Second half key as Tigers top Lions

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Lion defender Esteban Pastor (32) collides with a Tiger running back during the third quarter of the Prairie Grove-Gravette conference football contest at Tiger Stadium in Prairie Grove Friday night. Pastor's plan worked as he was able to stop the Tiger runner for a small loss.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lion defender Esteban Pastor (32) collides with a Tiger running back during the third quarter of the Prairie Grove-Gravette conference football contest at Tiger Stadium in Prairie Grove Friday night. Pastor's plan worked as he was able to stop the Tiger runner for a small loss.

PRAIRIE GROVE -- Coming off a devastating 42-38 homecoming loss to the Elkins Elks at Lion Stadium Sept. 24, the Gravette Lion varsity football team tried to regroup as it headed to Prairie Grove Oct. 1 for another conference contest, this time with the Tigers. The Lions pulled to within three points in the second quarter but a pair of touchdowns in the later stages of the fourth quarter gave the Tigers the win.

Shortly after the start of the first quarter, a light to moderate rain began to fall over Tiger Stadium. But this did not dampen the spirits on either side of the field as Tiger and Lion fans tried to out-roar each other. Feeding off the fans' excitement, both Gravette and Prairie Grove played an intense contest which ended with a combined total of 10 touchdowns during the 48-minute game.

Shortly after the start of the first quarter, the Tigers found the end zone for the first six of the night. A field goal made it 7-0 Prairie Grove. Gravette denied the Tigers a shutout a short time later with its first touchdown of the night. The conversion attempt failed, giving the Tigers a one-point lead, 7-6. Prairie Grove added two more touchdowns and extra points to give the Tigers a 21-6 lead by the end of the first quarter.

The Lion defense went to work in the second quarter, holding the Tigers scoreless for the next 12 minutes. Meanwhile, the offense stepped it up a notch when a hand-off from Rhett Hilger to Kyler Austin at the 15-yard line resulted in Gravette's second touchdown of the contest. Austin tried to get into the end zone for the conversion but was stopped short and the Lions trailed the Tigers by nine.

With 1:53 left in the half, a pass from Hilger to Karl Bontrager resulted in a score for the Lions. Hilger tried for the two-point conversion but was brought down near the line of scrimmage for no points. The first half ended with Gravette trailing Prairie Grove by three, 21-18.

The Lions remained within three points throughout the first five minutes of the third quarter. But a 68 yard run by Colin Faulk resulted in the fourth touchdown of the night for the Tigers. The extra point was good, making it a 28-18 Prairie Grove contest by the end of the quarter.

A few minutes into the final quarter, a 54 yard run by Ethan Miller resulted in the only other score of the quarter, giving the Tigers a firm 34-18 lead. A short time later Miller found the end zone once again on a four-yard scramble for the final Prairie Grove touchdown of the contest. The point after was good and the Tigers extended their lead to 23.

A hand-off from Lion quarterback Hilger to Austin resulted in a 50-yard touchdown for Gravette. The point after was good and the Lions cut the Tigers' lead to 15.

With time winding down and the ball on the Gravette 42-yard line, the Tigers elected for a long field goal. The Tiger kicker split the uprights, giving Prairie Grove an 18-point advantage.

The Prairie Grove Tigers went on to take the homecoming win, 44-25, over the Gravette Lions.

The Gravette Lions travel to Huntsville on Oct. 8 for another conference contest against the Eagles, with a 7 p.m. start.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
A picture perfect fake as Kyler Austin (30) forms a cradle against his chest, giving the illusion of having the ball, while Lion quarterback Rhett Hilger (1) looks to pass during the fourth quarter of the Prairie Grove-Gravette football contest in Prairie Grove Friday night. The ploy worked as Hilger used the hole in front of him to run for a first down.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS A picture perfect fake as Kyler Austin (30) forms a cradle against his chest, giving the illusion of having the ball, while Lion quarterback Rhett Hilger (1) looks to pass during the fourth quarter of the Prairie Grove-Gravette football contest in Prairie Grove Friday night. The ploy worked as Hilger used the hole in front of him to run for a first down.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
After receiving a handoff from Lion quarterback Rhett Hilger, Kyler Austin finds an opening in the Tiger defensive line and runs toward it during the Friday night conference showdown between the Prairie Grove Tigers and the Gravette Lions in Prairie Grove.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS After receiving a handoff from Lion quarterback Rhett Hilger, Kyler Austin finds an opening in the Tiger defensive line and runs toward it during the Friday night conference showdown between the Prairie Grove Tigers and the Gravette Lions in Prairie Grove.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
Lion Kyler Austin sweeps by a group of Tiger defenders and finds a clear path into the end zone for a Lion touchdown late in the fourth quarter of the Prairie Grove-Gravette football game in Prairie Grove Friday night.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Lion Kyler Austin sweeps by a group of Tiger defenders and finds a clear path into the end zone for a Lion touchdown late in the fourth quarter of the Prairie Grove-Gravette football game in Prairie Grove Friday night.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS
As Lion quarterback Rhett Hilger (1) receives the snap from his center, Karl Bontrager (21)  begins running interference, giving Hilger time to decide to pass or run during the Friday night Prairie Grove-Gravette football contest in Prairie Grove. A pair of touchdowns by the Tigers clinched the conference win over the Lions.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS As Lion quarterback Rhett Hilger (1) receives the snap from his center, Karl Bontrager (21) begins running interference, giving Hilger time to decide to pass or run during the Friday night Prairie Grove-Gravette football contest in Prairie Grove. A pair of touchdowns by the Tigers clinched the conference win over the Lions.