Luke Reeder
Sports Reporter
NASHVILLE – For the first
time in eight long years the
Nashville Scrapper Football
team played for a chance to
get in the state championship
game. Friday night the
Scrappers suited up against
the Pea Ridge Blackhawks at
Scrapper Stadium in front of
a packed stadium of cheering
fans. For the Nashville
side the game started and
ended in a favorable fashion
as the Scrappers are now on
their way to play for a state
title this Saturday after the
42-20 win over Pea Ridge.
The first play of the game
after the opening kickoff
showed the dominant nature
Nashville displayed through
the first half. On the first
play, quarterback Leonard
Snell handed the ball to running
back Darius Hopkins
who then found a hole in
the defense and exploited
it for a 71 yard touchdown
run. Nashville jumped to a
7-0 lead over Pea Ridge after
just 15 seconds had expired
in the first quarter. Nashville
did not slow down any in
the first quarter. With just
over five minutes to play
in the quarter after quick
drive downfield, running
back Trent Harris was able
to run for a touchdown from
five yards out to build the
Nashville lead to two touchdowns.
Harris scored again
with 2:40 seconds to play in
the first quarter, this time on
a three yard run. Nashville
after the second Harris score
was up 21-0 going into the
second quarter.
It took the Scrapper offense
longer to get going
in the second quarter, but
with 6:41 to play in the half
Hopkins got the Scrapper
scoring going again with
a 22 yard run. This gave
Nashville a commanding
28-0 lead over Pea Ridge.
Snell was the next to score
as he connected with wide
receiver Hunter White on
a 20 yard touchdown pass
adding to the Nashville lead
and making it 35-0 with 4:20
left in the first half. The
Blackhawks were able to get
a drive going down the field
late into the second quarter
and with just 1:23 before
halftime Pea Ridge were able
to get their first points of the
game on a three yard run.
The Blackhawks attempted
a two point conversion but
the Scrapper defense shut
down the attempt and going
into the half Nashville
had a 35-6 lead. The third
quarter was a quiet one on
the offensive side of the
ball. The only score of the
quarter came from a seven
yard touchdown run by Snell
for Nashville with 4:40 left
to play in the quarter. The
score marked the start of the
mercy rule for Nashville as
they led 42-6. With the mercy
rule now running the clock
continuously, the starting
team for the Scrappers was
subbed out going into the
fourth quarter.
In the final quarter of
the game the Blackhawks
attempted to mount a comeback
as they started the
fourth quarter off with a
two yard touchdown run
that ended with another
failed two point conversion.
Though the quarter started
off quick for Pea Ridge, they
were unable to score again
until just 1:19 remained in
the game. A 24 yard touchdown
pass capped off with
a successful two point conversion
was able to cut the
Scrapper lead to 42-20, but
by this time it was too late for
Pea Ridge to have a chance
of closing the gap anymore.
The Nashville offense
and defense were lights out
throughout the game. Snell
was 12/21 for 150 yards, with
one touchdown and one
interception in the passing
game. He was also the second
leading rusher for Nashville
with 85 yards on nine
runs and one touchdown.
Hopkins led the team in
rushing with 11 runs for 174
yards and two touchdowns
with one being a 71 yard
run. Andrew Hawthorne led
in receiving yards with 44 on
three catches and White was
the lone receiver to catch a
touchdown pass.
For first year head Coach
Mike Volarvich this season
has been one to remember.
Not only was he able to
come from a college team
to a high school team and
be successful, he was able to
have an undefeated regular
season and now will look
to make his mark in the
state title game. Going into
the semifinal game, Volarvich
believed in his team
and what they had done all
season, “I thought we had
a good chance as long as
we executed and did the
things we did all season. Last
week (Warren) we did some
things and shot ourselves
in the foot at times so I just
wanted to come in and play
a clean game.” Volarvich
also understands the impact
this season has had on the
community of Nashville especially
now that the team
is going back to the state
title game, “I think it is big,
I know they have missed
being there since 2007. It is
great for these kids because
they grew up watching those
state championship teams
and for them to be able to
get there and for the community
to go back is a great
opportunity.”
With the win the Scrappers
move on to play the
Prairie Grove Tigers at War
Memorial in Little Rock on
Saturday at 6:30 p.m. for a
shot at the 4A state title. The
two teams have met before
in the playoffs in the past
two seasons with Nashville
winning last season and
Prairie Grove winning the
season before that. Nashville
is seeking its fourth state title
in 10 years.
