By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
There were some surprise winners and losers in round one of the state football playoffs last week.
West Memphis eliminating Little Rock Central was one of those surprises. Cabot defeating Little Rock McClellan wasn't.
Cabot is one of three defending state champions from a year ago headed into Friday night's second round. The Panthers won the Class AAAAA state title last season. Booneville is the remaining Class AAA champ and Rison is the defending Class AA champ.
Greewood, the defending Class AAAA state champs, were elimintaed by Wynne in the first round.
Cabot will host Bentonville Friday, the second-seed from the AAAAA-West.
Based on Cabot's run to the title a year ago, which included going through three teams from the West -- Fort Smith Northside, Southside and Springdale -- the Panthers are heavy favorites against Bentonville.
"Cabot is the defending state champion, and they will be until somebody beats them," Bentonville head coach Gary Wear said earlier this week. "They have earned their top ranking."
A win over Bentonville will put Cabot against the Texarkana-West Memphis winner in the third round -- a road trip for the Panthers.
Cabot has a 10-1 record this year and have won 24 of the last 25 games. A very good reason why the Panthers are acknowledged as one of the top teams in the state.
Rising sophomore star Chris Robertson ran wild against McClellan and past the 1,000 yard barrier for the season in the process.
In other playoff games from last week, Conway stepped Bryant 28-23, El Dorado topped Mountain Home 13-7 and Texarkana defeated Spring-dale 49-31.
Fort Smith Southside and Russellville also advanced to the second round, beating Little Rock Mills and Jacksonville respectively. The Rebs kayoed Mills 36-0 and Russellville knocked off Jacksonville 32-14 to earn their quarterfinal slots.
In other second round games this week, West Memphis takes on Texarkana, El Dorado plays at Russellville and Fort Smith Southside will travel to Conway.
Clarksville High School reported on Wednesday that it had used ineligible players during the 2001 football season, and has forfeited last week's 39-8 win over Farmington High School in the opening round of the Class AAA state playoffs.
Clarksville was scheduled to travel to Warren High School Friday night to compete in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.
Clarksville finished second in the 4AAA Conference with a 6-1 record. The Panthers were 8-2 on the regular season.
After reviewing a faxed statement from Clarksville, AAA Executive Director Jimmy Coats notified administrators at Warren and Farmington.
Because of the late notice, Warren and Farmington agreed to meet at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Warren.
The Forrest City Blue Junior Mustang basketball teams will open their season tonight at Wynne.
In other area games, Hughes will host Earle for a three-game set and the Palestine-Wheatley senior teams will play two games at Ozark.
* PREP BASKETBALL
Thursday, November 15
Forrest City Blue at Wynne (Jr. Girls, Boys)
Earle at Hughes (Jr. Boys, Sr. Girls, Boys)
Palestine-Wheatley at Ozark (Sr. Girls, Boys)
Friday, November 16
LR Parkview at Forrest City (Sr Girls, Boys)
Monday, November 19
Palestine-Wheatley at Gillett (Jr. Girls, Sr. Girls, Boys)
Hughes at Marion Classic TBA
WMemphis West at Forrest City White
Tuesday, November 20
Hughes at WMemphis West (Jr. Girls, Jr. Boys)
November 22,23,24
Rumble on the Ridge at Mustang Arena
First-Round Games, Thursday, Nov. 22
Hughes vs Columbus, Miss. 3:30 p.m.
Osceola vs Woodlawn, La., 5 p.m.
Forrest City vs William Chrisman, Mo. 6:30 p.m.
Marietta, Ga. vs Carroll, La., 8 p.m.