By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Professor Pigskin Football Contest returns to the Times-Herald sports pages on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
This time around the annual contest has some minor changes.
Each week, for the next 13 weeks, Times-Herald readers will be given the chance to select the winning teams from a list of specially selected high school, college and NFL football games.
At stake each week is a $50 cash prize, which goes to the person who has the most correct guesses.
In the event of a tie between two or more entrants, the specifically designated "tie-breaker" game will help determine a clear winner.
The "tie-breaker" game this year will alternate weekly between the Forrest City and Arkansas Razorback game.
Readers will be asked to correctly guess the winner and the score of the tie-breaker game.
If the tie-breaker game fails to determine an outright winner, the prize money will be equally divided.
Each week's list of games will appear in the Tuesday edition of the Times-Herald along with the entry form and the name of the previous week's winner.
All entries must be received and postmarked by noon on the Friday following that week's published list.
For example, all entries for the list appearing Sept. 3, will be due by noon on Friday, Sept. 6.
This year, readers are being asked to use only the official Pigskin entry form -- either the original or a photocopy -- and all entries should be typed or printed clearly.
Any "unreadable" entries will be discarded from that week's contest.
Entries may be dropped off at the Times-Herald main office, located at 222 North Izard, in the outside mailbox or in the "Professor Pigskin" box which will be located on the front desk in the Times-Herald lobby from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Entries may also be e-mailed to sports@thnews.com.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
For Forrest City football coach Donnie Willis and his staff, tonight is a golden opportunity for some serious scouting.
Three of Forrest City's 10 season opponents -- Wynne West Memphis and Searcy -- will be in action at the second annual High School Football Showcase, tonight at Arkansas State University's Indian Stadium.
Searcy and West Memphis are AAAAA-East Conference opponents while Wynne, the defending Class AAAA state champs, will be the opening day test for the Mustangs one week from tonight at Yellowjacket Stadium.
Tonight's jamboree-style showcase kicks off with Jonesboro Westside and Hoxie facing each other at 6 p.m.
West Memphis and Newport will take the field at 7:15 p.m. and Wynne and Searcy will close out the jamboree at 8:30 p.m.
Searcy moved up and into the AAAAA-East this season, leaving the AAAA-West behind.
The Lions finished second in that league last year with a 10-2 overall mark.
Searcy fell to Monticello in the quarterfinals of the Class AAAA state playoffs a year ago.
Searcy returns senior quarterback Matt Long, who started every game a year ago and senior halfback Earl Young, a member of last year's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Best Junior Team.
Searcy opens the season on Sept. 6, at Sylvan Hills, a former AAAAA-East member.
"We're going to be there (at ASU) tonight to get a look at what we will be seeing down the road," Willis said. "An event such as tonight's jamboree gives us a chance to take some notes and, hopefully, watch some good high school football."
Willis' Mustangs are coming off a three-team preseason jamboree on Tuesday in which they shut out both West Helena and Brinkley.
Willis said the Mustangs had a good practice Thursday and added the players are feeling good as they head into the final few days of practice.
"Everybody is working hard with a lot of enthusiasm," Willis said. "We have a few guys with some bumps and bruises, but no serious injuries."
All proceeds from tonight's jamboree will go to the Arkansas Activities Association Catastrophic Insurance Fund.
The event is sponsored by the Greater Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce.
The jamboree attracted more than 3,000 fans a year ago which raised almost $6,000.
The Forrest City Sports Complex will host the All-American Travelers Baseball Bash tournament beginning tonight.
The tournament is divided into two age groups -- 10-under and 14-under and involves four teams in each bracket. Forrest City will have four teams entered into the mix with three in the 10-under bracket and one in the 14-under bracket while Wynne, Cordova and Bartlett (Tenn) and Cabot will be on hand.
Olympic-style pool play begins tonight at 6 p.m. and will continue through Saturday.
The tournament medal rounds will be played Sunday.
Admission is $3 for adults and $1 youths 12-under.
The tournament is a fundraiser to help raise money for the Forrest City travelling youth baseball teams.
*A girls fast-pitch softball tournament will be played September 27-29, at the Sports Complex.
"Fast and Furious in the Fall" will feature teams in four age divisions -- 10, 12, 14 and 16-under -- and will benefit the Forrest City Lady Mustang softball program
Entries are still being taken.
For more information, call Karen McGuirt 633-8537 or Beverly Nelson at 633-2245.
The East Arkansas Youth Football Association will play a four-team jamboree Saturday at the Forrest City High School practice field.
The first game begins at 4 p.m. and the second game will follow at approximately 5:30 p.m.