GRAVETTE — The Gravette defense set up the Lions offense Friday night.
The Lions defense came up with three interceptions and a fumble and Darrick Strzelecki rushed for 189 yards and three touchdowns as Gravette held off Ozark 30-20 in a 4A-1 Conference game.
Gravette (6-0, 3-0) scored 10 points off two of the interceptions and a bad snap on an Ozark punt attempt led to another Lions touchdown. Gravette also recovered an Ozark fumble on the Lions one on the Hillbillies first drive of the game.
Logan Hirsch added 72 yards on 11 carries and Cody Montee kicked three field goals as Gravette held off a late Ozark rally.
Strzelecki raced 26 yards for a touchdown and a 24-7 lead early in the third quarter but Ozark scored two touchdowns to cut the lead to 24-20 early in the fourth quarter.
But Montee kicked two field goals the final 5 minutes, 8 seconds of the game to cap the victory.
Ozark quarterback Jonathan McKenzie was 15-of-25 passing for 289 yards and three touchdowns. Receiver Toby Richard had 11 catches for 231 yards and all three of the Hillbillies scored.
Gravette scored the last 17 points of the first half to take a 17-7 lead at the break. Ozark opened the game with a 79-yard drive to the Lions one but McKenzie then fumbled on second-and-goal and Gravette recovered.
But McKenzie made amends with a 56-yard touchdown pass to Richard for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
Strzelecki rushed 17 times for 92 yards in the first half, including touchdown runs of five and 13 yards that gave the Lions a 14-7 lead. Gravette’s second touchdown was set up when Cody Bullock intercepted McKenzie at the Ozark 13.
Montee kicked a 28-yard field goal as time expired.
Statistically the two teams were comparatively equal with each making 16 first downs. Gravette had 269 yards rushing and 45 passing, while Ozark led in the air with 289 yards and 53 on the ground.
Ozark passers had three aerials intercepted of their 25 tosses. Gravette’s passing game of 7 aerials were not intercepted. Gravette fumbled five times, losing one, while the host Ozark team lost one of their three fumbles. Penalties were stingy. Gravette had three for a total of 25 yards while Ozark was penalized only once for five yards.
Gravette’s rushers included Strzelecki with 189 yards; Hirsch, 72 yards; Alexander, 6. In the passing game Alexander was 4 for 4 for 35 yards and Strzelecki 1 of 3 for 10.
Tyner had 3 receptions for 23 yards; Hirsch, 1 for 10; Hamilton, 1 for 8 and Roberts 1 for 4.
Strzelecki had 97 yards on the ground in the second half and Montee added two more field goals as the Lions take a perfect record into this week’s game against Farmington.
Sports, Pages 12 on 10/13/2010