GRAVETTE -- Austin O'Brien's role for the Gravette Lions could be compared to a Swiss Army knife.
O'Brien, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound junior, is the team's top running back with 768 yards on 155 carries and two touchdowns. He's also the team's leading receiver with 36 catches for 454 yards and four touchdowns. He's also a lock-down, two-year starter at cornerback with 38 tackles and one interception.
On The Web
For more on this story, see the video produced by Chip Souza at arpreps.com and nwadg.com.
Class 4A State Playoffs
Gravette at Pocahontas
Redskins Stadium
KICKOFF 7 p.m.
RECORDS Gravette 6-4; Pocahontas 8-2
ON THE AIR Live streamed at www.lionletterman.c…
BETWEEN THE LINES The Redskins earned the No. 2 playoff seed from the 3-4A Conference, and Gravette is the No. 4 seed from the 4A-1 Conference. … Pocahontas has won five of its last six games. … Redskins QB Haston Orewiler is 83-of-138 for 1,431 yards with 18 TDs. … Barkley Sorg leads the Pocahontas ground game with 1,091 yards on 170 carries and 16 TDs. Sorg had 249 yards and 2 TDs vs. Nettleton. … The Redskins have a solid defense, led by LB Sloan Rogers (128 tackles) and DE Bradley Vandergriff (77 tackles, 10.0 sacks. 24.0 tackles for loss). … Gravette’s top playmaker on offense is RB Austin O’Brien, who leads the team in rushing (768 yards) and receiving (36-454). … Gravette senior QB Kilby Roberts is 101-of-183 for 1,079 yards and 10 TDs. Roberts also has 371 yards rushing on 111 carries. … Gravette’s defense is stout, led by junior LB Kenton Tajchman (82 tackles, 2.0 sacks) and Drew Hendren (70 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 6.0 tackles for loss).
PLAYERS TO WATCH Pocahontas, QB Haston Orewiler (Sr., 6-2, 217), RB Barkley Sorg (Sr., 5-10, 184), WR Jaden Young (Jr., 6-1, 202), LB Sloan Rogers (Sr., 6-2, 216), DE Bradley Vandergriff (Sr., 5-8, 194). Gravette, QB Kilby Roberts (Sr., 6-0, 176), RB Austin O’Brien (Jr., 5-10, 170), WR Brady Moorman (Jr., 5-6, 137), LB Kenton Tajchman (Jr., 5-8, 225), DE Drew Hendren (Sr., 6-3, 198),
HOOTEN’S RANKINGS Gravette is No. 21 in Class 4A; Pocahontas is No. 11.
HOOTEN’S LINE Pocahontas by 8.
OUR TAKE Pocahontas 28, Gravette 21.
— CHIP SOUZA • @NWAChip
Some players might shy away from such a heavy workload, but not O'Brien. He relishes his multiple roles for the Lions (6-4), who travel to Pocahontas tonight for a Class 4A first-round playoff game.
"It's not like it's very hard, but you just feel like you have a major role," O'Brien said. "You just feel like the coach needs you on the team. Really, I just try to focus a lot in practice and just make sure I know everything so I can execute to my full potential."
Gravette coach Bill Harrelson said O'Brien's multiple roles have made a huge impact on the team, especially on the offensive side.
O'Brien usually lines up as a running back, but has also been moved out to wide receiver in certain formations, Harrelson said.
"He's a dynamic football player," Harrelson said. "We just need to be able to get the ball into his hands, and we've been able to do that quite a bit this year."
O'Brien has been a fixture in the offensive backfield since he began playing football in elementary school. He was a quarterback in the ninth grade, but has been used primarily as a running back and receiver this season.
As a sophomore last season, O'Brien started at cornerback with several seniors ahead of him on the offensive side. He said he prefers offense over defense.
The Lions face a stern test tonight at No. 11 Pocahontas (8-2). Gravette is the No. 4 seed from the 4A-1 Conference.
"To have success we have to be able to stop their offense," O'Brien said. "We need to limit our mistakes on offense and we need to be able to move the ball down the field."
Austin's older brother David O'Brien was a standout player at Gravette when the Lions made deep playoff runs several seasons ago.
"He still talks to me a lot," Austin said. "I think he would really enjoy coaching. We watch film a lot and discuss it, so he really helps me especially prepare for defenses since he was an excellent safety, but he was also a really good receiver. So he's obviously had a lot of influence on my offensive ability."
While O'Brien's numbers are better on the offensive side, Harrelson said the junior defensive back is a valuable member of the Gravette defense.
"The thing about it is, as a corner, he's not afraid to hit," Harrelson said. "He'll come up and make a big tackle for us and blanket receivers.
"We're happy he's on our side."
Sports on 11/11/2016