Junior Tiger Runningbacks Rise To Occasion

PRAIRIE GROVE — Prairie Grove jumped out to a 24-0 halftime lead and never allowed Lincoln’s offense to get on track as the Junior Tigers defeated the Junior Wolves, 32-0, on Sept. 25.

Gavin Butler played the role of a star in the absence of halfback Ethan Miller, out for a second straight week. Butler scored a trio of touchdowns plus twice on 2-point conversions to account for 22 of the Junior Tigers’ points. He and teammate Conner Whetsell provided plenty of offense.

“They did a great job of stepping up. You know that’s what we need when somebody’s down, they can’t go, somebody needs to step up and do it and they did it,” said Prairie Grove coach John Elder. “They’ve done it for two weeks. Conner Whetsell’s had to tote the load for two weeks and done a good job.”

Prairie Grove marched its first possession 72 yards in 9 plays using 3:54 to flip the field. Butler drew first blood on a 6-yard touchdown run and Rhett Marrell added a 2-point run. Butler took a short pass from Tate Benoit 80 yards to the house to culminate a 2-play, 84-yard drive following a Lincoln punt. The quarterback to halfback combination hooked up again on a successful 2-point pass play and with 1:31 elapsed in the second quarter Prairie Grove led 16-0.

Matthew Velasco recovered a Lincoln fumble on its first play from scrimmage, ending the next series for the Junior Wolves prematurely. The Junior Tigers cashed in on a short field going 34 yards in 6 plays with Conner Whetsell taking a double hand-off and scoring on a 4-yard dash off left tackle. Butler added the conversion run and the Junior Tigers enjoyed a 24-0 advantage at the 3:41 mark of the second quarter.

Jace Birkes made a sensational interception to stop a Prairie Grove drive in the red zone with less than a minute remaining in the first half. He dove underneath a receiver and wrestled the ball away while laying flat on his back.

Prairie Grove received the opening kickoff of the third quarter and churned out 62 yards in six plays to seal the outcome with Butler again the recipient of a double hand-off and running 18 yards for a touchdown. Conner Hubbs dropped back then outran Lincoln defenders to the right pylon to score the 2-point conversion with 16 seconds to go in the third.

Lincoln, which was coming off a big win at Subiaco the week before, had opportunity recovering a muffed punt in the first minute of the game at Prairie Grove’s 45-yard-line. Drew Moore completed a 15-yard pass to Nick Martinez giving the Junior Wolves a first down at Prairie Grove’s 30, but Lincoln could not advance beyond the 28 where they turned the ball over on downs.

Prairie Grove’s defense contained Lincoln for the most part with Elder giving credit to junior high defensive coordinator Mason Pinkley for having them ready.

“We knew they were going to try to throw the ball a lot short and run outside a little bit and guys were ready for it,” Elder said.

Lincoln forced a turnover on downs ending Prairie Grove’s last possession of the contest inside Junior Wolf territory at the 44. Lincoln moved the ball 39 yards but time expired on Tristan Raines’ 12-yard run to convert fourth-and-6.

Lincoln got good defensive performances from freshman Grant King on the line and eighth-grader Martinez playing linebacker.

Lincoln coach Beau Collins praised King for working really hard to learn his job after returning to football this season.

“We’re hoping he keeps improving each week,” Collins said.

Collins said the defense relies on Martinez and probably will again next season.

“There’s a lot of things we need to work on,” Collins said. “We’ll go back tomorrow, address those things, and see if we can improve it for next week.”

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Lincoln captains meet with their Prairie Grove counterparts during a pre-game coin flip during junior high football action on Sept. 25. Prairie Grove defeated Lincoln, 32-0.