By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Forrest City seventh-grade Mustang team finished their season Tuesday night with the best record for the team since the 1999 season.
Tyrice Bradley scored two touchdowns and Leonard Banks added a third to lead the seventh-grade Mustangs past Jonesboro MacArthur 18-16 at Sam Smith Stadium.
The season-ending victory gives the Mustangs a 3-4 mark -- the best record for the team since a 3-3 finish in 1999.
This year's team, under the guidance of coaches Tommy Wheetley and Lewis Etheridge, for the first time in several years, scored in every game.
"I'm proud to say that we were not shut out in a single game this season," Wheetley said. "This group of kids has come a long way since we started practice in late August. They are a good group."
The seventh-grade program underwent several changes this seasons, including the new coaches and moving the team's practice times from morning to afternoon.
In year's past the seventh-grade program has had to field as many as three different teams, but this year Wheetley and Etheridge went with one single group and let everyone play in every game.
"We had a number one and two offensive unit and a number one and two defensive unit and we alternated the playing time of each," Wheetley said. "Everyone got to play and that was the important thing. We wanted them to come away this year as better athletes and better persons. I think we accomplished that."
*In the final eighth-grade game of the year Tuesday, the Blue Mustangs spread the scoring around as five different players found the endzone in a 44-8 win over Jonesboro MacArthur.
The Blue Mustangs finish the year at 2-2.
Cordera Tripp got the Blue Mustangs on the board first when he scored on a 60-yard run with 4:44 to play in the first quarter. Stephon Weaver added the two-point run for an 8-0 lead.
Donnie Willis Jr. intercepted a MacArthur pass and returned it to the Jonesboro 1 setting up a one-yard touchdown run by John Washington who also added the two-point run for a 16-0 cushion with 2:06 to play in the first.
MacArthur scored on a long touchdown pass with less than a minute to play, cutting Forrest City's lead to 16-8.
Weaver completed a 47-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Britt midway through the second quarter and Washington added the two-point run as Forrest City pushed their lead to 24-8.
After Kellon Bowman picked up a big first down on Forrest City's next possession, Weaver scored from 33 yards out but was short on the extra point try leaving the Blue team in front 30-8 at the half.
Nico Walker picked off another MacArthur pass early in the third and returned it for the score while Danreico Wilson added the two-point run for a 38-8 lead and Eric Burgess scored the final Forrest City touchdown after Dion Davenport came through with Forrest City's third interception of the night. Burgess broke several tackles on his way to the MacArthur 15 yard line and then scored on the next play. Amos Burgess was just short on the two-point try leaving the Blue Mustangs with the 44-8 win.
*On Thursday, the Blue Mustang varsity will host West Memphis East for homecoming activities at Sam Smith.
The Forrest City White Mustangs have an open week.
* LOCAL SPORTS
MEN'S FALL SOFTBALL
Monday's Scores
M&T Paving 19, Marion 3
Barnes Timber 22, Wynne 0
Young Guns 21, MIller Insurance 11
Gym 2000 18, Morgan 10
CO-ED SOFTBALL
Tuesday's Scores
Boar's Head 12, Butler Building 9
Wynne Cinema 16, T Rodgers 2
YOUTH FLAG FOOTBALL
Monday's Scores
Tigers 20, Bears 13
Lions 21, Vikings 6
Razorbacks vs Indians - double forfeit
YOUTH SOCCER
Postseason Tournament
101-16-Year-Old Bracket
Tuesday's Results
Iguanas defeated Grizzlies
Thrashers defeated Flames
Thrashers defeated Iguanas
Thursday, October 24
(Rain date-Friday, October 25)
Grizzlies vs Flames, 6 p.m.
Iguanas vs Flames-Grizzlies winner, 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, october 26
3 through 9-Year-Olds
Tigers vs Rockets, 10 a.m. F1
Bullets vs Sting, 11:15 a.m. F1
JUNIOR HIGH FOOTBALL
Tuesday's Scores
Forrest City 18, JB MacArthur 16 (7th)
Forrest City Blue 44, JB MacArthur 8 (8th)
* PREP BASKETBALL
Tuesday's Scores
Senior Boys
Black Rock 72, Mammoth Spring 55
Brookland 54, Weiner 49
Buffalo Island 66, Manila 41
Maynard 100, Newark 54
Ridgefield Christian 68, Williford 60
River Valley 66, Delaplaine 52
Sulphur Rock 60, Biggers-Reyno 39
Swifton 51, Oak Ridge Central 43
Tuckerman 53, Lynn 48
Viola 57, Izard County 44
Senior Girls
Mammoth Spring 60, Black Rock 29
Maynard 66, Newark 59
Riverside 68, Weiner 57
River Valley 54, Delaplaine 33
Sulphur Rock 59, Biggers-Reyno 54
Swifton 51, Oak Ridge Central 35
Tuckerman 59, Lynn 54, OT
Williford 52, Ridgefield Christian 17