Prairie Grove Dismantles Ailing Gentry

PRAIRIE GROVE — An overwhelmingly depleted Gentry team (3-5, 1-4) was tasked with the impossible Friday night as it limped into Tiger Stadium just in time to face Prairie Grove and their raucous homecoming crowd. The Tigers never blinked on their way to a 42- 0 rout improving to 7-1 overall and 5-0 in the 4A-1 conference.

“They had three starters get hurt last game … and skill guys to boot,” Prairie Grove coach Danny Abshier said. “So that set them back from the start. Gentry typically gives us fits with kick returns and quick scores, but we got them to play at our pace tonight, so that was good.”

The Tigers methodically marched up-and-down the field for the entire first half to the tune of 301 total yards. Running back Reed Orr would post 41 yards over just six carries, and wouldn’t touch the ball at all in the second half as 14 different Prairie Grove players got at least one carry.

Wide-out Gavin Heltemes pleased the homecoming faithful with a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown with 6 minutes, 43 secibds remaining in the first quarter putting the Tigers up 13- 0. Quarterback Sam Dodd would toss a 27- yard touchdown pass to running back Sol Walker just 90 seconds later making the score 20-0.

“We were down to our third quarterback, who is normally our fullback. Our right tackle came down with the flu yesterday, and our starting running back’s out with a broken bone. Our middle linebacker is out with a concussion, as is our starting outside wide receiver.” Gentry coach Paul Ernest said.

Gentry would amass just 16 first-half rushing yards and 47 receiving yards. The second half took all of thirty-five minutes thanks to the running clock.

“It’s just kind of the walking wounded, and we lost four more tonight,” Ernest said. “Prairie Grove is a program that, even when you’re full-force and playing well, they’re a handful for anybody. That’s where we want to get.”

Prairie Grove has outscored its last four opponents by a combined score of 188-68 and has not yielded a point in the fourth quarter this season. Prairie Grove travels to Berryville on Friday.

SHELLEY WILLIAMS/ SPECIAL TO ENTERPRISE-LEADER Tiger kicker Evan Harger attempts an extra point against the Pioneers. Prairie Grove won their Homecoming game 42-0.

SHELLEY WILLIAMS/ SPECIAL TO ENTERPRISE-LEADER Prairie Grove sophomore outside linebacker John David Elder gets behind the line of scrimmage to tackle the Gentry ball carrier on Friday night at Tiger stadium.

SHELLEY WILLIAMS/ SPECIAL TO ENTERPRISE-LEADER Prairie Grove wide receiver Gavin Heltemes cruises past Gentry defenders during Friday night’s Homecoming football game.