GRAVETTE — COLORS: Orange and Black
HEAD COACH: Bill Harrelson (4th year)
RECORD AT SCHOOL: 23-12
LAST YEAR: 9-3 (Second, 1-4A)
ASSISTANTS: Duke Mobley (DC, LB); Seth McKinzie (WR, DB); Kevin Cole (Spec.Teams/WR/CB); Jake Knoedl (OL/DL); Bob Grass (OL/DL).
RETURNING STARTERS: Offense 6/ Defense 6
ALL-STAR CANDIDATES: DE/WR Travis Eden, 6-1, 205, Sr.; WR/DB David O'Brien, 5-9, 167, Sr.; RB Michael Croasdell, 6-0, 173, Sr.
OTHER TOP RETURNERS: QB/DB Colt Moorman,5-7, 167, Sr.; PK Cody Montee, 6-2, 205, Jr.; R/DB Trey Tyner, 5-9, 160, Jr.; OL T.J. Chevallier, 6-1, 218, Jr.;
R/LB Nathan Ortmann, 5-9, 156, Sr.; OL/DL Dakota Lacy, 5-11, 257, Sr.; MLB Kit Kane, 6-1, 187, Sr.;
R/LB Nick Hendren, 6-1, 171, Sr.
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH:QB/LB Colton Davis, 5-11, 193, Jr.; RB/DB Darrick Strzelecki, 5-6, 160, Soph.; C Jeremy McGarrah, 6-1, 224, Soph.; R/LB Adam Roberts, 5-9, 181, Soph.; OL/DL Tim McPherson, 6-0, 213, Soph.
STRENGTH OF THE TEAM: Harrelson says not having a glaring weakness may be the team's biggest strength."I'm not sure we've got a huge strength or something that stands out," he says."But I'm not sure we've got something that stands out negatively either.There is a real, overall team togetherness about this team that I like."
KEY GAME: "There's so many teams in our conference that are evenly matched," Harrelson says."If I had to point to one game, we've got to go on the road to Gentry and that's going to be huge.Then we play Huntsville back here. I think Gentry is definitely going to be improved and so is Huntsville.That twogame stretch is going to be huge for us. I think it'll set the tone.
OFFENSE: Spread
DEFENSE: 4-3
PLAYOFF RECORD: 7-12
PLAYOFF APPEARANCES: 1974, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: None.
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
Sept. 4 at Jay (Okla.) 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 11 McDonald County (Mo.) 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 at Wellington (Kan.) 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25 Pea Ridge* 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 at Gentry 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 Huntsville 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 Farmington 7 p.m.
Oct. 23 at Shiloh Christian 7 p.m.
Oct. 30 at Berryville 7 p.m.
Nov. 6 Prairie Grove 7 p.m.
* Homecoming BY THE NUMBERS The Lions' record in 1-4A Confer-13-1 ence play the last two seasons, losing only to Shiloh Christian last season
Players in the Gravette football program 94 from grades 8 through 12 Consecutive seasons deep snapper Lincoln 5 Parker (Sr.) has worn the same undershirt to practice, starting in the seventh grade. He keeps the well-worn garment held together in some places with duct tape
Number of tackles attempted last season by All-Conference defensive back Colt Moorman while not wearing a helmet. Moorman 1 lost his helmet during a play against Newport in a second-round state playoff game. He attempted to make the tackle anyway. Defensive coordinator Duke Mobley keeps a photo taken during that play in his office
Sports, Pages 5 on 08/25/2009