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2017 Football Preview 10 n Wednesday, August 23, 2017 The Herald-Leader/Westside Eagle Observer 866-479-7870 Over 28 years of Ser vice Gravette, AR w w w. M A R AT H O N M E TA L . c o m s a l e s @ M a ra t h o n M e t a l . c o m Owned and operated by Farmers working to help the American Farmer Red Iron Buildings All Steel Structures All Bolt-Up Structures Engineered Buildings Hwy 71 & Hwy 412 • Springdale 103 N Dixieland Rd • Rogers Wishing all area teams a GREAT season! "I feel the defen- sive line will be the strength of our team," said Harrelson. "To go along with those guys, Kenton Tajchman is returning at middle linebacker and is re - ally the leader of our defense." Tajchman (5-8, 226), a senior, led the Lions with 96 tackles in 2016 and is joined by another re - turning starter at line- backer in hard-hitting classmate Gunner Berger (6-0, 195). "Berger has add- ed a lot of size and strength from last year," said Harrelson. "We are look- ing forward to watching him hit like he did last year but with his added size." While Harrelson believes his front seven is solid, his defensive unit also has arguably the best duo of cornerbacks in the 4A-1 in three- year starters Brandon Ballard (5-10, 180) and Austin O'Brien (5-11, 195) to go along with the experience of senior Chris Childress (6-4, 175) at free safety. Ballard and O'Brien com - bined for six interceptions last year. "Ballard and O'Brien are really three-year starters and Childress has a lot of range at safety," said Harrel- son. "Brady Moorman (5-6, 145) and Daniel Huntsman (5-11, 172) are the only two new starters and both are very capable players." Moorman had three interceptions in 2016. While the defense brings back the bulk of the 2016 production, the offensive backfield also has a face very familiar to 4A-1 opponents in O'Brien. The senior multipurpose player rushed for more than 1,000 yards to go along with 550 receiving yards last season and had a touch - down total of nine. "I feel O'Brien is the best combo player in our conference," said Har- relson. "He now weighs 195 pounds and hasn't lost any speed at all. He is as much of a threat catching the football as he is running it." Graham Thomas/Herald-Leader The Gravette Lions open the 2017 football season Sept. 1 at Ozark. GRAVETTE Continued from Page 9 O'Brien Moorman See GRAVETTE on Page 11