GRAVETTE -- Last season, the Gravette Lions traveled to the other side of the state and picked up a playoff victory for the first time since reaching the 4A quarterfinals in 2011. The Lions finished fourth in the rugged 4A-1 Conference. Head coach Bill Harrelson, in his 12th season at Gravette, believes his 2017 team will not have it any easier, but he expects to be more competitive and hopes this year's team has closed the gap between themselves and the top part of the conference.
"Our conference was the best in the state last year and I don't see that changing any this year," said Harrelson. "It will again be a dogfight every Friday night, and I will be disappointed if we aren't right in the middle of the conference race."
In 2016, Gravette had moments that Harrelson is hopeful are glimpses into the potential of the 2017 team. The Lions led state runner-up Pea Ridge 10-0 in the second quarter before turnovers and the overall skill of the Blackhawks took control of the game. Before a long touchdown pass just before halftime, Gravette trailed conference champion and state semifinalist Prairie Grove by a mere touchdown. Combine those small instances with the 37-27 win over Pocahontas in the playoffs and one can see why the head coach is optimistic.
Harrelson's confidence will be placed in a stout defense that returns 10 players with starting experience, including three up front in seniors Bailey Soulé (6-foot-1, 255 pounds), Chase Palmer (5-10, 225), and junior Colton Grimes (5-11, 220). Grimes filled in for a suspended starter during the Prairie Grove game and made two sacks and several other key stops in the first half.
Soulé, one of the top defensive players in the conference, returns for his third season along the defensive line after racking up 86 total tackles in 2016. His 11 tackles for loss led the team last season.
"I feel the defensive line will be the strength of our team," said Harrelson. "To go along with those guys, Kenton Tajchman is returning at middle linebacker and is really the leader of our defense."
Tajchman (5-8, 226), a senior, led the Lions with 96 tackles in 2016 and is joined by another returning starter at linebacker in hard-hitting classmate Gunner Berger (6-0, 195).
"Berger has added a lot of size and strength from last year," said Harrelson. "We are looking forward to watching him hit like he did last year but with his added size."
While Harrelson believes his front seven is solid, his defensive unit also has arguably the best duo of cornerbacks in the 4A-1 in three-year starters Brandon Ballard (5-10, 180) and Austin O'Brien (5-11, 195) to go along with the experience of senior Chris Childress (6-4, 175) at free safety. Ballard and O'Brien combined for six interceptions last year.
"Ballard and O'Brien are really three-year starters and Childress has a lot of range at safety," said Harrelson. "Brady Moorman (5-6, 145) and Daniel Huntsman (5-11, 172) are the only two new starters and both are very capable players."
Moorman had three interceptions in 2016.
While the defense brings back the bulk of the 2016 production, the offensive backfield also has a face very familiar to 4A-1 opponents in O'Brien. The senior multi-purpose player rushed for more than 1,000 yards to go along with 550 receiving yards last season and had a touchdown total of nine.
"I feel O'Brien is the best combo player in our conference," said Harrelson. "He now weighs 195 pounds and hasn't lost any speed at all. He is as much of a threat catching the football as he is running it."
O'Brien will be lining up next to a new face at quarterback as junior Tajae White (5-9, 155) appears ready to take the full-time reins as the Lions signal caller. White, who started the second round playoff game on the road against Hamburg, has developed well and, according to Harrelson, is ready to transition into being trigger man in Gravette's spread attack.
"Tajae's experience on varsity, as well as junior varsity, last year just gives him a head start," said Harrelson. "He is exactly the kind of leader you need at quarterback. He is a very vocal leader at times but he always leads by example on and off the field."
With his quickness and overall speed, the dual-threat White should give Harrelson the opportunity to open up his playbook a bit more than in the past few seasons.
"His ability to run and throw will be a strong point of our offense this year," said Harrelson.
Taking some of the pressure off the first-time starting quarterback will be an offensive line that, despite several new faces, has shown potential that excites Harrelson.
"Our offensive line is improving every practice," said Harrelson. "One big thing that has helped them is having to go against our defensive line in practice every day."
Harrelson said senior center Justin Stelting (6-2, 277) has stepped up as the leader of the unit. Senior Seth Spencer (6-0, 245) brings the most experience to the offensive line, but also brings a lot of value to the defensive line. Harrelson hopes to keep Spencer as fresh as possible for both roles and Harrelson expects a few juniors to step into more prominent roles.
Jarrod Barker (6-3, 230) and Aidan Patton (6-3, 230) appear ready to take over the tackle spots while Beau Hamilton (6-0, 237) and Dakota Lemonds (6-0, 200) will be given plenty of opportunities at the guard positions.
"All of those guys have good size and can really move," said Harrelson.
Senior Logan Rachel (5-9, 185) will work with Moorman and Childress at the receiver positions. Moorman caught 39 passes for 382 yards and five touchdowns in 2016. Grimes and Huntsman will be counted on to provide depth at fullback. Soulé entered the backfield during goal line situations and scored eight touchdowns last season.
Derek Cravens (5-7, 147) is someone Harrelson is looking at to provide production on both sides of the football.
"Derek Cravens is a young man that has shown great improvement and will play a big role on the team both ways," said Harrelson.
Childress, who Harrelson has called the best kicker in the state, provides the Lions with an advantage using his strong leg in both the kicking and punting games.
"Chris' leg is definitely a big weapon that we are going to have to take advantage of," said Harrelson. "Any time we get inside the other team's forty-yard line I think he will have a chance to put points on the board. He has also taken over the punting duties which is going to stress his leg even more, but we think he is up to the challenge."
Childress drilled 11 of 12 field goals in 2016, including one from 45 yards. He was also 19 of 21 on extra point attempts.
Facing a conference slate that contains three 4A semifinalists from a year ago, Harrelson feels his team's non-conference slate will help sharpen and prepare his Lions for what lies ahead in Weeks 3--10. Gravette goes on the road to Franklin County to face the Ozark Hillbillies, a team Gravette defeated 21-20 in overtime to start the 2016 season.
"Ozark and Booneville both provide us with a test right off the bat," said Harrelson. "Going to Ozark is going to be a huge challenge and Booneville is picked to win their conference."
Harrelson knows those first two weeks will be a measuring stick, of sorts, for the Lions. Both Booneville and Ozark were playoff teams in 2016, and each are returning a bevy of starters. Booneville defeated the Lions 21-7 last season.
"We will have a good idea of how good we are by the end of that two game stretch," said Harrelson.
After a three-way scrimmage with Farmington and Greenland, Gravette begins the season Friday, Sept. 1, on the road versus Ozark from the 4A-4. The Lions kickoff conference play at home against Lincoln on Sept. 22.
Sports on 08/23/2017