GRAVETTE — As good as a 6-0 start for the Gravette Lions is, coach Bill Harrelson knows the real work - playoff positioning - will likely be determined in the next two weeks.
After a workmanlike 28-19 win against Huntsville on Friday night, Gravette will host Farmington this week and travel to 4A No.
1 Shiloh Christian the next week. Gravette, Farmington and Shiloh Christian are all 3-0 in the 1-4A Conference.
Farmington (4-1-1 overall) pounded Berryville 41-7 on Friday. The Cardinalsscored on seven of their first possessions. Sophomore Jared Martin ran for 126 yards and two first-half touchdowns on 17 carries.
“Farmington is going to be a real tough test,” Harrelson said. “They’ve already beaten Prairie Grove.”
Shiloh Christian (5-1 overall) beat Prairie Grove 51-13 as quarterback Kiehl Frazier threw three touchdown passes.
“These next two games are huge,” Harrelson said.
“But the kids have been good at taking it one game at a time, concentrating on one week at a time.”
Don’t think a kicker can make a difference?
Don’t tell anyone on the Gravette football team that.
Cody Montee - or more importantly Montee’s strong right leg - continues to impress.
Against Huntsville, all five of Montee’s kickoffs sailed into the end zone for touchbacks. He also punted twice, but didn’t give up any return yards.
“What was our average starting field position? The 40,” Harrelson said. “They started most of the drives on the 20. It’s a huge difference when they have to go 80 and we have to go 60.
Cody is a weapon.”
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Harrelson was quick to praise the play of senior Travis Eden in the Huntsville game.
Eden kept Eagles’ quarterback Cody Stevens under pressure with his pass rush and he was the lead blocker for Colt Moorman and Michael Croasdell on defense.
“Travis was a phenomenal lead blocker,” Harrelson said. “It doesn’t bother him (not to carry the football). We’ve got a lot of team players and he is one of them.”
Speaking of team players, Harrelson said Colton Davis will still be heard from again this season. Davis had been splitting time with Moorman at quarterback but Moorman played the whole game against Huntsville.
Harrelson said he had a feeling Moorman would be able to run the ball against the Eagles. That feeling turned out to be right as Moorman ran for a gamehigh 88 yards on 20 carries.
So where does that leave Davis?
“I feel strongly that Colton Davis will win a bigfootball game for us this season,” Harrelson said.
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While Moorman led the team in rushing, it was Croasdell who was the difference-maker against Huntsville.
The senior caught two passes for a team-high 65 yards and one touchdown, ran 15 times for 34 yards and scored another two touchdowns and intercepted two passes - one at the Gravette 2 early in the game and one with 1:07 to play that sealed the win.
“He played hard all night,” Harrelson said. “Michael did a great job.”
Sports, Pages 11 on 10/14/2009