NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Harvill Sets Sacks Record
SPRINGDALE -- Shiloh Christian senior Samuel Harvill's feats of strength are legendary when it comes to throwing iron around the weight room. He's also tossed a few quarterbacks around in four seasons as a starter for the Saints.
Harvill (6-foot-1, 270 pounds) now stands alone as the Arkansas state record holder for most career sacks with 36. Harvill broke the state record of 34 against Berryville two weeks ago, and he added another in the Saints' 35-0 win against Pea Ridge last week.
The previous record holder, according to the Arkansas Activities Association record book, was Tyler Lawrence of Pulaski Academy.
"We're probably going to honor him this week," Saints coach Josh Floyd said following last Friday night's game.
Harvill, who has verbally committed to Kansas State, had a 7-yard sack of Blackhawks quarterback Austin Easterling in last week's game to push the record to 36. On the season, Harvill has five sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
There are no other listings in the AAA's record book for sacks other than Lawrence's 34.
The Saints (4-1, 2-0 4A-1 Conference) are also hoping to get senior receiver Jon Hawes back in a few weeks. Hawes broke a bone in his foot prior to the Saints' season opener and has been wearing a protective boot.
"We thought we might get him back (last week)," Floyd said. "He got a good report and the bone is healing."
Floyd said there was no rush to get Hawes back on the field, but said he expected him back "by Week 8 or 9."
-- CHIP SOUZA
Gravette Hits Long Road To Ozark
GRAVETTE -- It's been more than a year since Gravette's football team has made a road trip of any significant distance to play a game.
That will change Friday night when the Lions make the 112-mile journey to Ozark for a 4A-1 Conference showdown. It's the longest trip Gravette (5-0, 2-0) has made since last year's 230-mile journey to Wellington, Kan., for a nonconference game.
"It's the only long trip we'll have to make this season," Gravette coach Bill Harrelson said. "It's going to be a great challenge, but the kids are looking forward to making such a trip.
"It's going to be a telling game of where both teams stand in the conference."
Ozark (3-2, 2-0), which filled the conference's void when Huntsville moved up to Class 5A, has opened league play with victories over Prairie Grove (14-8) and Berryville (47-13). Harrelson said he sees a lot of similarities in his team and the Hillbillies.
"Ozark is a lot like us," he said. "Ozark has a lot of team speed. (The Hillbillies) like to spread the field, and they run and pass the ball well."
Gravette's defense will head into the game at full strength. Nose tackle Khalief Steele returned to action and played in last week's win over Gentry.
Linebacker Adam Roberts was cleared to play Sept. 29 and saw limited action against Gentry. He will be at full strength Friday night.
-- Henry Apple
Big-Play Offense No Surprise To Elks
ELKINS -- Suddenly one of the most explosive, big-play offensive attacks in the 3A-1 Conference resides at John Bunch Field in Elkins.
Through five games, the Elks (4-1, 2-0) have shown the ability to score in bunches and proven they can do so with either the running or passing game. Lately, though, Elkins has turned to the big pass plays, including touchdowns of 50, 65 and 70 yards in last week's 34-14 win at Marshall.
"I wouldn't say that our passing game was unexpected," Elkins coach Aaron Clark said. "As coaches you never want to get to built up, but we've got some really talented kids who can catch the ball."
Spencer Jones and Zack Hutchinson are two of the more talented receivers for the Elks, and last Friday the duo pair was hitting on all cylinders.
"Spencer is a big kid that is really hard to take down," Clark said. "And Hutchinson, he's probably worked harder than anybody we've got."
While the offense has been a force at times, the Elkins defense has held its own as well in allowing just 13.0 points per game.
"I was talking to our defense coordinator Thurman Shaw a while back, and we were saying how our defense really hasn't had a bad game," Clark said. "They've really played well for us the entire year."
-- Vernon Tarver