By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Osceola Seminoles turned Forrest City's mistakes into big plays Friday night and walked out of Sam Smith Stadium with an 18-6 win in the season-opening game for both teams.
It was the first football meeting between Forrest City and Osceola since the 1978 season.
Osceola senior tailback, Marlon Adams, younger brother of former Osceola running back Jonathan Adams, now at Arkansas State University, scored two of the Seminoles' three touchdowns.
Adams, at just 5 foot 3 and 155 pounds, had only 38 rushing yards, but hurt the Mustangs with 104 yards in punt and kick returns -- including a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown early in the second quarter to put the Seminoles up 12-0.
Adams gave Osceola a 6-0 lead by scoring on a one-yard touchdown run with 10:49 to play in the opening quarter.
Osceola's touchdown was set up by a 38-yard run by John James on the first play from scrimmage and Adams' 17-yard burst to the Forrest City one.
The Mustangs dodged a bullet late in the first when they fumbled an Osceola punt and the Seminoles recovered at the Mustang 30. The drive eventually stalled.
The Mustangs weren't as fortunate in the second quarter when Adams fielded Dustin Gore's fourth down punt and ran it back 60 yards for the score. The two-point conversion try failed and the Seminoles led 12-0.
Forrest City closed to within six points just before the half when starting quarterback Austin Easley fired a 36-yard yard touchdown pass to Theodis Haggins with 1:26 to play in the first half.
Ray Dixon's extra point attempt was low and no good after a bad snap.
Forrest City's first possession of the second half went nowhere as Easley fumbled the football twice and the Mustangs were forced to punt.
Things got a little worse for the Mustangs on their next possession when Dixon fumbled the ball on a third-and-one carry. James picked up the loose football and returned it for the final Osceola score.
"We just put the ball on the ground too many times and against a team like Osceola, you can't do that," said Forrest City Coach Donnie Willis. "We thought we had our offensive line problems ironed out, but it's clear after watching the game film that is an area where we still need improvement."
Haggins and Dixon carried the bulk of the Mustang running game with Haggins getting 39 yards on 15 carries and Dixon getting 24 yards on six carries.
Eric Jimmerson led the Mustangs' receivers with three receptions for 26 yards.
The Mustangs finished with just 63 rushing yards and 59 passing yards for 122 total yards. Forrest City had six first downs and were flagged 11 times.
Osceola finished with 151 total yards, all on the ground and picked up nine first downs.
"Osceola made some adjustments at halftime which paid off for therm in the third quarter," Willis said. "We didn't make the adjustments we needed to make."
The Mustangs will now prepare for back-to-back road trips -- Marianna this week and Newport next week.
Marianna lost to McGehee Friday while Newport lost to Jonesboro.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
BARTON--The Hughes Blue Devils waited and waited and waited for their opportunity to score in their opener against Barton Friday and finally got it with 1:39 remaining in the game.
Senior split end Lonnie Smith caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jermaine Davis to break a scoreless tie and put the Blue Devils in front 6-0. Brian Hillis added the point after kick and Hughes led 7-0.
Barton didn't roll over and give in.
With 39 seconds to play, the Bears scored but missed the two-point conversion and for the second time in four tries, Hughes Coach James Wright took a win over Barton. Barton's attempted on-side kick after the touchdown, didn't go the required 10 yards and Hughes took over and ran out the clock.
The Blue Devils defeated the Bears in 1998, Wright's first season at Hughes.
"We felt like going in the kids had a good chance to get a win," Wright said. "We made some mistakes early but we didn't turn the ball over and that was a plus. We just waited until we had our chance."
Barton, on the other hand, turned the ball over three times -- two lost fumbles and one interception.
The Blue Devils had a couple of chances to score early in the game, but came away short.
The Blue Devils will host Marion Friday night while Barton will open conference play at Marvell.
The Hughes Junior Blue Devils opened with a win Thursday by turning away Marion's Junior Patriots 34-28 at Hughes.
Clifton Smith scored twice to lead the Junior Blue Devils while Johnny Payton added a touchdown. Andrew Anderson scored on a touchdown pass for Hughes.
The Junior Blue Devils will play at Brinkley Thursday night.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
PALESTINE--The Palestine-Wheatley Patriots survived an old-fashioned "shootout" Friday night in their home opener against the Altheimer Red Devils.
The lead changed hands as quickly as the football did in a 31-26 Palestine-Wheatley win.
Ray Gardner led the Patriots with 224 rushing yards on 24 carries and scored twice. Brandon Roberts finished with 120 yards on 20 carries and three touchdowns while Jonathan Wheeler added 90 yards on five carries.
Altheimer countered with sophomore running back Marcus Hudson, who finished with 297 rushing yards.
Altheimer chewed up 510 total yards while the Patriots totalled 470 yards, all on the ground.
Gardner gave the Patriots a 7-0 lead with 6:34 to play in the first quarter on a four-yard touchdown run.
In the second quarter, Altheimer answered with a two-yard TD run and added the two-point conversion for an 8-7 lead.
Roberts put the Patriots back in front with a three-yard touchdown run for a 13-8 lead before Altheimer answered with a 48-yard scoring run with 6:24 to play and a 14-13 cushion.
Gardner ripped through the Altheimer defense for a 15-yard scoring run with 3:24 to play and a 19-14 P-W lead, which held through the half.
The Red Devils scored on a 75-yard pass play with 11:10 left in the third quarter but missed the point after to regain a 20-19 lead.
Gardner scored his second TD of the game with 7:25 showing in the period on a 15-yard run for a 25-20 Patriot lead.
Altheimer answered to take a 26-25 lead but Roberts nailed the door shut on Altheimer with a 15-yard touchdown run with 8:36 to play in the fourth period.
The Patriots will host Elaine Friday night at Patriot Field while Altheimer will play at Hazen.