Lions pick up big win over Bobcats

GRAVETTE — In a big catfight played at Lion Stadium Friday night, the Gravette Lions scratched and clawed their way to another conference victory over the Berryville Bobcats, winning by 22 points.

The opening quarter was mostly defense as both teams prevented the other from scoring until a touchdown and point after by the Bobcats put Berryville in the driver’s seat, 7-0, going into the start of the second quarter.

A pair of touchdowns and point-afters, coupled with a field goal during the second quarter turned the contest in favor of the Lions, with the first half ending with Gravette leading Berryville, 17-7.

About midway through the third quarter, a pass from Gravette quarterback Cy Hilger to Ian Drake resulted in a 30-yard touchdown run, giving the Lions a 23-7 lead. The point after by Rens Koopman was no good.

A short time later, a 20yard pass from Hilger to Mason Dagley was intercepted at the 50-yard line by Berryville’s Austin Franklin, giving the Bobcats a chance to get back into the contest. But a strong Lion defense stopped the Bobcats’ drive short of the end zone, preserving Gravette’s 16-point lead.

Just before the end of the third quarter, Chace Austin ran 55 yards into the end zone for the final touchdown of the quarter. The conversion from Hilger to

Dagley failed, making the score 29-7 in favor of the Lions.

The only touchdown run in the fourth quarter came when reserve quarterback Nick Pilkington ran 30 yards into the end zone on a quarterback keeper. A penalty by the Lions nullified the touchdown run by

Pilkington. The game ended with the Gravette Lions taking the conference win, 29-7, over the Berryville Bobcats.

The Gravette Lions will be on the road Oct. 25 for another conference contest with the Green Forest Tigers in a 7 p.m. game at Tiger Stadium.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Trenton Durham (Lion 23) latches onto Bobcat quarterback JD Smith behind the Berryville line of scrimmage for a sack during the third quarter of the GravetteBerryville conference football contest at Lion Stadium in Gravette on Friday night.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS After breaking several tackles. Chace Austin (Lion 7) breaks loose and heads towards the end zone during the Friday night Gravette-Berryville football contest at Lion Stadium in Gravette. He was finally tackled by a host of Bobcat defenders.