PRAIRIE GROVE -- The junior Tigers excelled on defense, holding Gravette scoreless during a 14-0 key conference win in junior high football action Thursday, Sept. 28.
"We had nice plays on defense, good stops out there," said Prairie Grove head junior high coach John Elder. "I'm really pleased with our defensive line putting pressure on their quarterback."
A week earlier Gravette quarterback Cy Hilger led the junior Lions on two sustained fourth quarter drives in the last 5:50, including a game-winning touchdown 1-yard run to cap a rally that gave them a 28-26 win at Lincoln Sept. 21. There would be no such heroics this time.
Cade Grant, who finished with around 150 yards rushing, scored in the second quarter and Paytin Higgins kicked the point-after lifting Prairie Grove to a 7-0 lead at the half. The score hadn't changed by the end of the third quarter and the junior Lions were trying to catch up, but were done in by turnovers.
"Cade Grant had a big interception when they were down in the red zone," Elder said. "Foster Layman had a big interception in the fourth quarter that got the ball back for us. We scored right after that."
Grant added an insurance touchdown when he broke free from the line of scrimmage at the junior Tiger 8. Nobody caught him and 92 yards later his second touchdown and Higgins' kick gave Prairie Grove a 14-0 cushion.
Prairie Grove mainly kept the ball on the ground, which served to negate Gravette's pass rush. The junior Lions had 5 sacks against Lincoln. Quarterback Miles Castleman completed 2 of 3 passes and was complimented by Elder for managing the game.
"We didn't throw it a whole lot, but he did all right," Elder said. "Our defense played really well."
Prairie Grove's win coupled with Gravette's loss allowed Lincoln back in the junior high conference race. The junior Tigers visit Lincoln Nov. 2. Should all three teams win out going into week 10, the 4A-1 junior high conference championship will be determined by Gravette's rivalry game against Gentry and the Prairie Grove at Lincoln contest scheduled for Nov. 2. As long as the junior Tigers remain unbeaten in conference competition, they control their own destiny.
Sports on 10/11/2017