Goblins have great 38 seconds in league win

Published 10:02 pm Tuesday, October 20, 2026

It was the ending to the first half that could make a season and break a season.

Friday night at F.S. Garrison Stadium, the Harrison Goblins were able to score 14 points in 38 seconds on the way to producing a 52-21 win over Pea Ridge in a contest that was a little closer than the second indicated.
With the win, Harrison moves into a four-way tie for third place in the 5A-West with a 2-2 record. Pea Ridge falls into a tie for third with the same record.
There are three league games left. Harrison hosts Dardanelle on Friday before traveling to Alma for the last away game of the regular season. They host Morrilton for Senior Night on Nov. 6.
Harrison’s game with Pea Ridge started with the Blackhawks using just over 6:30 on their opening drive. They marched down the field and scored a touchdown with 5:28 left to take a 6-0 lead over the Goblins as the point after attempt was missed.
Harrison answered with the Goblins punishing the Blackhawk defense with their ground game.
Just before the end of the first period, Xavier Frieze scored on a five-yard run. Truett Bardwell gave the Goblins a 7-6 lead heading into the fourth period.
Harison’s defense held Pea Ridge on their next possession and the Goblins were able to turn that defensive stop into points.
Gunnar Johnson took the ball up the right side to push the Goblin lead to 14-6 after Bardwell was perfect on the point after attempt.
Pea Ridge showed why they owned a win over Alma the previous week. They needed 2:05 of playing time to march down the field and tie the game after a two-point conversion was successful.
With the football and 4:06 left on the clock, the Goblins went to work.
Harrison was able to move the football down the field and with 38 seconds left in the first half, Brayden Rhein crossed the goal line to score for Harrison 27 yards out.
As the Goblins were celebrating a 21-14 lead after a Bardwell PAT, Harrison wasn’t through.
With the ball on the 41 of Pea Ridge, Harrison quarterback Gavin Jones connected with Caleb Melendez for a 41-yard touchdown pass with 19 seconds left in the second half.
Bardwell doubled up Pea Ridge with the PAT to give the Goblins a 28-14 lead heading into the locker room.
Pea Ridge was not done. They took advantage of Harrison’s defense in the third period and scored on a run from the nine to pull within one score midway through the third period.
The score stood at 28-21 entering the final period.
Harrison had a successful drive to get the ball into the Red Zone, but the Goblins could not punch the ball in.
They turned to their sophomore kicker, Bardwell, who connected on a 21-yard field goal to give the Goblins a two-score lead with 10 minutes left.
It was then that the wheels fell off the Pea Ridge wagon.
On their next possession, Dawson Smith of Harrison intercepted the ball and returned it for a touchdown. The Pick Six followed by the PAT from Bardwell put the Goblins ahead, 38-21. It was one of Smith’s three interceptions in the contest.
Harrison got the ball back quickly and Rhein had a 28-yard run to score that was followed by a Johnson 21-yard touchdown run four minutes later.
Bardwell set the final score at 52-21.
Harrison’s next game will be a home contest against Dardanelle that will be on Friday night beginning at 7 p.m.