PRAIRIE GROVE — All of the games on the Prairie Grove schedule may be accounted for, but if Friday nights 55-0 mauling of Gravette is any indication, the Tigers are just getting started.
Prairie Grove (9-0) heads into the 4A state playoffs fresh off a dominating performance in which the defense forced four first half turnovers to take a 48-point advantage at intermission.
The win caps Prairie Grove’s first unbeaten regular season since 2001 and puts an exclamation point on a perfect 1-4A title run.
"We got after it early and it helped set the tone for us on both sides of the ball," Prairie Grove coach Danny Abshier said. "The defense got us a quick score and the special teams was able to contribute with a big blocked punt. It seemed like Gravette just couldn't catch a break tonight."
Weston Bartholomew was the main ballcarrier in a backfield that went for over 250 yards on the ground in the first half. Bartholomew accounted for three touchdowns, including rushing scores of 31 and three yards. J.D. Speed and Jacob Storlie also had touchdown runs in the second quarter for Prairie Grove.
Tiger quarterback Cooper Winters connected with Bartholomew on a 39 yard touchdown pass on fourth and 25 midway through the second - a play that proved to be a fatal blow.
The Prairie Grove starters were pulled with five minutes remaining in the second quarter, but the points kept coming.
"Weston (Bartholomew) has been a big time contributor all season, but it was even more special tonight because he was playing a new position," said Abshier. "He is a running back, but as of late we have been plugging him in at fullback and he has made a smooth transition for the good of this football team. Our offense relies heavily on the play of our fullback and he is a darn good one."
Logan Bartholomew and Creyton Ledbetter each scored defensive touchdowns for Prairie Grove. Bartholomew returned an interception 18 yards for a score and Ledbetter recovered a blocked punt in the endzone moments later.
Gravette quarterback Chase Brody was picked-off twice in the first half. The second interception, courtesy of Nick Sugg, set up the touchdown run by Speed.
"We weren't prepared to play tonight and that is on me as the coach," said Gravette coach Bill Harrelson. "It was our most embarrassing performance of the season and it seemed to get worse and worse in the first half. The turnovers were dreadful, and we just couldn't do anything we wanted to do on either side of the ball.
“Most of the credit should go to (Prairie Grove). They aren't the conference champs for nothing, and we just have to tip our hats to them after this one."
Gravette (4-6) will need to turn things around in a hurry if they hope to advance in the postseason. The Lions will travel to Pottsville next Friday night as the fifth seeded team. Prairie Grove carries a number one seed into the big dance and will host Crossett in the opening round.