By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
When the Forrest City Mustangs were forced into the passing game Friday night against Cabot, it didn't take long for the Panthers to capitalize.
Locked in a 7-7 tie to begin the fourth quarter, the Mustangs, who had run at will against Cabot for three quarters, continued to keep the ball on the ground during the final 12 minutes.
Led by running back Demarcus Sinclair, who had already topped the 100-yard mark, Mustang Coach Donnie Willis was feeling confident about his team's chances of defeating Cabot for the first time since 1995.
He didn't expect his team to be stopped in their tracks by those little yellow hankies.
"It seemed like everytime we got close, we got flagged," Willis said. "We drove to the Cabot 28-yard line and were on the brink of scoring the go-ahead touchdown, when the flags began to fly."
The stat sheets say it all -- seven fourth quarter penalties called against Forrest City, everything from holding to intentional grounding.
That forced the Mustangs to go to the pass.
"That's when we got in trouble," Willis said.
Forrest City quarterback Austin Easley completed three passes -- one to Devin McLaurin for 11 yards and two to Cabot defenders -- which led to a pair of Panther touchdowns and Cabot's 21-7 win.
The Panthers rallied with two touchdowns in the final five minutes.
Junior Kenyatae Chism started at quarterback for the Mustangs Friday but Easley took over to start the second quarter.
"Chism wasn't playing badly, it's just that he is our best corner on defense and he was spent, going both ways. We needed him more on defense," Willis said.
Terrance Ware scored two touchdowns and junior offensive guard Stephen Henry returned a fumble for a touchdown to lead the junior varsity Forrest City Mustangs past West Memphis 20-14 Monday at Sam Smith.
The JV team improves to 4-0-1 for the year, with one game left to be played.
Henry recovered as fumble and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown to highlight the victory.
The Caldwell Gators, of the East Arkansas Youth Football Association, are riding a two-game win streak.
Last Saturday, the Gators edged the Forrest City Steelers, 33-31 in a game played at the Forrest City High School practice field.
The week before, the Gators, 2-3 for the year, defeated Turrell, for their first season victory.
Denzel Rivers scored all of the Gators' touchdowns. The Steelers took a 12-0 lead before the Gators got a touchdown by Rivers.
Another Steeler TD made it 18-7 before Rivers scored for the second time, slicing the Steeler lead to 18-14 at the half.
A third quarter Rivers' TD put the Gators in front 21-18, before the Steelers regained a 24-21 cushion and then went up 31-21.
Rivers added his final two touchdowns to lift the Gators to the win.
The Gators are scheduled to play the Forrest City Ponys Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
The league plays through Nov. 16, when the season-ending "Super Bowl" game will be played between the top two teams.
* LOCAL SPORTS
MEN'S FALL SOFTBALL
Monday's Scores
Gym 2000 14, Wynne 7
Barnes Timber 16, M&T Paving 8
Morgan 20, Section 8 Youth 7
Miller Insurance 15, Marion 14
CO-ED SOFTBALL
Tuesday, October 15
Boar's Head vs Wynne Cinema, 7 p.m.
Butler Building vs T. Rodgers, 8 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Monday's Score
Forrest City 20, West Memphis 14
Friday, October 18
AAAAA-East Conference
Blytheville at Forrest City (HC)
Searcy at Jacksonville
Cabot at Mountain Home
Saturday, October 19
West Memphis at Jonesboro
3AA Conference
Salem at Rector
Turrell at Palestine-Wheatley (HC)
Earle at Cross County
Parkin at Hughes
Walnut Ridge at Marked Tree
JUNIOR HIGH FOOTBALL
Thursday, October 17
FCity Blue at JBoro MacArthur, 7 p.m.
WMemphis East at FCity White, 7 p.m.
Parkin at Palestine-Wheatley (HC)
Earle at Hughes
FLAG FOOTBALL
Monday's Scores
Lions 25, Bears 24
Vikings 17, Tigers 0
Indians 20, Razorbacks 19
YOUTH SOCCER
Tuesday, October 15
Bullets vs Tigers, 9-under, 6 p.m.
Iguanas vs Flames, 10-13, 6 p.m.
Sting vs Rockets, 9-under, 7:15 p.m.
Grizzlies vs Thrashers, 10-13, 7:15 p.m.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
Tuesday, October 15
Forrest City at Mountain Home, 5 p.m.