-4;290;So.
LB;2;Byron Person;5-6;165;Sr.
LB;13;Treylon Burks;6-3;205;So.
LB;33;Psavian Person;5-10;186;Jr.
CB;3;Carrington Gilbert;5-5;140;Sr.
CB;10;D’shawn Jackson;5-6;190;Sr.
S;1;Jmalachi Kinnard;5-7;136;So.
S;15;Hayden Lassiter;6-0;175;Sr.
P;15;Hayden Lassiter;6-0175;Sr.
Comparing
OFFENSES
PR;VS.;WAR
229.9;RUSHING;247.0
139.3;PASSING;226.0
369.1;TOTAL OFFENSE;473.0
39.1;POINTS;42.7
DEFENSES
PR;VS.;WAR
138.0;RUSHING;120.0
118.1;PASSING;123.0
256.1;TOTAL DEFENSE;243.0
18.0;POINTS;20.9
0;SHUTOUTS;1
TRADITION
PR;VS.;WAR
1;TITLE GAMES;6
0;STATE TITLES;3
Offensive and defensive totals represent per-game averages.
*Since the modern era began in 1968.
Pea Ridge (13-1)
DATE;OPPONENT;RESULT
Sept. 2;Booneville;W, 41-22
Sept. 9;Green Forest;W, 52-6
Sept. 16;Farmington;W, 13-7
Sept. 23;Gentry*;W, 50-21
Sept. 30;Lincoln*;W, 62-14
Oct. 7;Gravette*;W, 46-16
Oct. 14;Prairie Grove*;L, 42-21
Oct. 21;Berryville*;W, 45-5
Oct. 28;Huntsville*;W, 39-6
Nov. 4;Shiloh Christian*;W, 30-13
Nov. 11;Arkadelphia#;W, 30-24
Nov. 18;Nashville#;W, 53-28
Nov. 25;Hamburg#;W, 36-24
Dec. 2;Shiloh Christian#;W, 30-24
*1-4A game #Playoff game
COACH Stephen Neal, first season at school, 13-1
ASSISTANTS Lafe Caton, Matt Easterling, Crosby Tuck
MASCOT Blackhawks
CONFERENCE 1-4A
RECORD 13-1, 6-1 1-4A, second
RANKING No. 2 in Class 4A
ENROLLMENT 398 (20th in 2016-2018 classification among 48 Class 4A football-playing schools)
PLAYERS TO WATCH RB Zaine Holley (Sr., 5-8, 180); QB Jakota Sainsbury (Jr., 5-11, 180); TE/FS Britton Caudill (Sr., 6-2, 215)
LEADING RUSHER Zaine Holley, 267 carries, 1,483 yards, 19 touchdowns
LEADING PASSER Jakota Sainsbury, 111 of 197, 1,940 yards, 17 touchdowns
LEADING RECEIVER Hayden Holtgrewe, 66 receptions, 1,059 yards, 9 touchdowns
LEADING TACKLER Robby Pickthall, 101 tackles
Warren (14-0)
DATE;OPPONENT;RESULT
Aug. 30;LR Christian;W, 55-48
Sept. 9;Stuttgart;W, 21-12
Sept. 16;Watson Chapel;W, 52-32
Sept. 23;Crossett*;W, 44-27
Sept. 30;Star City*;W, 47-14
Oct. 7;Dumas*;W, 44-20
Oct. 14;DeWitt*;W, 54-8
Oct. 21;Monticello*;W, 28-14
Oct. 28;Hamburg*;W, 61-24
Nov. 3;PB Dollarway*;W, 42-0
Nov. 11;Jonesboro WS#;W, 42-23
Nov. 18;Stuttgart#;W, 24-14
Nov. 25;Joe T. Robinson#;W, 35-28
Dec. 2;Prairie Grove#;W, 48-28
*8-4A game #Playoff game
COACH Bo Hembree, 18th season at school, 175-43-1
ASSISTANTS Robert Cuthbertson, Clark Watkins, Steed White, Jimmy May, Caleb Spradlin, Tyler Kell, Blake Washington, George Shelton, Michael Milam, Chet Brown
MASCOT Lumberjacks
CONFERENCE 8-4A
RECORD 14-0, 7-0 8-4A, first
RANKING No. 1 in Class 4A
ENROLLMENT 346 (31st in 2016-2018 classification among 48 Class 4A football-playing schools)
PLAYERS TO WATCH QB/S Hayden Lassiter (Sr., 6-0, 175); RB Dennis Daniels (Sr., 5-11, 190); WR/LB Treylon Burks (So., 6-3, 205)
LEADING RUSHER Dennis Daniels, 1,500 yards, 15 touchdowns
LEADING PASSER Hayden Lassiter, 162 of 276, 3,097 yards, 37 touchdowns
LEADING RECEIVER Treylon Burks, 1,300 yards, 18 touchdowns
LEADING TACKLER Byron Person, 150 tackles
Sports on 12/09/2016