Orange crush

GRAVETTE — By now, football fans throughout the 1-4A Conference should know how to pronounce senior Darrick Strzelecki’s last name.

The successor to All-State running back Michael Croasdell in 2010, Strzelecki, a starting receiver and defensive back as a sophomore, turned in an All-State season of his own. He finished the year with 1,505 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns, helping the Lions to a 9-2 record and runner-up finish in the conference behind eventual state champ Shiloh Christian.

“Obviously we feel real good about having Darrick back in the backfield,” coach Bill Harrelson said of Strzelecki, which by the way is pronounced “struh-LESSkee.”

But besides having Strzelecki back, Harrelson hasplenty of other reasons to feel good about the Lions entering the 2011 season. Gravette returns 16 starters and has 25 seniorsamong the 54 players on its roster, making the Lions one of the most experienced teams in the league.

The sixth-year coach hopes that leadership helps the Lions maintain their recent level of success. Gravette, eyeing a fifth consecutive trip to the state playoffs, has won nine games each of the last three seasons.

“It’d be very disappointing if they don’t,” said Harrelson, who has a 41-17 record in five seasons with the Lions.

“But they aren’t going to just hand us nine wins. Every team on our schedule is capable of beating us. We’ve got to approach it like that everyweek.”

Senior quarterback Clayton Alexander (6-foot-3, 168 pounds) split time at quarterback a year ago but is nowentrenched as the starter, Harrelson said. He completed 58 percent of his passes lastseason, which ended with a 16-3 home loss to Trumann in the first round of the playoffs.

He’ll operate behind anoffensive line that returns a wealth of experience, led by All-Conference tackle JeremyMcGarrah (6-2, 243) and Cody Johnson (5-11, 243), both threeyear starters.

Juniors T.J.

Holt (6-0, 232) and MarcusAdams (5-10, 264) and se-niors Brian Ortiz (5-9, 218) and Brennon Webb (6-0, 280) have plenty of snaps under their belt.

Strzelecki (5-7, 184), who had season highs of 268 yards and four touchdowns last year against Berryville, and senior Logan Hirsch (5-9, 170) give Harrelson some big-play options out of the backfield.

Senior Tyler Greenhaw (5-7, 168) is the only returning starter at receiver, leading a group of newcomers who include Dallas Kerley (5-10, 173), Jordan Lundholm (5-10, 168), Adam Roberts (5-11, 208) and Chad Houtchens (5-10, 162) - all seniors.

“The receivers are new but they all played last year,” Harrelson said. “We have some depth there. It’s just a matter of executing like we need to.”

Eight starters return on defense, which posted three shutouts a year ago.

All-State candidate Kelton McDougal (6-0, 205) is a three-year starter who earned All-Conference honors a year ago at middle linebacker.

Roberts and senior Brandon Meek (6-1, 186) also started at linebacker a year ago.

Peyton Rose (5-8, 181) will also contribute when he returns. The junior had surgery in May for a torn labrum. Harrelson hopes Rose can return by Week 4.

The secondary is a bit unproven with some new faces joining Greenhaw, who started at cornerback last year as well.

Kerley has moved from linebacker to the other cornerback spot while Alexander, an All-Conference pick at free safety with seven interceptions, will only see spot duty there this year. Junior Chase Brody (5-8, 157) will begin the year as thestarter.

“You really don’t see the game speed and routes until you get to the games, so (secondary) is a concern ”Harrelson said. “But we’ve got all the confidence in the world in Chase Brody. He’s worked hard and plays the ball well.”

Harrelson also said he’s still mulling over several options to replace kicker/punter Cody Montee, who is now at Missouri Southern. Montee was arguably the team’s best weapon defensively, with 41 kickoffs resulting in touchbacks a year ago.

Senior Glenn Overturf (5-10, 165), a starting defensive end, is the leading candidate to handle the punting chores while several players are practicing kickoffs and extra points.

The Lions play five home games this year, starting in Week 2 against the McDonald County (Mo.) Mustangs. Two weeks later Pea Ridge is in town to kick off the 1-4A schedule. The Lions also play home conference games against Ozark, Farmington and the season finale against Prairie Grove.

NOTES: The Lions have new uniforms this season and will sport orange jersey tops for the first time since the 1995 season. They’ll also return to the oval ‘G’ logo on helmets. … Gravette averaged 29.5 ppg during the regular season last year. Their only game without a touchdown was the playoff loss to Trumann. … Gravette has been shut out just once in the last four years, a 17-0 loss to Newport in the second round of the 2008 playoffs. … Gravette’s nonconference schedule begins at Jay, Okla., followed by a home game against McDonald County, Mo., then a road game at Poteau, Okla.