By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Forrest City Mustangs probably could have won Monday night's preseason scrimmage against the West Helena Cougars but opted instead to let the younger players have their time on the field.
With less than two minutes left in the game, played at Sam Smith Stadium, Forrest City had the ball at the West Helena 25 with the sophomore squad on the field and down by two points.
The Cougars had their starting defense on the field.
"We could have put our starting offense back in and scored and probably won the game," said Forrest City's Donnie Willis, "but we were looking at a much bigger picture. After all, it was just a scrimmage and nothing else."
Neither team scored in the opening quarter as both defensives came up with big plays.
West Helena scored on 23-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the second quarter, after the Mustang defense disrupted the play, to lead 7-0.
Forrest City answered when senior tailback Theo Haggins scored from seven yards out on a gut-check rumble through the heart of the West Helena defense. The extra point kick was wide and the Cougars led 7-6.
The Cougars added a touchdown just before the half to lead 13-6 and then made it 20-6 early in the third period when senior quarterback Cary Washington out-ran the Mustang defense for a 96-yard touchdown run.
After a couple of fumbles, the Mustangs turned things around to get back in the scrimmage eventually losing by two points.
"It wasn't a high intensity kind of thing," Willis said. "We needed to have the opportunity to look at a lot of players who we think can help us this year and that's what we did."
Willis said he thought his players were a little too anxious at times, but added the things we had trouble with are all things that can be corrected.
The Mustangs will open the season on Aug. 31 when they host Osceola at home.
The Osceola coaches, including head man Clinton Gore, watched Monday's scrimmage from the bleachers.
Osceola will host Blytheville tonight for a scrimmage game. Willis said the Mustang coaches will be there.
Meanwhile, the Forrest City Blue Junior Mustangs played in a four-team junior high scrimmage at Osceola.
The Blue Mustangs defeated Osceola 8-0 on a touchdown run by Cory Embry and a two-point conversion by Larry Bean and tied Blytheville and Earle 0-0.
Head Coach Rich Trail said he was pleased with the way his team responded in their first real action of the year.
"We tried to play quite a few kids," Trail said. "We kept everything very basic. I thought we got tired during our scrimmages against Blytheville and Earle, but that's my fault. The kids are not in as good a condition as I thought we were. We will work on the conditioning factor the next several days."
The Blue Mustangs open their season on Thursday, Aug. 30 at home.
The Professor Pigskin Football Contest returns to the Times-Herald sports pages Tuesday, Aug. 28.
Each week, readers will have the chance to choose winners from a list of specially selected high school, college and NFL games.
A weekly cash prize of $50 goes to the winner.
In the event of a tie and more than one winner, the prize money will be evenly divided.
Each week's list of games will appear in the Tuesday edition of the Times-Herald along with the entry form.
All entries must be received and postmarked by noon on the Friday following that week's published list.
For example, all entries for the list appearing Aug. 28 are due by noon, Friday, Aug. 31.
Entries may be dropped off at the Times-Herald main office, located at 222 North Izard.
A "Professor Pigskin" box will be located in the T-H lobby on the front desk from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.