From winless to victorious : Gentry wins 7-on-7 Shootout at Gravette High School
Posted on Sunday, July 20, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/brog/Sports/62241/
GRAVETTE — In a week’s time the Gentry Pioneers went from going winless at one 7-on-7 tournament to winning the championship of another.
And while there was no championship trophy presented to second-year coach Brian Little and the Pioneers, the reward was aplenty. Gentry knocked off Siloam Springs 16-14 in the final game Saturday of the Field of Pride 7-on-7 Shootout at Lions Stadium in Gravette.
“ Absolutely, a big difference, ” Little said comparing his team’s play at last weekend’s VYPE Select 7-on-7 Invitational and this Shootout at Gravette. “ I think going over (to Fayetteville ) last weekend was really good for us. We wanted to make sure we learned how to compete. We had the opportunity to be together with our kids, working together and learning how to play the team game. It paid off for us. We came back this weekend and battled. ”
Gentry got off to a slow start, losing to Prairie Grove 13-12 in its first game of pool play. But the Pioneers came back to beat Huntsville 18-0 and Farmington 28-6 to complete pool play 2-1 and earn a No. 1 seed in bracket play.
Gentry knocked off Lincoln 32-0 in the first round and Elkins 19-6 in the semifinals before playing Siloam Springs.
“ We did start with a loss, and I just asked the kids who beat us in the first game, and they responded with ‘ Gentry beat us, ’ and that’s what I want them to understand, ” Little said. “ We sometimes can beat ourselves and if we learn that then we can overcome those mistakes. (Being ) able to fight back after a first game loss and win it, that was real rewarding for our kids. ”
Little said junior quarterback Caleb Ramsey had his best day of the summer throwing the ball. In the championship game, Ramsey went 13 for 23 for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
“ I really believe he did have his best day, ” Little said. “ After the Top Gun Challenge, his arm was tired. Especially going from there straight into the competition last weekend. It showed a little bit last Saturday. We worked on some things. Thursday night we had a good session over at our place with Gravette and (Rogers ) Heritage. We worked through some throws and some different things. He brought that to the field today. I’m really proud of his ball placement and his timing. ”
Gentry bolted out to a 16-0 lead in the first seven minutes. Ramsey hit Robert Henderson for a score and then the Pioneers converted the extra point to lead 7-0. Gentry’s Justin Wilkes intercepted a pass for two more points and a 9-0 lead.
Then Gentry scored again on a four-yard pass to Justin Stewart for the 16-0 lead.
Siloam Springs charged back behind quarterback Bryan Adair, who got the Panthers within 16-14. Siloam Springs failed to tie when the two-point conversion from the 10-yard line was short of end zone.
With less than two minutes remaining, Gentry marched down inside the 10 before turning the ball over on downs.
But Gentry’s defense, which had nine interceptions on the day, held its own and time ran out on the Panthers.
“ We’ve just got to learn how to compete the whole time, ” Siloam Springs coach Clint Ashcraft said. “ We’re still learning. We’re not there yet. ”
Siloam Springs went 1-2 in pool play but beat Gravette 25-24 in the semifinals of bracket play to advance to the championship.
Gravette scored a touchdown late in the game to pull within a point of the Panthers but the Lions went for two and the pass was incomplete.
“ We were down one but I wanted to go for the win, ” Gravette coach Bill Harrelson said. “ I didn’t want to go for the tie. As hot as it is out here I thought we’d go for it and we didn’t get it. ”
Gravette went 5-1 on the day but the one loss knocked them out of the championship. Instead, the Lions beat Elkins 24-12 in a consolation final.