By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Miscommunication led to Osceola using an ineligible player against Forrest City in the season-opening game on Friday, forcing the Seminoles to forfeit their on-field 18-6 victory.
"We played the wrong player at the wrong time," said Osceola High School Principal Doug Caldwell. "One of our players did not meet the Arkansas Activities Association qualifications to play this season but he did. When we discovered it, we notified Forrest City and forfeited the win. It was a mistake, and it won't affect the rest of our season."
The school is not releasing the identity of the player or the extent of the incident. Osceola Coach Clinton Gore, a Forrest City native and former Mustang coach, declined to comment on the matter.
Arkansas Activities Associate Executive Director Lance Taylor said Osceola did the right thing.
"The principal at Osceola did a great job in reporting the incident," Taylor said. "They were not turned in by another school, and they took it upon themselves to report what happened."
Caldwell sent a letter to both the AAA and Forrest City High School Monday morning to officially forfeit the ball game.
According to Taylor, no other action will be taken against the Seminoles.
"Situations like this do occur more often that most people think," he said. "It is better for the school to report it themselves."
According to reports, the player in question was over the legal age limit set by the AA to participate in high school athletics.
The Seminoles, who are in line to become a fixture on Forrest City's nonconference schedule next season, will play Friday night at West Memphis. Forrest City plays at Marianna.
Osceola took over Wynne's opening slot on the Mustangs' schedule this year when Wynne opted to open the season in the Alltel Hooten's Kickoff Classic.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Forrest City White Junior Mustangs think they are ready for tonight's season-opening game against Newport.
White Coach Stan Siler says they should be ready.
"We've been practicing a long time," Siler said. "And we had an open date last week to start the season, so the kids seem to be more than ready for tonight."
The White Mustangs will host Newport at Sam Smith tonight. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Siler said Ben Horton will start at quarterback with Cedric Johnson and Demario Roebuck in the backfield.
Meanwhile, the Blue Mustangs (1-0) will make their second road trip tonight when they travel to West Memphis Wonder.
Blue Mustang head Coach Rich Trail said he feels more comfortable about tonight's game than he did last week in the opener against Marianna.
"We had a good week of practice, even though it was a short week," Trail said. "The kids came back Tuesday after having Monday off and looked sharp and practiced hard."
Trail said Wonder has a lot of talent on the field and will run the Wing T, like all of the West Memphis junior high teams do.
"It will be interesting tonight," Trail said. "Wonder lost to West Memphis East last week 14-0, and West Memphis West lost to Wynne."
The Blue Mustangs opened with a 20-12 win over Marianna, using 136 rushing yards from Larry Bean and 117 rushing yards from Terrance Ware.
Trail said everyone is healthy except for starting offensive lineman Jimmy Bean, who injured his shoulder against Marianna and will be out at least two more weeks.
The Hughes Junior Blue Devils (1-0) will be on the road at Brinkley tonight while the Palestine-Wheatley Junior Patriots (0-0) open their season on the road at Elaine.
"Elaine will be a test for us," said P-W Coach Dan Cockrell. "We will find out how much we have learned."
Cockrell said he is dressing out 42 players for tonight's game, most of them freshmen.
The Calvary Christian Lady Eagles volleyball team will host Thrifthaven Baptist on Friday, Sept. 7, for the team's first home game of the season.
The Lady Eagles have suffered losses to Central Baptist and Macon Road. The team is coached by Pamela Fisher.
Friday's match begins at 6 p.m.
A free Hunter's Education Course will be held Sept. 10, 11 and 13, at East Arkansas Community College in Forrest City.
The classes will be held from 6 until 9:30 p.m. each night and Keith Price will be the course instructor.
For more information call 633-8083.
The opening date for the Fall squirrel season was incorrectly printed in the Arkansas Hunting Regulations guidebook for 2001-2002.
The correct season dates are from Saturday, Sept. 8 through Feb. 28, 2002.
Wildlife Officer Mike McCormick said the mistake was not found until the regulations book had been printed and distributed.