Lions bring home big win from Oklahoma

Gravette's Adam Roberts gets face masked by a Poteau ball carrier during Friday night play in Oklahoma. Sam Riester, 35, heads for the action.
Gravette's Adam Roberts gets face masked by a Poteau ball carrier during Friday night play in Oklahoma. Sam Riester, 35, heads for the action.

— After a more than 100-mile trip, one way, last Friday night, the Gravette Lions brought home a 31-16 victory over Poteau, Okla. It was the Lions’ third win of the season without a loss and ends their preconference schedule. Poteau dropped to 2-1 for the season.

The Pea Ridge Blackhawks will invade Gravette this Friday to meet the Lions in the GHS traditional homecoming game. Pea Ridge is now 2-1 after losing to Greenland last Friday 28-13.

At Poteau, Gravette recovered a surprise Pirate onside kickoff to start the game. Lion quarterback Clayton Alexander connected with a 13-yard strike to Jordan Lundstrom for the TD. Dallas Kerley’s PAT was good and with just 9 seconds off the clock the Lions went ahead for the rest of the evening.

Gravette scored again early in the second quarter on a 3-yard scamper by Darrick Strzelecki. The PAT was no good.

Things began to look a little grim for the Lions as the Pirates added 10 unanswered points before the Lions scored again on another toss, this time to Tyler Greenhaw, making the score 19-10 shortly before half time.

Poteau’s scores came on a field goal by Blake Williams and a 98-yard interception return by the Pirate’s Kendrick Hardaway.

Late in the third quarter Greenhaw took another pass from Alexander, this time for 16 yards. With the PAT no good, the Lionswent into the final quarter with a 25-10 lead.

Both teams added TDs in the final 15 minutes of play. Gravette’s TD came on a 1-yard run by Strzelecki following an interception. Poteau’s Wilson Klutts took a 33-yard pass to end the home team’s scoring and the Lions came home with the 31-16 win.

For the Lions, Alexander accounted for 140 yards in the air with 11 of 26 which added three touchdowns. He was intercepted twice.

In the ground game, Strzelecki topped the field with 214 yards on 45 carries, the longest being 31 yards. Cody Robinson had 34 yards and Alexander scampered for 16.

Defensively, Kelton Mc-Dougal led the teams with 7 tackles and assists; Adam Roberts, Brandon Meek and Brennon Webb had 6 apiece; Jordan Lundholm 5; Jeremy McGarrah, Chase Brody and Dallas Kerley,4 each; Alexander, Tristen Kahanek, Tyler Greenhaw, Cody Johnson and David Anderson 3 apiece; Anthony Dozier 2 and Roberts and Brody each added 1.

Strzelecki was tapped by coach Bill Harrelson for his 214 yards and 2 touchdowns in a stellar performance.

Gravette ran 83 plays, while Poteau had only 39offensive plays. The Lions amassed 383 yards total offense while the swarming Lion defense held the home team to only 51 yards on the ground and 164 yards overall. It was the Pirates’ first loss in three games.

Friday night’s game is the conference opener for both the Lions and the Blackhawks.

Sports, Pages 10 on 09/21/2011