PEA RIDGE TOPS FARMINGTON

FARMINGTON -- Pea Ridge overcame three early turnovers Friday night to slip past Farmington 13-7 in a nonconference game that was delayed by inclement weather. Pea Ridge quarterback Jakota Sainsbury threw three interceptions in the first half, his first three of the season. The Cardinals returned each pick inside the red zone. But Farmington capitalized only once for its lone score of the game. "This was a big game for our kids," Pea Ridge coach Stephen Neal said. "We knew coming into this that it would be a tough place to come play. But our kids really wanted this win." Niles Thomas hauled in Sainsbury's first pass attempt of the game, returning it to the Blackhawks 8. The Farmington threat ended with Duncan Truesdale tackling Skylar Montez for a 6-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the 9. Trenton Thomas intercepted Sainsbury on the final play of the opening quarter and returned it 29 yards to the Blackhawk 16. Farmington again went four and out and was turned away without points. Montez then set up Farmington at the 3 after returning an interception 40 yards. The Cardinals pounded it in on a 7-yard run by Javon Jowers, his only carry of the first half, with 9 minutes, 18 seconds left in the second quarter. Pea Ridge tied the game at 7-7 with 4:05 left in the third quarter as Zaine Holley scored from a yard out. Holley led all rushers with 81 yards on 25 carries. The big play of the game was on the ensuing kickoff. Pea Ridge special teams coach Josh Reynolds called an onside kick after seeing the opportunity on game film. The ball carried 20 yards over the first line of defense and a Blackhawk landed on the ball. Pea Ridge scored six plays later when Sainsbury pounded it in from a yard out. "That is all coach Reynolds," Neal said. "He saw the opportunity and we took advantage of it. I think that was the difference in the game." Farmington blocked the extra point but was unable to produce points in the final stanza to absorb the loss. "We just didn't make the most of our opportunities," Farmington coach Mike Adams said. "We had our chances in the first half. We should have been up 21-0 at halftime and we let them hang around. We knew they had the ability to score points. But we should have put more on the board." Pea Ridge remained undefeated at 3-0 while Farmington dropped to 1-2.