By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Against Jacksonville Friday night, Forrest City did something no other team has done this season -- the Mustangs shut down the Red Devils in the first half.
As impressive as that was, the Mustangs couldn't duplicate their first-half efforts following halftime, falling to the Red Devils 21-0 at Sam Smith Stadium.
It was a "must-win" game for both teams, for different reasons.
Jacksonville brought a 3-1 conference mark into the game, tied for second place with Cabot and West Memphis -- their final two opponents. Forrest City brought a 1-3 conference mark into the game and hoping to expunge a few more season-long demons as they whittled their schedule to just two remaining games -- at Mountain Home and at West Memphis.
Jacksonville improves to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the AAAAA-East and into a four-way tie for first with Jonesboro, Cabot and West Memphis. The Mustangs fall to 3-5 and 1-4.
"We felt like we really needed to get a win over Forrest City to keep our momentum going," said Jacksonville Head Coach Johnny Watson. "We want to get back to the playoffs and we felt like this game was the one that would go a long way in getting us to that point. Our hats are off to Forrest City because they are the first team this season to shut us down in the first half even though they made a couple of mistakes in the game early that helped turn the momentum to our side."
Watson was referring to the first of three Jacksonville interceptions on the night.
Junior halfback/cornerback Bretrick Miles stopped what appeared to be a sure Forrest City touchdown on the Mustangs' first possession when he stepped behind a Mustang receiver to intercept an Austin Easley pass and returned it 85 yards for the touchdown. Kicker James Paul split the uprights to put the Red Devils in front 7-0 with 3:54 to play.
The interception came after the Mustangs started at their own 42 and moved to the Jacksonville 15-yard line, using seven consecutive running plays -- five by senior tailback Lafayette Smith and two by sophomore fullback Larry Bean.
"We called the pass because I thought Jacksonville would be expecting us to run the ball and it was first down and I didn't think they were expecting us to throw," Forrest City Coach Donnie Willis said. "We had not thrown a pass to the weak side tight end from that set all year. The Jacksonville defender got behind our receiver and made the play and that turned the game around, even though for the rest of the first half, we played well defensively and held them to seven points. I can only call the plays, the kids have to execute."
The second half was an entirely different matter.
After out-gaining Jacksonville in total yards in the first half, 125-to-44, the Mustangs took a step backward in the second half and gave up 133 total yards and two more touchdowns to the Red Devils.
Even though the interception and touchdown put Jacksonville in front Watson said the play still didn't help his team offensively.
"The interception still didn't bring any life to our offense," Watson said. "Offensively, we are a better football team than what we showed in the first half and if we are going to finish the year strong, our kids have got to go out there and take care of business."
Jacksonville picked off another Forrest City pass at the Red Devil 24 with two minutes left in the first half that once again, more than likely kept the Mustangs out of the end zone.
The Mustangs had started the drive from the Jacksonville 32 after the Red Devils punted but were flagged for roughing Kenyatae Chism who made the catch.
Once again, the Mustangs moved the ball on the ground until Bean was stopped to bring up a fourth and nine at the Jacksonville 21. From the shotgun, Easley found Roosevelt Lattimore inside the three for what appeared to be a first down, but a holding penalty brought the play8 back and on the next attempt, Jacksonville's Carlton Morange made the interception to stop the drive. Both teams exchanged fumbles in the last minute of the first half, but neither scored leaving Jacksonville in front 7-0 at the half.
Jacksonville added a third quarter touchdown when Robert Harbin scored from three yards out and Paul added the kick to make it a 14-0 lead with 1:30 left in the quarter.
Demarkus Johnson made it 21-0 when he scored on a three-yard run with 1:57 remaining in the game and Paul kicked the point after.
"I felt like we took a big step backward," Willis said. "We played so well against Blytheville but against Jacksonville, we reverted back to the same old junk of not playing smart."
Bean led Forrest City with 93 yards on 16 carries while Smith finished with 38 rushing yards.
Harbin led Jacksonville with 56 yards on eight carries and one touchdown while Terrod Hatcher finished with 33 yards on five carries. Chris Burns had 26 yards on six carries and Miles finished with 16 yards on six carries and returned the interception for a touchdown.
Forrest City plays at Mountain Home on Friday, Nov. 1.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Hughes Blue Devils just keep pouring on the points.
Friday night, against earle, the Blue Devils put up 48 points to shut out the Bulldogs, keeping their season-ending, conference deciding game against Marked Tree on track.
Both the Blue Devils and Marked Tree are unbeaten in the 3AA Conference and are tied for the league lead.
Both teams are 7-1 overall and 7-0 in the conference.
Marked Tree won easily Friday over Turrell, 69-18.
Hughes and Marked Tree meet Nov. 8 at Marked Tree, in a game that should decide the conference champion as well as the league's top seed into the Class AA playoffs.
Both teams have already clinched a playoff spot.
Hughes has Turell this Friday while Marked Tree has Palestine-Wheatley.
For the third straight week, Hughes running back Andre Walker carried the load by scoring twice and finishing with 185 yards on 17 carries. Jermaine Davis ran for 103 yards on 16 carries and scored twice.
In the past three games, the Blue Devils have scored 49, 77 and 48 points while allowing just 34 points.
The Hughes Junior Blue Devils, also 7-1, will host Marked Tree Tuesday night at Blue Devil Stadium. Kick off is set for 7 p.m.
Patriots 50, Parkin 14
The Palestine-Wheatley Patriots, who continue to hang on to hopes of a playoff spot, took another step toward that goal Friday by turning back Parkin 50-14.
The Patriots improve to 4-4 overall and 4-3 in the 3AA Conference.
Quentin Mason led the Patriots in Friday's win over the Tigers, which was marred by an incident which led to an injury to Palestine-Wheatley starting lineman Daniel Getchell.
Between plays, as both teams were waiting to line up for the next play, Getchell was apparently intentionally tackled from behind by a Parkin player, just below the waist.
Play was suspended for several minutes and the Parkin player was ejected from te game.
Getchell was taken to an area hospital for x-rays, which determined his injuries were not serious.
* LOCAL SPORTS
MEN'S FALL SOFTBALL
Monday, October 28
Gym 2000 vs M&T Paving, 6 p.m.
Young Guns vs Morgan, 7 p.m.
Wynne vs Section 8 Youth, 8 p.m.
Barnes Timber vs Marion, 9 p.m.
YOUTH SOCCER
Postseason Tournament
Saturday's Results
Bullets placed first in the 4-5-year-old bracket; Rockets finished second
Rockets finished first in the 6-7-year-old bracket, Sting finished second
Tigers finished first in the 8-9-year-old bracket, Sting finished second
JUNIOR HIGH FOOTBALL
Tuesday, October 29
Marked Tree at Hughes
Thursday, October 31
Salem at Palestine-Wheatley
Wynne at FCity Blue
FCity Whiet at Blytheville
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Friday's Scores
AAAAA-East Conference
Jacksonville 21, Forrest City 0
Searcy 37, Jonesboro 27
Cabot 33, Blytheville 0
West Memphis 39, Mountian Home 0
3AA Conference
Hughes 48, Earle 0
Palestine-Wheatley 50, Parkin 14
Walnut Ridge 45, Rector 0
Marked Tree 69, Turrell 18
Salem 14, Cross County 12