GRAVETTE — Gravette started sluggishly for the second straight week at Friday night’s game at Mc-Donald County (Mo.)
A long touchdown pass by Colton Davis fueled the Lions’ season-opening victory over Jay (Okla.).
On Friday night, however, a defensive play sparked Gravette to a 38-7 nonconference win over the Mustangs.
With the Lions trailing 6-0 in the second quarter and with the Mustangs driving, Logan Hirsch nailed McDonald County quarterback Garrett Wilson in the backfield. Hirsch’s crushing hit caused Wilson to fumble and Dallas Kerley beat two Mustangs to the loose football. Kerley raced 80 yards for a gamechanging touchdown and McDonald County (0-3) never threatened Gravette (2-0) the rest of the muggy night.
The Lions struggled to stop McDonald County’s rushing attack. The Mustangs rushed for 89 yards on 15 rushes in the first quarter.
“McDonald County was just overpowering us,” Harrelson said. “We knew they were a downhill running team but we still couldn’t stop it there (in the first quarter). We got beat up physically for a while. We turned it around, though.”
Gravette’s misfortunes briefly continued early in the second quarter when Trey Tyner turned the ball over with a fumble at the Lions 9. But Hirsch’s sack, which led to Kerley’s touchdown, severely swung the game’s momentum.
The Lions quickly made it 16-6 after a McDonald County punt, driving 76 yards in six plays and scoring on Darrick Strzelecki’s 20-yard scamper. Hirsch said he saw the offense gain confidence from the defensive touchdown as well.
“It got the intensity going on the whole sideline,” Hirsch said. “That was such a good memory I’ll always have.”
Gravette then wasted little time adding to its advantage after half-time.
The Lions drove 65 yards in seven plays and went ahead 21-6 on Davis’ 25-yard touchdown pass to Tyner.
Harrelson said that scoring immediately in the third quarter showed how the Lions learned from the game’s slow start.
“We talked about that at the half,” he said. “We really executed on that drive.
Darrick ran well like he did all night, Colton had a couple great throws and the offensive line dominated again this week.”
An interception by Gravette’s Clayton Alexander set up a 30-yard field goal by Cody Montee that put the Lions up 24-6.
Gravette tacked on a special-teams touchdown late in the third. Hirsch broke through to block a McDonald County punt and Peyton Rose’s 16-yard return gave the Lions a 31-6 lead.
Kerley accounted for the game’s final score with an 8-yard touchdown.
Cody Montee’s toe was perfect for the second straight week. He was four of four for extra points and hit a 30-yard field goal in the third period.
Montee averaged almost 50 yards on two punts. The Lions lost their lone fumble and were penalized twice for a total of 10 yards.
Strzelecki had 100 yards rushing, Hirsch 56, Kerley 8 and Houtchens 3. In the air Tyner had 59 yards, Vanderpool 24, Lovell 15 and Strzelecki 1. Colton Davis was 7 of 13 through the air with two interceptions.
Sports, Pages 12 on 09/15/2010