Gravette uses big second half to get past Gentry

Photo by Randy Moll Gravette's Kenton Tajchman and Bailey Soule' stopped a run by Gentry's Myles McFerron during play between the two rivals at Gentry High School on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017.

Photo by Randy Moll Gravette's Kenton Tajchman and Bailey Soule' stopped a run by Gentry's Myles McFerron during play between the two rivals at Gentry High School on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

— With the potential of securing home-field advantage in next week's Class 4A state playoffs, Gravette was held in check by rival Gentry early on Friday night at Pioneer Stadium. Then halftime came, and someone flipped the switch.

The Lions outscored the Pioneers 24-6 after the break and secured a 38-9 victory in a key 4A-1 Conference regular-season finale, thus earning a home playoff game for the first time since 2011.

"That's huge," said Gravette coach Bill Harrelson. "I think our kids have really earned it, and I think it is going to be great for our school and our entire community.

"Beating Shiloh and Gentry back-to-back, that's a Gravette Lion dream, right there. We've won four in a row now, and we are kind of building confidence as we go. And it's amazing how much of a difference confidence can make in a football team."

Gravette (6-4, 5-2) looked to get on the scoreboard on its opening drive before fumbling it away at the Gentry 10. Peyton Wright pounced on it for the Pioneers. But four plays later, Gentry coughed it up at its own 12, with Chris Childress making the recovery for the Lions.

Gravette then wasted little time, as Brady Moorman scampered around the left end on the first play of the drive to give the Lions a 7-0 lead with 4:42 left in the first quarter.

Gentry (5-5, 3-4) then mounted an 18-play drive early in the second quarter but was forced to settle for a 24-yard field goal off the leg of Garrett Matthews. That cut the lead to 7-3 heading to the intermission.

Gentry actually held a 147-97 advantage in total offense at the half. But the Gravette offense ignited after the break, outgaining the Pioneers 247-146 in the second half of the game.

"I don't know what happened. Our guys just buckled up and came out with a lot more intensity in the second half," Harrelson said. "I don't think they were playing like they knew they were capable of (playing), and our seniors really stepped up, on and off the field. Our offensive line really took control of the line of scrimmage."

Gravette steamrolled down the field to open the second half, marching 71 yards in six plays -- all on the ground. Quarterback Tajae White capped it off with a 27-yard run to make it 14-3.

The area's leading rusher, Austin O'Brien, then picked up steam and proved to be too much for Gentry to handle. After being held to just 49 yards in the first half, O'Brien finished with 215 yards on 19 carries. He now has 1,944 yards on the season.

Gentry quarterback Jon Faulkenberry, who has been one of the state's best all-around performers this year, was contained by the Gravette defense most of the night. He did connect with Peyton Wright on a 37-yard touchdown strike early in the second half and finished 12 of 29 through the air for 139 yards.

O'Brien carried the ball on all three plays of the Lions' ensuing drive, with runs of 27, 18 and seven yards -- the latter making it 21-9 with 6:10 remaining in the third quarter.

Another Gentry fumble deep in its own territory early in the fourth gave Gravette an advantage once again. White needed just one play to run in from 18 yards out for his second score of the night. He finished with 62 yards on eight carries.

Gravette hosts Heber Springs in the first round of playoffs on Friday night. Gentry travels to play Southside at Batesville.

Gravette 38, Gentry 9

Gravette^7^0^14^10--38

Gentry^0^3^6^0--9

First Quarter

Grav -- Moorman 12 run (Childress kick) 4:42

Second Quarter

Gent -- Matthews 24 field goal, 6:31

Third Quarter

Grav -- White 27 run (Childress kick) 9:15

Gent -- Wright 37 pass from Faulkenberry (kick failed) 6:59

Grav -- O'Brien 7 run (Childress kick) 6:10

Fourth Quarter

Grav -- White 18 run (Childress kick) 9:14

Grav -- Childress 39 field goal, 3:32

Sports on 11/08/2017