GRAVETTE — Bailey Soule' pounded in three short-yardage touchdowns and Kilby Roberts tallied 255 all-purpose yards to help Gravette ease past Gentry, 40-14, Friday in the regular-season finale.
The Lions (6-4, 4-3 4A-1) will travel Friday to Northeast Arkansas to face Pocahontas in the first round of the state playoffs. The Pioneers (2-8) finish conference play winless at 0-7.
Gravette's playoff ticket was already punched heading into Friday's game with Gentry, but the Lions didn't show any complacency. Their offense dominated time of possession, and their defense held the run-oriented Pioneers to 32 yards rushing.
"The younger kids came out and said they wanted to play for the seniors, and they just did a great job," said Gravette coach Bill Harrelson, who also praised the performance of his seniors, led by Roberts at quarterback and defensive linemen Drew Hendren and Bret Callahan. "Kilby ran the team very well and Drew and Bret played unbelievably on the defensive line. Their quarterback (Jon Faulkenberry) is a great player and we were able to control him a little bit."
Despite losing two firsthalf fumbles at the Gentry 1, Gravette held a 17-7 halftime lead, thanks to Chris Childress' 34-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.
Gentry pulled to within three midway through the third quarter on a nifty 15-yard Faulkenberry keeper, but Gravette scored 23 unanswered points the rest of the way. Soule' added two more short TD runs and Gunner Berger sacked Faulkenberry in the Gentry end zone for a safety.
Gravette marched the game's opening drive 65 yards on 11 plays, including five first downs. It was capped by Brady Moorman's 10-yard TD reception from Roberts. Gentry answered on the ensuing possession with a 2-yard plunge by Myles Mc-Ferron.
Roberts led all rushers with 122 yards on 14 carries. Austin O'Brien added 88 rushing yards and 59 receiving yards for the Lions.
"I think we're in good shape," Harrelson said. "No one came off the field tonight, so I think we're all healthy. We're looking forward to (the playoffs)."
GRAVETTE 40, GENTRY 14
GRAVETTE 40, GENTRY 14
Gentry ..............7 0 7 0 -- 14 Gravette ............7 10 7 16 -- 40 First Quarter
Grav -- Moorman 10 pass from Roberts (Childress kick), 7:47 Gent -- McFerron 2 run (Matthews kick), 4:06
Second Quarter
Grav -- Soule' 4 run (Childress kick), 7:28 Grav -- FG Childress 34, :00
Third Quarter
Gent -- Faulkenberry 15 run (Matthews kick), 5:49 Grav -- Soule' 1 run (Childress kick), 1:04
Fourth Quarter
Grav -- Safety, 11:51 Grav -- Soule' 3 run (Childress kick), 7:29 Grav -- Gruver 6 run (Childress kick) 1:44
Sports on 11/09/2016