PEA RIDGE — Too much Jarod Cousins proved to be too much for Pea Ridge to overcome despite a furious second-half rally against a continuously running clock.
Cousins accounted for all six Gentry touchdowns Friday to lead the Pioneers to a 43-30 victory over Pea Ridge at Blackhawk Stadium.
The Gentry quarterback directed touchdown drives on the Lions’ first six possessions — all five in the first half and the first of the second half — as Gentry (4-2, 2-1 4A-1 Conference) built a 43-8 lead to invoke the Arkansas Activities Association sportsmanship rule.
But the Blackhawks (2-4, 0-3) stormed back with three quick scoring drives to pull within two scores before Cousins re-entered the game to help the Lions run out the final seven minutes.
“My first statement (to the team) is going to be, ‘what do we have to do to get that kind of effort we had late?’ Pea Ridge Coach Tony Travis said. “Even the intensity and positive energy on the sideline was better late in the game when we got a little momentum going.”
Cousins provided all the momentum Gentry needed to take control. The senior quarterback rushed for 246 yards and five touchdowns on 24 carries and added another touchdown pass while completing 11 of 15 for 178 yards.
“He’s really what makes us go,” Gentry Coach Brian Little said. “He’s a good leader. The other kids rally around him. We’ve got some other things that help him do what he does but he had a really good game.”
The Pioneers never trailed, building a 27-0 lead midway through the second quarter as Cousins had runs of 2, 4 and 11 yards and a 33-yard pass to Dustin Stoufflet.
Shane Ivy had a 56-yard touchdown and two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 27-8 with 4:02 remaining in the half, but Cousins directed the second of three straight 80-yard drives, capped by his 20-yard run and two-point conversion, to give Gentry a 35-8 halftime lead.
He scored on a 43-yard run and the two-point conversion three minutes into the second half to start the mercy rule.
“He’s a good player,” Travis said of Cousins. “I don’t know that anybody has stopped him all year. Even in their losses he’s gotten his yards.
“He’s an outstanding player. I’m glad he’s a senior.’
EXTRA POINTS
• Logan Rose caught two touchdown passes from Seth Brumley during the Blackhawks’ second-half comeback. He had touchdowns of 59 and 15 yards.
• Ivy scored the final touchdown on a 76-yard run and finished the night with a team-high 166 yards on eight carries.
• Gentry finished with 494 yards offense, but Pea Ridge averaged 12.4 yards per play while racking up 336 yards on only 27 plays.
• Gentry enjoyed a nearly 3-to-1 advantage in time of possession, holding the ball for 35:47 compared with the Blackhawks’ 12:13.
UP NEXT
Both teams continue 4A-1 Conference play on the road next week. Gentry visits Lincoln while Pea Ridge travels to Ozark.
HOW THEY SCORED
Gentry 43, Pea Ridge 30
Gentry^13^22^8^0^—^43
Pea Ridge^0^8^6^16^—^30
First quarter
GHS — Jarod Cousins 2 run (Enrike Zamora kick), 4:58
GHS — Jarod Cousins 4 run (kick failed) , 2:11
Second quarter
GHS — Jarod Cousins 11 run (Enrike Zamora kick), 10:19
GHS — Dustin Stoufflet 33 pass from Jarod Cousins (Enrike Zamora kick), 4:47
PRHS — Shane Ivy 56 run (Shane Ivy run), 4:02
GHS — Jarod Cousins 20 run (Jarod Cousins run), 0:32
Third quarter
GHS — Jarod Cousins 43 run (Jarod Cousins run), 9:05
PRHS — Logan Rose 59 pass from Seth Brumley (run failed) , 7:30
Fourth quarter
PRHS — Logan Rose 15 pass from Seth Brumley (Shane Ivy run), 11:07
PRHS — Shane Ivy 76 run Logan Rose pass from, 6:56
%GHS%PRHS
First downs%22%10
Rushes-yards%44-317%15-252
Passing yards%177%84
Comp-Att-Int%12-16-0%4-12-1
Punts%2-47.0%3-38.3
Fumbles-lost%0-0%1-1
Penalties-yards%6-48%1-9