3-0 start first for Lions in six years

BENTONVILLE — Lions football coach Bill Harrelson began the season with several newcomers starting on both sides of the ball, playing two of the first three games on the road.

Of course the Gravette football team isn't perfect, but Harrelson can still enjoy the fact he's still coaching an undefeated football team.

"Two big road wins feels good," says the fourth-year head coach. "Now we've got three of the next four at home and we need to make that work for us. We've got some tough teams coming up but (playing at home) needs to be a good thing for us."

Gravette will play its homecoming game Friday at Lion Stadium when it hosts Pea Ridge for the 1-4A Conference opener. The Lions are 3-0 for the first time since 2003, eventually a 5-5 season.

They haven't started 4-0 since 2002, eventually a perfect regularseason with 10 wins in 10 games before losing in the first round of the state playoffs.

Gravette finished the nonconference season with a 21-14 win at Wellington, Kan. It was marked by running back Michael Croasdell, a patchwork offensiveline coming together to pave the way for 205 rushing yards and another stout game for the defense.

Croasdell, a senior, carried 29 times for 134 yards and two touchdowns and also played every snap on defense.

"He's quite a warrior," Harrelson says. "Offensively we've been hot and cold a little bit but Croasdell's running very, very hard."

Wellington scored on passes of 30 and 35 yards but found little success elsewhere, finishing withjust 33 yards rushing.

Besides the distractions of a homecoming game, "and that's always a worry for a coach," Harrelson jokes, this week's matchup pits Harrelson against a close friend.

First-year Pea Ridge coach Tony Travis was a volunteer coach at Ramay Junior High in Fayetteville when Harrelson was an assistant during the 2000 season. Both worked for coach Mike Harrod. When Harrelson took over as head coach the following year, he named Travis his defensivecoordinator.

"Tony is about as good a friend as I've got; we're really close," Harrelson says.

Pea Ridge walloped Greenland last week 40-21 for its first victory. It was the school's highest scoring output in six years - a 43-0 win at Cedarville in October 2003.

"They are improving every game; you can see that," Harrelson says. "The quarterback (Ethan) Rhine and the tailback (Tyler) Ramsey are as good a players as there are anywhere."

NOTES: Gravette has forced eight turnovers this season and sophomore DB Darrick Strzelecki has three interceptions. : Dakota Lacy, one of two starting offensive linemen out with injury last week, is expected to return against Pea Ridge. Lacy sprained an ankle in the first half of the Mc-Donald County, Mo., game Sept. 11. Right tackle Casey Russell (back) remains out indefinitely, Harrelson says. : Croasdell has rushed for 309 yards on 62 carries this season (4.9 yards per carry).