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43 PREP RALLY: CLASS 4A | 8.22.2021 GRAVETTE LIONS 2020 RECORD 3-7, 2-4 4A-1 Conference COACH Kelby Bohannon RETURNING STARTERS 3 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Rhett Hilger (Jr., 6-0, 160), OL Sam Mayo (Sr., 5-10, 245), RB Karl Bontrager (Jr., 5-9, 175), RB Kyler Austin (So., 6-0, 175), THE SKINNY Rhett Hilger takes over at quarterback for his older brother Cy, who graduated after leading the team for three seasons. Rhett was a receiver last season. … Sam Mayo anchors the offensive line as the lone returning starter. … Karl Bontrager led the Lions in rushing a year ago with 523 yards and three touchdowns. … Sophomore Kyler Austin got some varsity reps last season, getting called up when the junior high season ended. Austin provides a solid complement to Bontrager. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "We've had a really good summer. We're going to be really young this year, but the kids are committed to the process and what we're trying to do," said Gravette coach Kelby Bohannon. "We're looking forward to a season of growth. This was the first spring that we've been able to go through at Gravette since 2017. After Coach Harrelson moved on, then coach Greenwood was there for a year and had some health issues which kind of complicated things. Once I got to step in, it was really late, then covid hit after year one, so trying to get us caught up to speed has been a bit of a challenge, but it's definitely been good for us." — Kelby Bohannon SCHEDULE Aug. 27 ..... at Vian, Okla. Oct. 8 .............. at Huntsville* Sept. 3 ...... Inola, Okla. Oct. 15 .................Berryville* Sept. 10 .... Pryor, Okla. Oct. 22 ........at Green Forest* Sept. 24 .... Lincoln* Oct. 29 ...at Shiloh Christian* Oct. 1 ........ at Prairie Grove* Nov. 5 .................. at Gentry* * — Denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted GREEN FOREST TIGERS 2020 RECORD 1-10 overall, 1-6 4A-1 Conference COACH Greg Tibbitt RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 7 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Barrett Phillips (Sr., 5-8, 170), LB Bryan Soto (Sr., 6-2, 230), LT Dalton Randolph (Sr., 6-3, 265), TE Freddy Juarez (Sr., 6-2, 230), WR Trevor Stark (Sr., 6-3, 175). THE SKINNY Phillips returns as the team's bellcow at running back for the third straight season. Phillips rushed for more than 500 yards in 2020 including a 105-yard effort against Class 4A state champion Shiloh Christian. … The Red Tigers will have a pair of major weapons in the passing game with big targets Freddy Juarez and Trevor Stark, both who measure taller than 6-2. … Senior left offensive tackle Dalton Randolph anchors the line on both sides of the ball. … Senior linebacker Bryan Soto led the team in tackles. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID We have a lot of expectations, putting in a new offense and changing things up. We really didn't get to do a whole lot last year because of covid. We just want to compete in one of the best conferences in Arkansas." — Greg Tibbitt SCHEDULE Aug. 27 ..... at West Fork Oct. 8 ..................... at Gentry* Sept. 3 ...... at Pottsville Oct. 15 .................... at Elkins* Sept. 10 .... Cedarville Oct. 22 .................... Gravette* Sept. 24 .... Prairie Grove* Oct. 29 .............. at Huntsville* Oct. 1;at Shiloh Christian*;Nov. 5;Berryville** — Denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted HUNTSVILLE EAGLES 2020 RECORD 5-6 overall, 3-4 4A-1 Conference COACH Matt Williams RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 8 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Tucker Bradley (Sr., 6-1, 185), RB Phillip Toole (Sr., 5-9, 145), OL Austin Collins (Sr., 6-0, 180), OL Colton Davis (Sr., 6-2, 240), WR Kolton Reynolds (Sr., 6-1, 195), QB Amos Mayes (Jr., 6-1, 160). THE SKINNY Senior Tucker Bradley slides into the running back position after playing receiver last year. … Bradley is expected to share carries with senior Phillip Toole. Williams said the two backs have different running styles. … Huntsville's offensive line will be inexperienced, said Williams, but seniors Austin Collins and Colton Davis will be anchors upfront. … Williams said his team has a lot of quality at receiver, led by senior Kolton Reynolds, who earned all-conference honors last season. … Amos Mayes, who started at quarterback last season as a sophomore, returns to lead the Eagles' offense. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "We've had a great summer. We're excited to go and everybody has done a great job so far. It's been a lot better summer than last year. I think we've handled everything pretty well. For the most part we've stayed pretty healthy. We feel like we have lot of good skill guys." — Matt Williams SCHEDULE Aug. 27 ..... at Lamar Oct. 8 ..................... Gravette* Sept. 3 ...... at Clinton Oct. 15 ............ Prairie Grove* Sept. 10 .... Lincoln Oct. 22 .............. at Berryville* Sept. 24 .... Gentry* Oct. 29 ............ Green Forest* Oct. 1 ........ at Elkins* Nov. 5 .....at Shiloh Christian* * — Denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted PRAIRIE GROVE TIGERS 2020 RECORD 10-2, 6-1 4A-1 Conference COACH Danny Abshier RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Paytin Higgins (Sr., 5-10, 145), RB Colin Faulk (Sr., 6-0, 170), WR Landon Semrad (Sr., 6-2, 175), OL/DL Ryder Orr (Jr., 6-2, 230), RB/LB Conner Whetsell (Jr., 5-8, 170), LB Tyler Dickerson (Jr., 5-7, 160), WB Ethan Miller (Jr., 5-9, 175), TE Matt Velasco (Jr., 6-0, 210). THE SKINNY The Tigers returned to customary place among the top teams in the 4A-1 last season, going 10-2 and advancing to the 4A quarterfinals before falling to state runner-up Rivercrest. Prairie Grove's other loss came to state champion Shiloh Christian. … Paytin Higgins takes over a quarterback, provided he can recover from a torn ACL. … The Tigers have a solid run game, led by Colin Faulk, who ran for more than 400 yards last season. … Defensively the Tigers return 5 starters with burly Ryder Orr holding down the middle of the interior line. Linebackers Conner Whetsell and Tyler Dickerson are tackling machines. THAT'S WHAT HE SAID "It seems like it's the same every year at this time. You work pretty hard all summer and you're trying to get after it, then when you get there to the first game you're like, 'we forget to do this and we're not as sharp on that as we thought we were,'" said Abshier. "Your intensity is not there and you're trying to get the intensity up, but you can't be intense the whole time. So we're not were we need to be yet, but then again no one is." — Danny Abshier SCHEDULE Aug. 27 ..... at Farmington Oct. 8 .....Shiloh Christian* Sept. 3 ...... at Pea Ridge Oct. 15 ........ at Huntsville* Sept. 10 .... Stilwell, Okla. Oct. 22 ................. Gentry* Sept. 24 .... at Green Forest* Oct. 29 ......... at Berryville* Oct. 1 ........ Gravette* Nov. 5 ................... Elkins* * — Denotes 4A-1 Conference game All kickoffs 7 p.m. unless noted Ellis Austin Hilger Mayo Randolph Stark Phillips Soto Bradley McElhaney Toole Ferguson Coach Bohannon https://shop.harpsfood.com HARPS H O M E T O W N F R E S H TM PICKUP & DELIVERY order online at shop.HarpsFood.com or on the instacart app Now Available Wide receiver Landon Semrad, left, is one of six returning offensive starters for Prairie Grove this season. Sieber Davis Juarez Coach Tibbitt