Gravette earns second shutout, runs record to 4-0

Gravette senior Colt Moorman stripped the football from Pea Ridge senior Nathan Norris and the Lions recovered the fumble during the second quarter of Friday night's game at Lion Stadium in Gravette.
Gravette senior Colt Moorman stripped the football from Pea Ridge senior Nathan Norris and the Lions recovered the fumble during the second quarter of Friday night's game at Lion Stadium in Gravette.

— On a night when it would have been understandable if their play was ragged, the Gravette Lions were instead deadly efficient.

The result was a 24-0 win against Pea Ridge in the 1A-4A Conference opener for both schoolsat Lion Stadium.

Gravette, playing two days after the death of starting offensive lineman CaseyRussell, dictated action from the outset in running its record to 4-0 overall. Pea Ridge is now 1-3 overall and 0-1.

"The guys just came out and played their hearts out," Gravette coach Bill Harrelson said. "I know would have been "

The Lions needed just four plays to cover 68 yards on their opening drive of the night with Michael Croasdell scoring on a 22-yard run.

Gravette's next touchdown came on a 25-yard pass from Colton Davis to Darrick Strzelecki on the Lions' initial possession of the second quarter. That drive covered 76 yards on a four plays - two of which were big pass plays (the touchdown and a 46-yard pass to David O'Brien) by Davis.

Pea Ridge, meanwhile, had enough chances to make a game of it, but misfired all night in Gravette territory.

The Blackhawks lost a fumble at the Gravette 38 early in the second quarter. But back-to-back turnovers by Gravette gave Pea Ridge great chances to mount a comeback. Instead, the Blackhawks blew both chances.

The first came after an interception at the Gravette 46. Pea Ridge went three plays and punted. Gravette fumbled the ball back five plays later at its own 26, but Pea Ridge was denied again when Ethan Rhine's terribly underthrown pass was intercepted by Nathan Ortmann at the Lions 12 and returned all the way to the Pea Ridge 20. Four plays later, Cody Montee kicked a 26-yard field goal on the last play of the half to make it 17-0.

"That took 7 away from us and gave them 3," Pea Ridge coach Tony Travissaid. "We played well in the first half; the offensive line really blocked well."

In the second half, Pea Ridge would only run two plays in Gravette territory as the Lion defense recorded its second shutout of the season. Through four games, Gravette has allowed just three touchdowns.

"What can you say about the defense,?" Harrelson said. "Our defense continues to play well. The guysare just swarming to the ball."

Gravette made it 24-0 in its first drive on the fourth quarter. It took all of 1:47 to cover 46 yards, capped by Colton Moorman's 5-yard pass to Travis Eden.

On the night, Moorman and Davis combined to complete 7 of 16 passes for 169 yards.

The loss overshadowed an outstanding running night by Pea Ridge's Tyler Ramsey. The senior hadgame-high 112 yards on 29 carries.

Sports, Pages 7, 9 on 09/26/2009

Upcoming Events