McNabb, Turnipseed help Morrilton turn back Pea Ridge

Morrilton 28, Pea Ridge 6

October 30, 2026

MORRILTON — Champ McNabb intercepted two passes, and Maddox Turnipseed threw two touchdown passes as Morrilton (6-3, 3-3) defeated Pea Ridge (3-6, 2-4) 28-6 on senior night Friday, Oct. 30.

The Devil Dogs scored touchdowns on their first three possessions, built a 21-0 halftime lead and protected it with timely defensive stops. Bradley Cooper‘s 26-yard touchdown catch with 2:28 remaining finally put the game beyond Pea Ridge’s reach.

McNabb halted the Blackhawks’ opening drive by tipping and intercepting a pass near Morrilton’s goal line. Pea Ridge had reached first-and-goal at the 4, but penalties pushed it backward and erased a touchdown pass before McNabb’s takeaway.

Morrilton answered with a 13-play, 88-yard march. Davion Johnson took a handoff through a crease for a 4-yard touchdown with 1:56 left in the first quarter, and Giovanni Santos kicked the extra point.

Turnipseed directed the next scoring drive, finding Jy’mire Evans for a 32-yard touchdown with 10:22 remaining in the second quarter. The eight-play, 68-yard possession made it 14-0 after Santos’ kick.

Ja’Kobe Chambers then kept another drive alive by escaping pressure and finding Evans near the sideline on fourth-and-10. Evans broke a tackle and reached inside the 10. Chambers finished the eight-play, 60-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to McNabb, who made a sliding catch with 5:47 left in the half.

Pea Ridge responded after Keegan Perryman intercepted a pass on Morrilton’s opening possession of the third quarter. Hudson White capped a 12-play, 83-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Rhett Hargiss out of the backfield. Elijiah Wimbley blocked the extra point after a false-start penalty, leaving the Devil Dogs ahead 21-6 with 6:17 remaining in the quarter.

Morrilton struggled to extend the lead in a penalty-filled second half. Santos pinned Pea Ridge inside its 1-yard line with a fourth-quarter punt. Later, Zacchaeus Delph stopped a fake punt for a loss, giving Morrilton possession at the Blackhawks’ 20 with 4:10 remaining.

A holding penalty helped push the Devil Dogs backward, but Turnipseed found Cooper for a leaping touchdown catch on third-and-long. Santos’ fourth extra point made it 28-6. Delph added a sack on Pea Ridge’s final possession, and McNabb intercepted a fourth-down pass with 50 seconds left.

The broadcast credited Turnipseed with 183 yards and two touchdowns on 10-of-16 passing. Chambers threw for 105 yards and a score and rushed for 70 yards on eight carries. Evans caught five passes for 105 yards and a touchdown; McNabb had four catches for 76 yards and a score. Delph finished with seven tackles, two sacks, 3½ tackles for loss and a forced fumble, while Jorden Dickerson led Morrilton with nine tackles.

Scoring Summary

First quarter

1:56 — Morrilton: Davion Johnson 4-yard touchdown run (Giovanni Santos kick). Morrilton 7-0.

Second quarter

10:22 — Morrilton: Jy’mire Evans 32-yard touchdown pass from Maddox Turnipseed (Giovanni Santos kick). Morrilton 14-0.

5:47 — Morrilton: Champ McNabb 8-yard touchdown pass from Ja’Kobe Chambers (Giovanni Santos kick). Morrilton 21-0.

Third quarter

6:17 — Pea Ridge: Rhett Hargiss 14-yard touchdown pass from Hudson White (Kick blocked by Elijiah Wimbley). Morrilton 21-6.

Fourth quarter

2:28 — Morrilton: Bradley Cooper 26-yard touchdown pass from Maddox Turnipseed (Giovanni Santos kick). Morrilton 28-6.

All five scoring events are included. Quarter times and distances are established by the play calls and broadcast scoring summaries.

Players Who Stood Out

Maddox Turnipseed, Morrilton — 10-of-16 passing for 183 yards and two touchdowns.

Ja’Kobe Chambers, Morrilton — 105 passing yards and a touchdown; eight carries for 70 yards.

Jy’mire Evans, Morrilton — Five receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown; fourth-and-10 catch extended the third touchdown drive.

Champ McNabb, Morrilton — Two interceptions; four receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown.

Davion Johnson, Morrilton — 4-yard touchdown run on the opening scoring drive.

Bradley Cooper, Morrilton — 26-yard touchdown reception with 2:28 remaining.

Zacchaeus Delph, Morrilton — Seven tackles, two sacks, 3½ tackles for loss and a forced fumble; stopped a fourth-quarter fake punt.

Jorden Dickerson, Morrilton — Team-leading nine tackles.

Giovanni Santos, Morrilton — Four extra points; fourth-quarter punt downed inside the 1.

Elijiah Wimbley, Morrilton — Blocked the extra point following Pea Ridge’s touchdown.

Keegan Perryman, Pea Ridge — Third-quarter interception that set up the Blackhawks’ scoring drive.

Hudson White and Rhett Hargiss, Pea Ridge — Connected for a 14-yard touchdown with 6:17 left in the third quarter.