Gravette finds way past Huntsville
GRAVETTE — The Gravette Lions scored two third-quarter touchdowns to take the last lead they would need all night as they beat the Huntsville Eagles, 19-14, on Friday during homecoming night in Gravette.
Huntsville’s lone score of the first half came when quarterback Sean McCone found receiver Lucas Rayl in the end zone for a touchdown.
The Eagles’ defense and Gravette’s own mistakes kept the Lions from scoring any touchdowns in the first half, but kicker Chris Childress kicked two field goals to get Gravette on the board.
“Penalty after penalty killed every drive,” Gravette head coach Bill Harrelson said. “Thank goodness that Chris pulled us through with two field goals. I felt that we had control of the game but didn’t because penalties were killing us.”
At the end of the first half, Huntsville led Gravette 8-6.
The Lions opened up the third quarter by marching down the field and scoring to take the lead they would keep for the rest of the night. Quarterback Kilby Roberts ran a one-yard sneak to put Gravette up.
After Huntsville’s ensuing drive ended in an interception, the Lions would take advantage of the turnover and score off a 33-yard run from running back Austin O’Brien.
O’Brien jump-started the Lions’ offense, rushing for 89 yards in the second half on nine carries.
“He ran tough inside tonight in the second half,” Harrelson said. “He’s got power and speed so he’s the perfect combination for us.”
Gravette’s defense kept Huntsville in check offensively in the second half until late in the fourth quarter. Receiver Alfredo
Benavidez scored on a 67-yard hook-and-ladder pass from McCone with a minute left in the game.
The Eagles attempted an onside kick but Gravette recovered to close out the game.
“We made a lot of mistakes,” Huntsville head coach Randy Barnhill said. “Hats off to Gravette, they did what they needed to do to win. We didn’t make the plays when we needed to make them.”