PEA RIDGE 29, BOONEVILLE 19

Pea Ridge 2-0 on Winn's monster week

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 50-30 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."

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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 22-yard 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 29-19 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.

"We are going to get there," Hyatt said. "We aren't there just yet. I think by midseason we are going to be a pretty good football team if we can stay healthy. Pea Ridge is a great football and responded to the challenge."

It was a much different story after the first quarter as Pea Ridge's defense settled down, allowing less than 40 yards of offense after halftime.

"Booneville could not have asked for a better first quarter but created those opportunities," Neal said. "They made us make mistakes. This is the first time for me coaching here. It's a tough place to play."

Pea Ridge scored twice with less than three minutes to play in the first half to cut Booneville's lead to 19-14 at the break.

Sports on 09/02/2017

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