Pea Ridge secured a 28-14 victory over Siloam Springs Friday night, marking head coach Max Hotelling’s first win with the Pirates. The running game, led by senior Rhett Hargiss, was the defining factor in the contest.
Hargiss finished with 172 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries, consistently breaking through Siloam Springs’ defensive front. His performance kept Pea Ridge’s offense on schedule and allowed the Pirates to control the clock throughout the game.
Pea Ridge opened the scoring late in the first quarter when Hargiss capped a 75-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run. The Pirates extended their lead with two more rushing touchdowns from Hargiss in the second and third quarters. The balanced offensive approach also featured timely passing plays, though the ground attack was clearly the primary weapon.
Siloam Springs managed to answer on two occasions, moving the ball effectively between the 20-yard lines but stalling in the red zone. Quarterback Trey Monroe connected with receiver Jackson Ellis on a 31-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, and running back Malik Washington added a 5-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. However, defensive stops by Pea Ridge limited Siloam Springs’ scoring opportunities overall.
The Pirates’ defense pitched a strong effort behind linebacker Cole Sanders and defensive back Mason Duke, who recorded multiple tackles for loss and pressured Monroe throughout the night. Pea Ridge held Siloam Springs to under 300 total yards, a reflection of the physical play along the defensive front.
Coach Hotelling credited his team’s commitment to executing the game plan and praised the offensive line’s performance in opening lanes for Hargiss. “Our guys worked hard all week to focus on fundamentals, and Rhett did a great job finishing plays and taking advantage of the opportunities,” Hotelling said.
With this win, Pea Ridge improves to 2-1 on the season, while Siloam Springs falls to 1-2. The Pirates will host Madison County next Friday, looking to build on the momentum from their ground game success.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
