The Palestine-Wheatley Patriots were slow getting out of the gates against Elaine last week, but once they got rolling the Panther defense couldn't stop them.
Helped by some key first-half interceptions, the Patriots rolled over Elaine and to 2-0 for the year.
Dermott, with only one game under their belts (which was a loss) may be the next victim for this Patriot team, which appears to be gaining momentum each time out.
Playing without starting senior tailback Ray Gardner a week ago, the Patriots used the running of QB Clyde Kennedy, Quinton Mason, Brandon Roberts and Jonathan Wheeler to effectively fill the void.
No less than 10 Patriots had at least five tackles on defense, led by Chris Siler's 10 solo attempts.
The Rams won last year's game 27-6 in the first meeting between the two schools. Lots of differences are in place this time around.
THE GAME: The Palestine-Wheatley Patriots (2-0; 3AA) vs Dermott Rams (0-1; 8AAA) Friday, Sept. 14, at Ram Stadium. Kick off is set for 7:30 p.m.
PALESTINE-WHEATLEY: The Patriots proved last week they are not a one-person team in the backfield. When tailback Ray Gardner had to leave midway through the opening quarter, P-W answered with solid efforts from Jonathan Wheeler, Brandon Roberts, Quinton Mason and quarterback Clyde Kennedy as well as Casey McDaniel and Ricky Posey.
DERMOTT: The Rams are coming off a 1-8 year and the lone victory was against the Patriots. That ended a 23-game losing streak. The Rams are in the middle of a six-game losing streak.
It all came down to who would score last and would those final points be enough.
That was the script for the Hughes-Marion game Friday.
Hughes scored with 22 seconds left and walked away with the 49-40 win.
There was plenty of offense but not much defense. And the confusion created by Hughes' Wing T helped a great deal.
Most of the time, Marion had no idea where to look for the football.
The Blue Devils will have to have plenty of both tonight when they face another talented Rivercrest team.
The Blue Devils cannot give the Colts 40 points, even if Rivercrest is winless.
The last time Hughes defeated a Rivercrest team was during the 1994 season.
Robert Davis, Jerome Davis and Andre Walker accounted for 435 of Hughes total 470 rushing yards.
"They (Rivercrest) will be coming after us," said Hughes Coach James Wright.
THE GAME: The Hughes Blue Devils (2-0; 6AAA) vs Rivercrest Colts (0-2; 3AAA) Friday, Sept. 14, at Rivercrest. Kick off is set for 7:30 p.m. Neither team is ranked.
HUGHES: The Blue Devils have only three seniors on the team roster this season. The last time a Hughes team began the year with two victories proved to be a play-off appearance year for the team. Just think what three straight wins could do for this team.
RIVERCREST: Rivercrest may be 0-2 on paper but don't think they won't be a pushover for the Blue Devils. Rivercrest has a lot of tradition on their side but this season there is a lack of experience. Quincey Williams directs the Colts' young, but talented offense.
The Forrest City Mustangs posted their first shutout victory Friday since the 1997 season.
That was the year they hung a 19-0 loss on Marianna. On Friday, the 2001 Mustangs were 10-points better holding the Trojans scoreless in a 29-0 win.
That leaves the Mustangs at 2-0 for the year. They are the only unbeaten AAAAA-East team and one of only 12 unbeaten teams in Class AAAAA.
The Mustang defense held Marianna to just 89 total yards of offense.
Tonight, the Mustangs have to face what Forrest City Head Coach Donnie Willis calls "a very scary 0-2 Newport team. We will have to be focused and ready for them and not looking ahead to conference."
The Greyhounds have lost to Jonesboro and Searcy.
Forrest City quarterbacks Justin Edwards and Austin Easley continue to play well in tandem. Senior tailback Theodis Haggins needs a breakout game.
THE GAME: The Forrest City Mustangs (2-0; AAAAA-East) vs Newport Greyhounds (0-2; AAAA-EAST) Friday, Sept. 14, at Greyhound Stadium. Kick off is set for 7:30 p.m. Neither team is ranked.
FORREST CITY: The Mustangs are winless against Newport since starting the nonconference series in 1996. The team is coming off a big 29-0 win over Marianna. Another big defensive effort is needed tonight.
NEWPORT: The Greyhounds are reeling at 0-2 under first-year coach mark Whatley, who took Rison to back-to-back state titles. Newport lost to Searcy 28-0 last week without the services of 13 players (seven of those starters) who were serving a suspension for breaking team rules. Chances are they will return to the field tonight.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Forrest City's Blue Junior Mustangs scored 16 points in less than two minutes to close out a strong third quarter Thursday night and rolled to a 32-19 win over Jonesboro Annie Camp at Sam Smith Stadium.
The Blue Mustangs improve to 3-0 for the year. Annie Camp falls to 1-2.
Holding a 16-13 lead, Larry Bean broke free for a 48-yard touchdown run with 2:02 left in the third quarter and added the two-point conversion for a 24-13 cushion.
Just over a minute later, Terrance Ware intercepted a Jonesboro pass and returned it for the touchdown with 52 seconds left in the quarter. The two-point play made it 32-13 Forrest City.
Bean, who finished with well over a 150 rushing yards, put the Blue Mustangs on the board with a 73-yard run near the end of the first quarter to erase a 7-0 Jonesboro lead.
Jonesboro regained a 13-8 lead early in the second quarter but Ware put the Mustangs back in front 16-13 with a touchdown with three seconds left in the first half and then added the two-point run.
Jonesboro scored late in the game with less than minute to play to make the final.
Forrest City will host Blytheville next week.
P-W 36, Rector 14
The Palestine-Wheatley Junior Patriots moved to 2-0 for the year and 1-0 in the 3AA Conference Thursday with a 36-14 win over Rector.
Rashun Barnes scored a pair of touchdowns for the Junior Patriots while Fred Leak, Brad Barton and Chris Jones added single touchdowns.
Jones, a defensive lineman, recovered a Rector fumble and scored with 15 seconds left in the game.
P-W led 28-0 at the half which gave Coach Dan Cockrell the opportunity to play a lot of his younger players in the third quarter.
"My young kids did a good job and I'm glad they got to play," Cockrell said. "Curtis Allen did a good job at quarterback."
The Junior Patriots will travel to Walnut Ridge next week.
JBoro MacArthur 42, White Mustangs 6
Forrest City quarterback Ben Horton averted a shutout by Jonesboro Thursday by scoring on a quarterback sneak late in the first half, but it was MacArthur's night, winning the game 42-6.
The White Mustangs fall to 0-2 for the year while MacArthur improves to 3-0.
MacArthur led 30-6 at the half and finished with more than 330 yards of total offense.
Forrest City White will play at WM West next week.
Hughes 28, Dumas 8
The Hughes Junior Blue Devils remained unbeaten Thursday with a 28-8 win over the Junior Bobcats.
Dumas led 8-6 at the half, but Hughes scored 22 unanswered points in the second half to post their third straight win of the year.
Dumas scored with 49 seconds left in the opening quarter to lead 8-0.
Hughes answered in the second quarter when Clifton Smith scored from a yard out after quarterback Johnny Payton set up the touchdown with a long pass to David Dowden.
Hughes will host Pine Bluff Dollarway next Thursday.