Cruz, Hargiss power Pea Ridge past Alma, 35-21

Pea Ridge 35, Alma 21

October 9 2026

PEA RIDGE — Isaiah Cruz scored three touchdowns and Rhett Hargiss supplied two long scoring runs as Pea Ridge overcame Alma’s opening-play touchdown to win 35-21 Friday.

The Blackhawks scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter, then answered Alma’s third-quarter rally with touchdown runs of 55 and 45 yards. Pea Ridge’s defense recovered five fumbles, helping the Blackhawks even their record at 3-3. Alma also finished the night 3-3.

Alma needed just 14 seconds to take the lead. Jay Lemieux found Quinton Broadway behind the defense for a 60-yard touchdown on the game’s first offensive snap, and Cade Moore’s extra point made it 7-0 with 11:46 left in the first quarter.

The Airedales had opportunities to build on that start. Nate Risley intercepted Hudson White in the end zone after Pea Ridge recovered its first fumble. Alma then drove into Blackhawks territory, but a fourth-down sack ended the possession and gave Pea Ridge the ball late in the opening quarter.

White and Cruz tied the game early in the second. Following a 16-yard run by Hargiss, White rolled right and dropped a 24-yard touchdown pass into the end zone. The kick made it 7-7 with 11:04 remaining in the half.

Pea Ridge recovered another fumble on Alma’s next possession and eventually faced fourth-and-23 after penalties pushed its offense backward. White delivered the game’s pivotal throw, stepping up and finding Cruz for a 33-yard touchdown. The successful kick put the Blackhawks ahead 14-7 with seven minutes left.

A third Alma fumble set up another Pea Ridge scoring drive. Hargiss converted fourth-and-3, then broke through for a 35-yard touchdown with 1:58 left in the half. Kody Kahrl’s pulling block helped open the lane, and the extra point gave Pea Ridge a 21-7 halftime lead.

Alma’s defense steadied itself after the break, forcing two punts and stopping the Blackhawks on fourth down. That fourth-down stop launched a 57-yard scoring march. Lemieux’s running and completions to Dylan Jackson helped bring the Airedales to the goal line, where Dallas Perkins scored from the 1. Moore’s kick cut the margin to 21-14 with 2:39 remaining in the third quarter.

The response took only 27 seconds. After an incompletion, Hargiss broke through the middle and scored from 55 yards. The extra point restored Pea Ridge’s two-touchdown advantage at the 2:12 mark.

Pea Ridge then stopped Alma on downs and opened the fourth quarter with another decisive play. Cruz took a reverse 45 yards for a touchdown with 11:46 remaining. The kick made it 35-14.

Lemieux and Broadway connected again for a 71-yard touchdown with 3:50 left, and Moore completed a 3-for-3 night on extra points. Pea Ridge retained the ensuing kickoff and ran down the clock before turning the ball over on downs with 45 seconds left. Alma’s final possession ended without another score.

Lemieux finished with 283 passing yards, according to the broadcast. Broadway caught both touchdown passes, while Cruz had two receiving touchdowns and one rushing score for Pea Ridge.

Scoring Summary

First quarter

Alma — Quinton Broadway, 60-yard pass from Jay Lemieux, 11:46; Cade Moore kick. Alma 7-0.

Second quarter

Pea Ridge — Isaiah Cruz, 24-yard pass from Hudson White, 11:04; kick good. Tied 7-7.

Pea Ridge — Isaiah Cruz, 33-yard pass from Hudson White on fourth-and-23, 7:00; kick good. Pea Ridge 14-7.

Pea Ridge — Rhett Hargiss, 35-yard run, 1:58; kick good. Pea Ridge 21-7.

Third quarter

Alma — Dallas Perkins, 1-yard run, 2:39; Cade Moore kick. Pea Ridge 21-14.

Pea Ridge — Rhett Hargiss, 55-yard run, 2:12; kick good. Pea Ridge 28-14.

Fourth quarter

Pea Ridge — Isaiah Cruz, 45-yard run on a reverse, 11:46; kick good. Pea Ridge 35-14.

Alma — Quinton Broadway, 71-yard pass from Jay Lemieux, 3:50; Cade Moore kick. Pea Ridge 35-21.

Players Who Stood Out

Isaiah Cruz, Pea Ridge — Touchdown catches of 24 and 33 yards; 45-yard touchdown run on a reverse.

Rhett Hargiss, Pea Ridge — Touchdown runs of 35 and 55 yards; 102 rushing yards in the FIRST HALF, per broadcast. Full-game rushing total unavailable.

Hudson White, Pea Ridge — Two touchdown passes, including a 33-yarder on fourth-and-23.

Kody Kahrl, Pea Ridge — Offensive lineman credited by the broadcast for key pulling blocks, including on Hargiss’s 35-yard score.

Quinton Broadway, Alma — Touchdown catches of 60 and 71 yards.

Jay Lemieux, Alma — 283 passing yards and two touchdown passes, per broadcast.

Dallas Perkins, Alma — 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Nate Risley, Alma — First-quarter interception in the end zone.

Cade Moore, Alma — 3-for-3 on extra points.