Lions win homecoming football contest against Wolves

GRAVETTE — After a near-perfect fall day in Northwest Arkansas on Friday, the Gravette Lions varsity football team found itself on the winning end of its 2019 homecoming contest against the Lincoln Wolves at Lion Stadium in Gravette.

The Wolves hit paydirt first on a short run by wide receiver Dayton Davis for a touchdown. Levi Wright hit the point after for a 7-0 lead and the only points in the first quarter.

A 40-yard pass completion from quarterback Cy Hilger to Mason Dagley at the end of the first quarter set up the Lions’ first touchdown by Isaac Dann early in the second quarter. Ren Koopman’s extra point attempt was good, tying the game at seven all.

Chase Austin found the end zone on a 60-yard run for the Lions’ next score. A penalty on Gravette negated the touchdown and pushed the Lions back deep into Lincoln territory. A short time later, Ian Drake crossed the goal line for the second touchdown for the Lions. Koopman’s point after split the uprights, giving Gravette the lead, 14-7, at the half.

Gravette came alive in the third quarter when Hilger completed a 15yard pass to Austin at the back of the end zone for the Lions’ first touchdown in the second half. Koopman missed the point after attempt, making the score 20-7 Lions.

Dann intercepted a pass from Wolves quarterback Tyler Brewer at the 51-yard line, setting up another touchdown by Dagley for Gravette. This time Koopmans point after split the uprights, extending the Lions’ lead to 20 at the end of the third quarter.

Gravette scored one final touchdown in the fourth quarter on a quarterback keeper by Hilger which put the Lions up by 26. The point-after attempt by Koopman was no good but a Wolves penalty gave him a second chance, which he completed.

The Wolves scored the final touchdown of the night when Lincoln’s Levi Wright crossed the goal line, cutting the Lion lead back to 20.

Lincoln was able to make it to the Gravette 10 yard line with less than 30 seconds left in the contest. Wolves quarterback Brewer scrabbled to find a receiver in the end zone when Dann sacked him at the 40-yard line, stopping the drive and ending the game with Gravette claiming the conference victory, 34-14, over the Lincoln Wolves.

The Gravette Lions will hit the road Oct. 4 for a 7 p.m. conference showdown with the Prairie Grove Tigers at Tiger Stadium.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Isaac Dann (Lions 32) crosses the goal line for a touchdown during the Sept. 27 Gravette-Lincoln conference contest at Lions Stadium in Gravette. Dann’s touchdown was the first of five which contributed to the Lions 34-14 homecoming victory over the Wolves.