By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
WYNNE -- The Forrest City eighth grade Blue Mustangs played hard but came up short against Wynne Tuesday night, losing 16-12 at Yellowjacket Stadium.
The Forrest City seventh graders took it on the chin, losing 22-6.
The Blue eighth grades are 1-2 for the year. The seventh grade team falls to 1-4.
John Washington scored on a 70-yard run for the Blue Mustangs while Cordara Tripp scored from five yards out.
Wynne's eighth grade took an 8-0 lead early but the Blue Mustangs battled back to cut that lead to 8-6.
Wynne pushed the advantage to 16-6 before Forrest City scored to make the final.
"We had our chances," said Blue Mustang coach Rich Trail. "We scored and then held Wynne on their next possession to get the ball back. We drove to about their 20 using a halfback pass from Nicko Walker to Jeremy Washington, but then came away empty when we fumbled the ball back to Wynne."
Stephon Weaver and Danreico Wilson shared the quarterback duties for the eighth graders.
The Blue varsity Mustangs have an open date this week while the White Mustangs (1-3) will play at Jonesboro Annie Camp Thursday night.
The Blue Mustangs are preparing for next week's conference game against Unbeaten West Memphis West.
In other area games Thursday, the Hughes Junior Blue Devils (3-1) will face the Palestine-Wheatley Junior Patriots at Wheatley. Kick off for the 3AA Conference game is set for 6 p.m.
The Forrest City Mustangs and Lady Mustang basketball teams will open the 2002-03 season on Friday, Nov. 15, when they host Sylvan Hills at Mustang Arena.
Sylvan Hills comes to town this time as a nonconferene opponent, after moving out of the AAAAA-East Conference this season.
The Lady Mustangs will take part this season in the Mount St. Mary's tournament (Nov. 18-23), the Cabot Panther Classic (Dec. 3-7) and the Conway Invitational (Dec. 27-30).
The Mustangs will play in the Rumble on the Ridge Thanksgiving tournament at Mustang Arena as well as the Chickasaw Classic at Blytheville and the Cabot Tournament.
The Forrest City junior high teams will open the season on Nov. 11, with the Blue teams hosting Hughes and the White teams at Wynne.
* LOCAL SPORTS
CO-ED SOFTBALL
Tuesday's Scores
Wynne Cinema 21, T. Rodgers Const.15
Butler Building 12, Boar's Head 11
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Friday, October 4
AAAAA-East
Searcy at Forrest City
Blytheville at Mountain Home
Cabot at West Memphis
Jonesboro at Jacksonville
3AA Conference
Rector at Turrell
Parkin at Earle
Hughes at Salem
Marked Tree at Cross County
Walnut Ridge at Palestine-Wheatley
JUNIOR HIGH FOOTBALL
Tuesday's Scores
Wynne 22, Forrest City 6 (7th)
Wynne 16, Forrest Ciity Blue 12 (8th)
Thursday, October 3
Forrest City Blue - Open
Forrest City White at JB Annie Camp, 7 p.m.
Hughes at Palestine-Wheatley, 6 p.m.
YOUTH SOCCER
Thursday, October 3
Bullets vs Sting (9-under), 6 p.m.
Flames vs Thrashers (10-13), 6 p.m.
Tigers vs Rockets (9-under), 7:15 p.m.
Grizzlies vs Iguanas (10-13), 7:15 p.m.