Gravette QB taking his licks at spring practice
Posted on Saturday, May 17, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/Sports/61896/
GRAVETTE — Bill Harrelson couldn’t get to his coach’s whistle quick enough.
The Gravette football coach’s returning All-State quarterback saw a seam and he darted. Defenders were closing in on Ethan McKinzie, who broke an ankle in the quarterfinals of the Class 4 A state playoffs last fall.
“ He broke out of the pocket a couple of times and ran, ” Harrelson said. “ I wasn’t able to get my whistle to stop the play before he got tackled. So, he survived all that.
“ He’s passed the first stage, anyway. ”
Whew, they sighed collectively here.
McKinzie, who had a stellar baseball season for the Lions, is being counted on for even bigger things his senior season.
Gravette’s state semifinalist football team from 2007 has been in full pads every day this week, focusing 30 minutes each on offense and defense.
The second hour has been spent scrimmaging.
“ The kids we have out have worked hard, ” Harrelson said, noting that a lot of players missed the first week for various reasons.
One player who missed the week was All-Conference running back Teddy Selby. Selby, a senior next fall, sprained an ankle running a pass route last week.
Also out most of the week was speedster Michael Croasdell, who won the 100-meter dash Wednesday at the Class 4 A State Track Meet in Nashville. Croasdell will be a junior next year.
“ We’ve done a lot of teaching this week, ” Harrelson said. “ We got a lot of reps for the younger kids. That’s what I’m most proud of — the younger kids have been out there learning what they’re supposed to do. ”
McKinzie and his backup, junior Colton Moorman, have alternated every other play.
“ Ethan’s looked good, ” Harrelson said. “ We’ve been sharing reps with the quarterbacks. When he’s been in there, he’s looked sharp. He’s picking up his reads and everything. ”
Moorman pinch hit for McKinzie in the semifinals last year, when Gravette’s 10-game winning streak came to an end to the hands of state champion Nashville.
The Lions (10-3 ) have been practicing on their new practice field just up the hill from their stadium. McAbee Field has been water logged.
“ It was kind of soggy out there Thursday, ” Harrelson said. “ We fought through it. I was proud of the kids working hard through the mud and the rain.
“ Unfortunately, we tore it up a little bit. ”
He said his 50 or so players had equal playing time last week.
“ We’re not worried about getting ready for a game right now, ” he said. “ We’re trying to get a lot of film on the kids. ”
Gravette practices 3: 30-5: 30 p. m. each day next week except Tuesday, when its athletic banquet is scheduled.