GRAVETTE — The 200-plus mile trip home from Wellington, Kansas, Friday night was a positive, celebrating time after the Lions defeated the Kansas team 21-14 on the Crusaders' field.

The game was payback for the Crusaders after they came to Lion Field last year and went home with a 24-21 victory.

Michael Croasdell ran for 135 yards on 29 carries and scored two touchdowns as Gravette (3-0) beat Wellington, KS, 21-14, at Sellers Park on Friday night.

Croasdell capped a 70-yard drive on Gravette's first possession of the night with a 3-yard touchdown run.

Gravette built a 14-0 lead when Kelton McDougal intercepted a pass and took it back 35 yards for a touchdown on Wellington's second possession of the game.

"To say we had momentum there would be a big understatement," Gravette coach Bill Harrelson said.

With a 14-0 lead, Gravette rode its running game the rest of the way to seal the win. Gravette ran for 205 yards behind a line that was missing two starters, Dakota Lacy, who suffered a high ankle sprain in a 15-0 win against McDonald County (MO) the previous week, and Casey Russell, who injured his back during practice Wednesday.

Control The Ground

But the Lions controlled things on the ground all night with S h a n n o n B u c k n e r (right tackle), Tyler Glenn (right guard), Jeremy McGarrah (center), Cody Johnson and Brandon Webb (both at left guard) and T. J. Chevallier (left tackle).

Wellington (2-1) cut into the Gravette lead in thesecond quarter on a 30-yard touchdown pass. The Lions led 14-7 at halftime.

But Croasdell and the Gravette ground game answered again, driving 65 yards to start the second half. C r o a s d e l l 's 3 - y a rd scoring run gave the Lions a 21-3 cushion. Gravette quarterback Colt Moorman also was a running threat, picking up 59 yards on 10 carries.

They Played Great

"I can't say enough about the offensive line," Harrelson said. "They played great."

Wellington used a 35-yard touchdown pass later in the third quarter to make it 21-14 but could get no closer.

Gravette's annual homecoming game is this Friday night when the Pea Ridge Blackhawks come to Lion Field.

See Homecoming pictures on page 15 of this issue.

Sports, Pages 14 on 09/23/2009