GRAVETTE -- As the sun set on a perfect fall day in Northwest Arkansas, the Gravette Lions varsity football team found itself on the winning end of its 2019 homecoming contest against the Lincoln Wolves at Lion Stadium in Gravette September 27, 2019.
Lincoln took a 7-0 lead early, but fell behind at halftime when Gravette scored on a 12-yard touchdown pass by Lion quarterback Cy Hilger to Ian Drake in the waning seconds of the second quarter to move ahead 14-7.
Gravette went on to the big win in the 4A-1 Conference opener.
Hilger connected with Drake on a 12-yard scoring strike for a 14-7 halftime lead and the Lions never looked back. The junior quarterback completed 11 of 16 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown.
Chance Austin also ran for 104 yards and a touchdown. The Lions' defense also forced three Lincoln turnovers and held the wolves to under 100 yards rushing as a team. Linebacker Isaac Dann finished with 12 tackles, including a sack, and intercepted a pass.
The Wolves hit pay dirt first on a short run by wide receiver Marcus Sturgill for a touchdown. Levi Wright hit the point-after for a 7-0 lead and the only points in the first quarter.
A 40-yard pass completion from Hilger to Mason Dagley at the end of the first quarter set up the Lions' first touchdown by Dann early in the second quarter. Ren Koopman's extra point attempt was good, tying the game at 7-all.
Austin found the end zone on a 60-yard run for the Lions' next score. A penalty on Gravette negated the touchdown and pushed the Lions back deep into Lincoln territory. A short time later Drake crossed the goal line for the second touchdown for the Lions. Koopman's point after split the uprights giving Gravette the lead 14-7. The first half ended with the Lions leading by seven.
Gravette came alive in the third quarter when Hilger completed a 15 yard pass to Austin at the back of the end zone for the Lions' first touchdown in the second half. Koopman missed the point after attempt making the score 20-7 Lions.
Dann intercepted a pass from Wolves quarterback Tyler Brewer at the 51 yard line setting a touchdown by Dagley for Gravette. This time Koopman's point after split the uprights extending the Lions' lead to 20 at the end of the third quarter.
Gravette scored one final touchdown in the fourth quarter on a quarterback keeper by Hilger putting the Lions up by 26. The point after attempt by Koopman was no good but a Wolves penalty gave him a second chance which he completed.
The Wolves scored the final touchdown of the night when Lincoln's Wright crossed the goal line, cutting the Lions' lead back to 20.
Lincoln was able to make it to the Gravette 10 yard line with less than 30 seconds left in the contest. Wolves quarterback Brewer scrabbled to find a receiver in the end zone when Dann sacked him at the 40 yard line stopping the drive and ending the game with Gravette claiming the conference victory 34-14 over the Lincoln Wolves.
The Gravette Lions will hit the road Friday for a 7 p.m. conference showdown with the Prairie Grove Tigers at Tiger Den Stadium; while Lincoln hosts Pea Ridge Friday.
GRAVETTE 34, LINCOLN 14
Lincoln 7 0 0 7 -- 14
Gravette 0 14 13 7 -- 34
Sports on 10/02/2019