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2017 Football Preview Wednesday, August 23, 2017 n 9 The Herald-Leader/Westside Eagle Observer Have a Great Year! Marion L. Harris, D.V.M. • Jim Benson, D.V.M. • Stacey Rodine, D.V.M. Monday-Friday 8-5 • Saturday 8-10 Large & Small Animal Work • Check Us Out On Facebook 17624 Hwy 72 W (East of Gravette) • CVACCPETS.NET 479-787-6284 GRAVETTE VARSITY FOOTBALL 2017 SCHEDULE Our goal is to provide Quality Service at a Fair Price 479-787-6757 OPEN MON-FRI 7:30-5 SAT 8-NOON Benton County Realty 479-787-5100 201 1st Ave SE #1 Gravette, AR • HOMES • FARMS • ACREAGE • & MORE LARRY BOLING Sales Associate 479-790-5604 Sept. 1 at Ozark Away Sept. 8 Booneville HOME Sept. 15 Jay, OK HOME Sept. 22 Lincoln* HOME Sept. 29 at Prairie Grove* Away Oct. 6 at Pea Ridge* Away Oct. 13 Berryville* HOME Oct. 20 at Huntsville * Away Oct. 27 Shiloh Christian* HOME Nov. 3 at Gentry* Away YOUR Local News Source! $ 39 JUST A YEAR SUBSCRIBE ONLINE: www.nwadg.com/1weo OR CALL: 800-482-1121 MON-FRI 8:30AM-5:30PM Offer good for non-sunscribers while promotion lasts. Offer for in-area mailing addresses only. GRAVETTE — Last season, the Gravette Lions traveled to the other side of the state and picked up a play- off victory for the first time since reaching the 4A quarterfinals in 2011. The Lions finished fourth in the rugged 4A-1 Confer- ence. Head coach Bill Harrelson, in his 12th season at Gravette, believes his 2017 team will not have it any easier, but he expects to be more competitive and hopes this year's team has closed the gap between itself and the top part of the conference. "Our conference was the best in the state last year and I don't see that changing any this year," said Harrel - son. "It will again be a dogfight every Friday night, and I will be disappoint- ed if we aren't right in the middle of the conference race." In 2016, Gravette had moments that Harrelson is hopeful are glimpses into the potential of the 2017 team. The Lions led state runner-up Pea Ridge 10-0 in the second quarter before turnovers and the overall skill of the Blackhawks took control of the game. Before a long touchdown pass just be - fore halftime, Gravette trailed confer- ence champion and state semifinalist Prairie Grove by a mere touchdown. Combine those small instances with the 37-27 win over Pocahontas in the playoffs and one can see why the head coach is optimistic. Harrelson's confi - dence will be placed in a stout defense that returns 10 players with starting experience, including three up front in seniors Bailey Soulé (6-foot-1, 255 pounds), Chase Palmer (5-10, 225), and junior Colton Grimes (5-11, 220). Grimes filled in for a suspended starter during the Prairie Grove game and made two sacks and several other key stops in the first half. Soulé, one of the top defensive players in the conference, returns for his third season along the defensive line after racking up 86 total tackles in 2016. His 11 tackles for loss led the team last season. Harrelson Berger n Gravette coach Bill Harrelson believes the 4A-1 is the toughest conference in the state. By Seth McKinzie Special to the Herald-Leader Lions attempt to build on positives See GRAVETTE on Page 10