PEA RIDGE -- Drew Winn for the lead from the Wildcat formation?
Why not, especially when your team has an all-state running back in the backfield.
Winn took a direct snap from center and scored on a 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to lead Pea Ridge to a 26-21 victory over Prairie Grove Friday at Blackhawk Stadium. The play came on fourth down, and the touchdown gave Pea Ridge a 26-14 cushion with 6 minutes, 3 seconds left in the game.
Winn came up limping on the previous play before his touchdown, but he wasn't about to go out with the game still in doubt.
"I got hit in the leg and I remember my leg hurting bad," Winn said. "But I had to push through it and my linemen helped by moving defenders out of the way."
Prairie Grove pulled to within 26-21 seconds later but another scoring threat ended in a fumble and Pea Ridge (7-0, 4-0) held on to take over first place in the 4A-1 Conference. The Blackhawks also ended a 25-game regular-season winning streak for the Tigers (6-1, 3-1), who've won the past two league championships.
"They're a great team, but we battled it out and managed to get the win." Winn said.
BLACKHAWKS ON TOP
Pea Ridge now has the inside track for the conference championship after Friday's win.
Pea Ridge's remaining games are against Berryville, Huntsville, and Shiloh Christian while Prairie Grove has Gentry, Berryville, and Lincoln remaining on its regular-season schedule. The toughest game could be on Nov. 3 when Pea Ridge has to play Shiloh Christian at Champions Stadium.
Pea Ridge edged the Saints 24-21 when the teams played there in 2015.
BIG BROTHER
Former all-state running back Dayton Winn hasn't slowed any since he terrorized Pea Ridge opponents in high school.
Winn was introduced to the crowd at halftime after he recently completed his first season of professional football in Denmark, where led his team to a championship and was voted the league's Most Valuable Player.
Winn, 22, played for the Copenhagen Towers and caught a 55-yard touchdown pass in the championship game to secure a 20-7 victory over the Sollerod Gold Diggers. Winn rushed for more than 900 yards in only seven regular-season games.
"They offered me another contract, and I'm thinking about going back," Dayton Winn said. "But I've been contacted by a couple of other places and I'm just waiting on what kind of offers I receive."
Winn, the older brother of Drew Winn, played college football at Hendrix, where he was a four-year starter as a running back and kicker returner.
"It's amazing watching him," Dayton said of his brother. "I'm so glad he's successful and I'm getting to re-live my high school days through him."
BOLD MOVE
Prairie Grove took a big risk when the Tigers faced a fourth-and-1 situation from their own 29 early in the game.
Pea Ridge had just taken a 7-0 lead on a touchdown burst up the middle by Drew Winn and a fourth-down failure would've put the Blackhawks in good position for another score. But Anthony Johnson took a handoff on a counter and raced into Pea Ridge territory. The Tigers then tied the game on a touchdown run by Aaron Preston.
NOT THIS TIME
Prairie Grove threatened late in the second quarter on a 55-yard pass play to Stone Bryant, who went out of bounds at the 9 with 7.2 seconds left. But the first half ended when John David Elder was stopped at the 2.
The keeper by Elder was the same play quarterback Sam Dodd scored on before the half two years ago when Prairie Grove beat Pea Ridge at Blackhawk Stadium.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Drew Winn sliced in for a touchdown on fourth down to give Pea Ridge a 26-14 cushion with 6:03 left in the fourth quarter.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Drew Winn was a workhorse again, especially on a long drive in the fourth quarter to increase the lead for the Blackhawks.Winn ran for three touchdowns, including a 33-yard burst up the middle for the first score of the game.
ONSIDE KICKS
U.S. Representative Steve Womack watched Friday's game from the sidelines. Womack in a Republican from Rogers and a congressman from Arkansas' Third District. ... A few players from Prairie Grove wore gold shoes to match their gold, black, and white uniforms. ...Prairie Grove attempted an onside kick after its first touchdown but the ball was recovered by Pea Ridge. ... The teams displayed plenty of sportsmanship after the game when players from both teams huddled up in a prayer at midfield. ... The annual mule jump will be held in a field today just south of Blackhawk Stadium.
Sports on 10/14/2017