PRAIRIE GROVE -- Gravette didn't look a gift horse in the mouth, benefiting from a slough of penalties, relaunching its offense from a critical fourth down and two consecutive third downs.
A dead-ball personal foul completely changed the game flow as officiating took over in the third quarter of Prairie Grove's 44-22 nonconference win at home in Tiger Den Stadium against Gravette Friday.
The zebras threw five flags against Prairie Grove over a 10-play span and walked off 40 yards, accounting for half of the Lions' yardage on the drive that got them back in the game. That bailed Gravette out of five incomplete passes on the drive.
The deadball personal foul penalty assessed against Prairie Grove on fourth-and-12 gave the Lions' offense new life. While Tiger fans were still trying to figure out what was said that constituted an infraction of the rules, Gravette faced second-and-eight with Prairie Grove linebacker Justin Bryars stuffing a run. A third-down pass fell incomplete, but when a Tiger defensive back got tangled up with Lions on the sideline while defending the pass, the officials flagged him for a personal foul, another 15 yards and a first down instead of third-and-eight.
Three plays later, Gravette again faced a third down, but the same scenario repeated with a flag against Prairie Grove, awarding the Lions a first down, their third by penalty on the possession, and the officials weren't done yet.
Gabriel Holmes ran for 8 yards, and somehow a 12-men-on-the-field penalty got tacked onto the end of his run, setting up a first-and-goal from the Tigers' eight. They threw yet another flag when Gravette quarterback Cameron Bedwell suffered an incomplete pass but mysteriously pocketed it.
Holmes scored on second down from 8 yards out and Liam McGuire kicked the P.A.T., making the score 24-7 with 8:50 left in third quarter.
Prairie Grove answered with Joe Sims dragging tacklers, including one latched onto his facemask, for 24 yards to the Tigers' 47. There was no flag.
On the next play, Jace Edwards broke a tackle and stiff-armed away a defender before accelerating through the Gravette defense for a 53-yard touchdown run. Conner Hubbs added a 2-point conversion run.
Sophomore Conner Acosta (5-8, 138) returned the ensuing kickoff 22 yards, providing good starting field position for the Lions at their own 39. Gravette twice converted fourth downs while forging a 13-play, 61-yard scoring march. Holmes needed three yards on fourth down but got all 32 and a touchdown besides.
McGuire's P.A.T. kick made it 32-14, and Gravette, which dominated time of possession in the third quarter, scored again to narrow the gap to 32-22 early in the fourth, with Kayden Brown catching a 5-yard touchdown pass from Bedwell. Holmes ran for a 2-point conversion.
The Lions wouldn't score again over the final 9:36 and could neither stop Prairie Grove when it counted nor make up for a 24-0 halftime deficit.
Prairie Grove punched the ball in on its first two drives on short runs by Sims and Edwards, who also accounted for a pair of 2-point conversions.
Hubbs contributed a 29-yard interception runback for a touchdown, plus added a 2-point run. The Tigers dominated the first half, running off 35 plays to 32 for the Lions. Gravette couldn't cash in on a foray that reached the Tiger seven before turning the ball over on downs in the last minute of the first half.
In the fourth quarter, Prairie Grove ground up yardage, utilizing its power back, Sims (6-3, 250), who picked up 34 yards on four consecutive carries, then went to its speed guy with Hubbs busting a 30-yard touchdown carry.
David Stephens' interception and 48-yard return to the Lions' one set up Luke Vance's naked bootleg touchdown scamper to seal the game with 2:06 showing.
The nonconference game at Tiger Den Stadium featured two teams with more in common than most. Both have been long-time members of the 4A-1 Conference before Prairie Grove got bumped up to 5A football in 2022. The Lions were slated to join them in 2024, but as it turned out, neither school will be 5A in 2024.
With the implementation of 'Competitive Equity' for private schools and caps on the number of teams in conferences, both Gravette and Prairie Grove will be 4A football schools in 2024.
Offensively, Gravette's Holmes finished with 25 carries for 186 yards and two touchdowns, while Bedwell passed for 146 yards.
Prairie Grove had two backs go over 100 yards rushing, Sims (12 for 117, 1 touchdown) and Edwards (12 for 111 yards, 2 touchdowns), while Hubbs also ran 12 times for 84 yards and a touchdown.
The Tigers outgained Gravette 418 to 391 in total offense. The Lions were most effective passing late in the first half but they failed to score and were never able to get that rhythm going again.
Prairie Grove 44, Gravette 22
Gravette^--^0^0^14^8^--^22
Prairie Grove^--^16^8^8^12^--^44
First Quarter
Prairie Grove -- Joe Sims 4-yard run (Jace Edwards run), 8:35.
Prairie Grove -- Jace Edwards 3-yard run (Conner Hubbs run), 3:00.
Second Quarter
Prairie Grove -- Conner Hubbs 29-yard interception return (Conner Hubbs run), 7:57.
