GRAVETTE — A perfect homecoming day at Gravette High School ended Friday night with the Lions’ 13-zip victory over the visitors from Poteau, Okla..
The win was the Lion’s third in a row, a pre-season victory string, which puts them in an enviable spot as they travel to Pea Ridge Friday night to open the conference season.
Friday night’s performance proved the defensive mettle of the Lions as they held the visitors to a measly 132 yards total offense,while the Gravette offense rambled and caught for 268 total yards.
“I can’t say enough about the defense,” coach Bill Harrelson said. “They ran the ball and game-tackled all night.”
After a bad snap in the third quarter, Poteau was poised on the Lions’ 2-yard line. It wasn’t to be. The defense dug in and Poteau was forced to try a field goal from their 27-yard line. The shutout held and continued the remainder of the game.
Gravette’s first TD came early in the first quarter when quarterback Colton Davis nailed Cody Bullock with a 25-yard pass. The possession was iced when Cody Montee kicked his ninth straight extra point to give the Lions a 7-0 lead.
After the Lions held, Montee added an insurance 29-yard field goal in the first period, and after a scoreless second quarter, the teams went to the locker rooms with the Lions leading 10-0.
Montee’s toe was perfect again in the third quarter when, for insurance, he nailed another three-pointer. Coach Harrelson was quick to note that the senior’s kickoffs regularly go into the end zone and his punts are an integral part ofthe team’s game plan.
Cody Bullock snared four passes for 66 yards as Davis hit 8 of 16 passes for 88 total yards and the game’s lone TD. Darrick Strzelecki carried 33 times for 149 of the Lions’ yardage.
Kelton McDougal, Clayton Alexander, Logan Hirsch and Dallas Kerley each had seven tackles and Kerley intercepted the Oklahoma aerials twice. Cody Bullock also had two sacks to round out a fine defensive night.
The Lions travel to Pea Ridge Friday to open their season against the Pea Ridge Blackhawks. Game time is 7 p.m.
Sports, Pages 9 on 09/22/2010