By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
It wasn't a good opening night for the AAAAA-East Conference Friday, but the news got better for one team -- the Forrest City Mustangs -- today.
All eight of the East teams opened their 2001 football season, and only one of those eight members -- Jonesboro -- was able to grab a victory on the playing field.
The Hurricane defeated Newport 28-18.
Forrest City, which lost to Osceola 18-6 found themselves with a reversal of fortunes today when Osceola officially forfeited the victory.
In a letter from Osceola High School Principal Doug Caldwell to Forrest City Principal Abbie Robinson, Caldwell confirmed that an ineligible player took part in the game.
"Because of this action," Caldwell wrote, "Osceola High School is hereby forfeiting the game." Caldwell apologized for the miscommunication and for the unfortunate act.
So, that leaves Forrest City 1-0 for the year, their first opening day victory since 1997.
"I hate that this has happened," said Forrest City Coach Donnie Willis, "But right now we will take the win."
Forrest City was only down by six points at the half.
Only one of Osceola's three touchdowns came on a sustained drive that started from the line of scrimmage-- a one-yard run by Marlon Adams on the fourth play of the game.
Osceola claimed its two other scores as a result of miscues by the Mustangs -- a 60-yard punt return in the second quarter and a fumble recovery and return early in the third quarter.
Cabot, last year's defending conference champion and Class AAAAA state champion and the preseason No. 1 in the Associated Press poll, lost to Conway 21-13 at Conway.
In Cabot's last 46 regular-season games, the loss was only the third one for the team.
Blytheville, Jacksonville, West Memphis, LR Mills and Sylvan Hills all lost on Friday.
Forrest City will play at Marianna this week.
The members of the 6AAA Conference enjoyed more success as five of the seven league teams opened with victories, led by Hughes' 7-6 win over Barton, Class AA's No. 9 preseason team.
Hughes will host Marion on Friday.
And finally, in the 3AA Conference, the Palestine-Wheatley Patriots won their season opener for the first time since the 1998 season by surviving a shootout against Altheimer 31-26.
Earle was the only other 3AA league member to win on Friday, defeating Elaine 18-12.
The Patriots will host Elaine Friday.
Marked Tree, Salem, Rector, Walnut Ridge, Parkin and Cross County all suffered losses to leave the 3AA at 2-6 for opening night.
The Forrest City seventh and eighth-grade football teams will open tonight when they host Marion at Sam Smith Stadium.
There are 112 seventh-graders taking part in the Forrest City program this season.
The seventh-graders have only been practicing for a week.
"We have to find about 22 kids who we think might be ready to play today," said Forrest City Coach Stan Siler.
The seventh-graders will kick off at 5 p.m. and the White junior high team eighth-graders will kick off at 6 p.m.
PREP FOOTBALL
Junior High School
Tuesday, September 4
Marion at Forrest City (7th & 8th), 5 p.m.
Thursday, September 6
Newport at Forrest City White, 7 p.m.
Hughes at Brinkley, 7 p.m.
Palestine-Wheatley at Elaine, 7 p.m.
High School
Friday, September 7
AAAAA-East
Forrest City at Marianna
Poplar Bluff, Mo. at Blytheville
LR Fair at Cabot
Jacksonville at North Pulaski
Jonesboro at Wynne
LR Mills at Hot Springs
LR Central at Sylvan Hills
Osceola at West Memphis
6AAA Conference
Marion at Hughes
Brinkley at Carlisle
DeWitt at Stuttgart
Lake Hamilton at PB Dollarway
McGehee at Dumas
Hoxie at England
Beebe at Lonoke
3AA Conference
Elaine at Palestine-Wheatley
Cross County at EPC
Piggott at Earle
Marked Tree at Gosnell
Parkin at Turrell
Paragould at Rector
Mountain View at Salem
Walnut Ridge at McCrory