Third Quarter
Gravette -- Gabriel Holmes 8-yard run (Liam McGuire kick), 8:50.
Prairie Grove -- Jace Edwards 53-yard run (Conner Hubbs run), 8:03.
Gravette -- Gabriel Holmes 32-yard run (Liam McGuire kick), 4:34.
Fourth Quarter
Gravette -- Kayden Brown 5-yard pass from Cameron Bedwell (Gabriel Holmes run), 9:36.
Prairie Grove -- Conner Hubbs 30-yard run (run failed), 4:21.
Prairie Grove -- Luke Vance 1-yard run (kick failed), 2:01.
TEAM STATISTICS
Prairie Grove^Gravette
First downs^25^32
Total offense^418^391
Rushes-yards^47-356^38-245
Passing yards^62^146
Rush average^7.6^6.4
Comp-Att-Yds^TD^Int^4-11-62-1-0^16-41-146-1-2
Punts-Avg.^3-35.6^2-33
Third down^4-9^7-17
Fourth down^2-3^3-7
Turnovers^1^3
Fumbles lost^1^1
Interceptions^0^2
Penalties-Yds^9-62^8-40
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING -- Prairie Grove, Joseph Sims 12-117, Jace Edwards 12-111, Conner Hubbs 12-84, Elijah Sugg 3-31, Cale Bray 2-15, Blake Coughran 1-0, Luke Vance 4-0, Luke Bannon 1-(-2). Totals 47-356. Gravette, Gabriel Holmes 25-186, Jacob Gaylord 4-23, Josiah McGee 4-22, Kayden Brown 2-13, Zach Carson 1-2, Cameron Bedwell 2-(-1-). Totals, 38-245.
PASSING -- Prairie Grove, Luke Vance 4-11-62-0-0. Totals 3-11-62-1-0. Gravette, Cameron Bedwell 16-41-144-1-2.
RECEIVING -- Prairie Grove, Coner Hubbs 2-34, David Stephens 1-24, Joe Sims 1-4. Totals 4-62. Gravette, Conner Acosta 4-41, Ashton Spears 3-29, Kayden Brown 3-26, Jacob Gaylord 2-16, James Marta 2-14, Gabriel Holmes 1-13. Totals 16-146.
Mark Humphrey/Eagle-Observer/Gravette sophomore receiver Conner Acosta makes a move to try and elude a tackle by Prairie Grove senior Luke Vance. Acosta had 4 catches for 41 yards in Friday's 44-22 nonconference football loss at Prairie Grove.
Mark Humphrey/Eagle-Observer/Sportsmanship ruled the day with players from both teams helping each other up after plays. Here, Gravette senior Jace Arnold extends a hand to Prairie Grove junior Trace Boyd. The Lions lost Friday's non conference matchup, 44-22, at Prairie Grove. Next season both teams will be back in 4A for football.
Mark Humphrey/Eagle-Observer/Gravette's varsity football team busts through a banner held by the Lions' cheerleaders prior to taking the field at Prairie Grove. Gravette lost, 44-22, in Friday's nonconference football game at Prairie Grove.
Mark Humphrey/Eagle-Observer/Gravette sophomore Kayden Brown comes up in run support to make a tackle on Prairie Grove's Jace Edwards after he got to the edge. The Tigers defeated the Lions, 44-22, in nonconference football action at Prairie Grove on Friday.
Mark Humphrey/Eagle-Observer/Gravette's varsity football team busts through a banner held by the Lions' cheerleaders prior to taking the field at Prairie Grove. Gravette lost, 44-22, in Friday's nonconference football game at Prairie Grove.
Mark Humphrey/Eagle-Observer/Sportsmanship ruled the day with players from both teams helping each other up after plays. Here, Gravette senior Jace Arnold extends a hand to Prairie Grove junior Trace Boyd. The Lions lost Friday's non conference matchup, 44-22, at Prairie Grove. Next season both teams will be back in 4A for football.
Mark Humphrey/Eagle-Observer/Gravette sophomore receiver Conner Acosta makes a move to try and elude a tackle by Prairie Grove senior Luke Vance. Acosta had 4 catches for 41 yards in Friday's 44-22 nonconference football loss at Prairie Grove.
Mark Humphrey/Eagle-Observer/Gravette junior Gabriel Holmes earns a first down with a 7-yard reception on this play. Holmes switched from receiver to lining up in the backfield in the second half and had a monster game, rushing for 186 yards on 25 carries. The Lions couldn't overcome a 24-0 halftime deficit and lost 44-22.
Mark Humphrey/Eagle-Observer/Gravette sophomore Kayden Brown comes up in run support to make a tackle on Prairie Grove's Jace Edwards after he got to the edge. The Tigers defeated the Lions, 44-22, in nonconference football action at Prairie Grove on Friday.