Lions throw and catch well on Day 1
Posted on Tuesday, August 5, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/Sports/64456/
GRAVETTE — Those 29 summer 7-on-7 games Gravette played paid off handsomely Monday for the Lions, who are betting they can repeat this fall as 1-4 A Conference football champions.
“ You would hope all that work pays off, ” head coach Bill Harrelson said after his 40 players went through their initial workout of the 2008 preseason campaign. “ We looked sharp throwing and catching the ball, a very good day. We had few drops. ”
That’s a good thing here, too, since Gravette (10-3 in 2007 ) has less time to prepare for its season opener than most high school teams.
Gravette opens its season in the Simmons First / Hootens. com Kickoff Classic, playing Clarksville in the second of two games to be played Sept. 2 at Bentonville’s Tiger Stadium.
The Lions practiced early Monday, trying to avoid the blistering heat, the coach said. They took extra precautions for the heat, which hit the mid-90 s by noon.
“ We took a couple of extra breaks for water and had a 25-minute break between sessions, ” Harrelson said. “ But actually, the hotter it got the better we looked. ”
He said his players reported back to work in good shape. No one was injured Monday.
“ We still need to get where we’re practicing at the speed we want to play at, ” he said. “ We’re not there yet. ”
He said the 40 players were all expected and that “ I’m looking for a couple more. ” All three of Gravette’s recently injured skill players were on the field practicing Monday. That includes senior All-State
quarterback Ethan McKinzie
who was injured in the state quarterfinals last fall and who’s had a stellar summer throwing the football. All-Conference senior running back Teddy Selby is shaking off a back injury sustained last fall. Junior speedster Michael Croasdell was injured during 7-on-7 ball and will see very limited contact when Gravette suits up in pads Thursday, the coach said.
The Lions won 10 straight games in 2007, sailed through the 1-4 A unbeaten at 7-0 and lost in the Class 4 A semifinals to eventual champion Nashville.
NOTES: Gravette practices 8 a. m. to noon today. It’s off the field and into the weight room by 11: 15 a. m. Practices move to 4-7 p. m. Wednesday through Friday for faculty in-service. Lion Pride Night is Aug. 15. Gravette is scheduled to scrimmage Lincoln on Thursday, Aug. 28.