On the heels of successive conference wins over Prairie Grove (28-21) and Lincoln (34-13), Gentry fans may be wondering where this year's team ranks among Pioneer all-time greats.
The Pioneers' victory over the Tigers ended an 8-game losing streak and is Gentry's first in the series since Gentry won three straight games against Prairie Grove from 2008-2010. Prior to Oct. 25, Gentry's last win was 21-17 on Oct. 29, 2010. Prairie Grove coach Danny Abshier is 20-7 against Gentry since 1993.
GENTRY FOOTBALL RECORDS SINCE 1977
Year^Affiliation^Overall^Conf^Playoffs
1977^1A-1^3-7^3-5^0-0
1978^1A-1^9-2^8-0^0-1*
1979^1A-1^11-1^8-0^1-1*
1980^1A-1^7-3^6-0^0-1*
1981^1A-1 West^9-2^8-0^0-1*
1982^1A-1 West^8-4^7-1^1-1*
1983^1A-1 West^7-4^5-1^0-1*
1984^1A-1 West^2-8^2-4^0-0
1985^1A-1^3-7^3-4^0-0
1986^1A^6-3^5-2^0-0
1987^2A-1^4-6^3-5^0-0
1988^2A-1^3-7^2-6^0-0
1989^2A-1^9-2^7-1^0-1*
1990^2A-1^9-2^7-1^0-1*
1991^2A-1^9-3^7-1^1-1*
1992^2A-1^5-4^5-2^0-0
1993^2A-1^3-7^3-5^0-0
1994^2A-1^9-2^7-1^0-1*
1995^2A-1^10-3^7-1^2-1*
1996^3A-1^4-5^4-4^0-0
1997^3A-1^6-4^5-3^0-0
1998^3A-1^7-4^6-2^0-1*
1999^3A-1^1-9^1-7^0-0
2000^3A-1^0-9^0-8^0-0
2001^3A-1^4-6^3-5^0-0
2002^3A-1^4-6^2-5^0-0
2003^3A-1^2-8^1-6^0-0
2004^3A-1^5-4^4-3^0-0
2005^3A-1^3-7^1-6^0-0
2006^4A-1^1-9^0-7^0-0
2007^4A-1^3-7^2-5^0-0
2008^4A-1^3-7^2-5^0-0
2009^4A-1^4-6^3-4^0-0
2010^4A-1^6-5^4-3^0-1*
2011^4A-1^1-9^1-6^0-0
2012^4A-1^2-8^1-6^0-0
2013^4A-1^6-5^4-3^0-1*
2014^4A-1^3-8^3-4^0-1*
2015^4A-1^3-7^1-6^0-0
2016^4A-1^2-8^0-7^0-0
2017^4A-1^5-6^3-4^0-1*
2018^4A-1^3-8^3-4^0-1*
2019^4A-1^6-3^4-2^TBD*
*Playoff season
Earlier this season, Gentry honored former coach Dick Johnson and the 1979 varsity football team, recognizing a school-record 11 win, 1 loss season.
The lone loss occurred in the State 1A semifinals at Mountain Pine (28-8) after Gentry won a first-round game, 11-8, over Danville.
According to comments made by Pioneer announcer Eldon Cripps during the ceremony, the next best season the Pioneers have achieved in football was a 10-0 record in 1967 which ended without state playoffs.
Cripps stated the 11-1 record during the 1979 season remains atop Pioneer football history, according to Eagle-Observer archives.
The Class of 1980 which were seniors on that squad finished with a 3-year record of 23-10 winning back-to-back conference championships in the 1A-1 for 1978-1979, followed by the Class of 1981 winning 27 games with 6 losses over three seasons.
Speaking after Friday's 34-13 road win at Lincoln, current Gentry head football coach Paul Ernest sought to draw attention to what this year's seniors from the Class of 2020 have accomplished.
Coming into a week 10 rivalry game with Gravette, Gentry's senior class varsity football record stands at 14-17 overall and 10-10 in conference play, highlighted by a 6-3 overall record and 4-2 mark in the 4A-1 thus far in the 2019 season.
The seniors have won three playoff berths including 2019, best of any team since the school moved up to the 4A classification beginning with the 2006 season. The 3-for-3 playoff run last happened from 1989-1991 when the Pioneers competed at the 2A classification.
Gentry's Class of 1992 won 27 games and lost 7, highlighted by a 21-3 record in three years of 2A-1 Conference play.
Prior to that, Gentry strung together six consecutive playoff appearances from 1978-1983 as a 1A school.
The Class of 1982 won 27 games and lost 6 in three years. The Class of 1983 also won 24 games while losing 9 in three years. The Class of 1984 won 24 games and lost 10 over three years.
"We've got a chance to do some things with this senior class that haven't been done in a while, to be the winningest record. Right now they've tied the winningest record in the last 25 plus years at Gentry," Ernest said, referring to the Class of 2011 which went 13-18 over three years with a 6-5 finish and playoff berth as seniors in 2010.
Ernest pointed out that this year's seniors have a chance to win 7 games and stand alone as the best Pioneer varsity football team over the last quarter of a century.
"They've made the playoffs now for three years in a row, which is the first time that's happened since their move up from 2A. And then, a chance to be the winningest senior class that's come through in the last 30 years. So, that's a big deal. They've got a lot in front of them, but taking care of Gravette and beating that team up the highway will mean a lot to us," Ernest said, noting additional motivation for the Pioneers coming into Friday's regular-season finale.
Gravette comes into Friday's contest with a 4-5 overall record and 3-3 in league play. The Lions are tied with Prairie Grove -- to whom they lost earlier this season -- in conference standings and could finish with the same league record as Gentry should they beat the Pioneers -- Ernest is well aware of this as he prepares the Pioneers to take care of business at home.
"The team up the highway. We play them at home this year, so they'll come down to our place," Ernest said. "It's going to be senior night. It's going to be a pretty big crowd."
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Friday at Gentry's Pioneer Stadium.
MARK HUMPHREY IS A SPORTS REPORTER COVERING THE 4A-1 CONFERENCE FOR NORTHWEST ARKANSAS NEWSPAPERS.
Sports on 11/06/2019