By BOB TOMPKINS and FRED CONLEY
Sports Writers
St. Peter's College preseason I-AA All-American safety Jon Ambrose says the difference between his Louisiana hometown of Tioga and his college town of Jersey City, N.J., is "like two different worlds."
Yet, he says, he has learned to adjust.
"For a long time I didn't think I'd ever get used to such a big place," he says. "I've had to get used to looking before I cross the street, it's such a fast-paced life up here. Everybody's always moving, always on the go.
"Everybody acts a little different" he says. "I miss southern hospitality at home."
While his roots stretch home to Louisiana, they also cross the boundaries into Arkansas and Forrest City.
Ambrose's grandparents, Eugene and Virgie live in Forrest City and have for years as well as his uncle, Donnie, who also lives in Forrest City.
His parents, J.W. and Shirley, are native Arkansans. J.W. is a 1966 graduate of Forrest City and played football for the Mustangs. Shirley is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Gross of Greenwood.
One of Jon's two older brothers, Jeremy, was born in Wynne, while Josh and Jon were born in Louisiana.
During his four years at St. Peter's College, Ambrose hasn't shown much southern hospitality to opposing quarterbacks.
He has 27 career interceptions, one shy of the national Division I-AA record (Dave Murphy of Holy Cross, 1986-89) and two shy of the NCAA Division I-A record (Al Brosky, Illinois, 1950-52).
Only three players at any level of NCAA football have had more than 29 interceptions.
With two regular season games remaining and the possibility of no postseason for the Peacocks, Ambrose has eight quarters remaining to set the record.
But, according to his coach Rob Stern, "getting the picks and setting the record is not nearly important to Ambrose as getting team victories."
"Jon is the kid of person and player who would gladly trade any of his interceptions for a win," Stern said. "He is a little frustrated right now, not because he hasn't got the record, but because the team lost a game. He deserves the record and everyone hopes he can get it in the next two games, but unfortunately he is chasing a record that requires him getting some help from the opposing quarterbacks. They have to throw at him or in his direction and I think lately, the other teams have been staying away from his side of the field."
Opposing teams aren't throwing as often down the middle this season, Ambrose said, preferring mostly the sideline routes that the cornerbacks cover.
As a result of his interception totals, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Ambrose, who grew up in Prospect, La., near the southern border of Grant Parish, is receiving local and national attention like never before.
"Somebody from the Associated Press came out to practice recently and followed me around, taking pictures," Ambrose said.
Stern said the interest has been good for Ambrose and for the school.
"His efforts have certainly helped put St. Peter's and this football program on the athletic map," Stern said.
St. Peter's is a Jesuit college located on the banks of the Hudson River. The college has an enrollment of just 3,500 and is a "mid-major," which means it is a I-AA school that offers financial aid based on need only, or a modified version of that policy.
Ambrose, who owns a 3.8 grade point average as a criminal justice major (he intends to go to law school), is on a full academic scholarship.
In late September, Ambrose had three interceptions for the Peacocks in a 55-2 victory over LaSalle.
That tied a 20-year-old school record for interceptions in a game first set by Bob Gwinett vs. Rutgers-Newark in SPC's Division III era on October 8, 1982.
Ambrose returned his three interceptions against La Salle for a total of 69 yards, setting up one of the Peacock's touchdowns with a 29-yard return to the La Salle 35 and later running 40 yards on a return out of the end zone.
His parents were in the stands watching.
"Every game we've been to, he's had at least one interception," said the elder Ambrose, who coached his son in the Red River Football youth league.
Ambrose had 11 thefts in 11 games last season, when he was the Division I-AA interceptions leader.
Always mature for his age, according to his father, Ambrose wasn't held back in school as a youth, so he is just 20 years old, even though he is a senior.
Ambrose will celebrate his 21st birthday on Nov. 21.
Past graduation, Stern said he hopes Ambrose will stay to attend graduate school and remain with the team as an assistant coach.
"I get chills just thinking about fielding a team without Jon," Stern said. "He has earned the respect of his teammates and the coaching staff and he is just a great young man, on and off the field."
Stern said Ambrose has adapted well to big city living and New Jersey and even has a girlfriend from Stanton Island.
"I'm hoping that will help sway his decision to keep him in this area," Stern said. "It's kind of like having our own version of the 'Sopranos.' He has a place here if he wants it."
Stern said Ambrose has also caught the eye of several Arena football league teams.
"He would make a nice fit in the Arena League," Stern said. "I'm not saying the NFL isn't an option for him, but with his size, it might not be. Right now, he is more interested in finishing the season."
Ambrose played his first two years of high school ball with his brother, Josh, at Grant before transferring to Tioga.
Many universities overlooked him as "too small," but he drew some interest, and St. Peter's came into the picture after a scouting service sent the Peacocks a profile of Ambrose.
"It's been my pleasure to have coached him for four years," Stern said. "It's going to be hard to accept when he has finished his stay here -- and we will miss him, not only as a football player but as a person. For that, he has made us better individuals."
The Peacocks are 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the Metro Athletic Conference Football League.
Ambrose still thinks he can get the I-AA record.
"If not this week, I think definitely next week," he says. "but two victories would be better."
Eleven Arkansas sports greats have been selected for the 2003 Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
They include NBA veteran Darrell Walker, Arkansas Traveler GM Bill Valentine, track and field coaches Guy Kochel and Clyde Hart, boxer Sonny Ingram, sportswriter Jim Bailey, veteran official Louie Schaufele, SAU baskeball coach W.T. Watson, former ASU All-American running back Calvin Harrell, coaching legend John Widner, and University of Arkansas three-sport star O'Neal Adams.
The induction ceremony will be at the Statehouse Convention Center on Feb. 28.
The Forrest City Blue Mustangs will host the Wynne Junior Jackets tonight at Sam Smith Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
The White Mustangs will travel to Blytheville.
It is the season-ending games for both teams.
The P-W Junior Patriots will host Salem tonight.
The Hughes Junior Blue Devils defeated Marked Tree 56-22 Tuesday night to finish the season at 8-1 and as co-champions with Marked Tree in the 3AA Conference. The team was coached by Bert Greenwell and closed out the year with six consecutive victories.
The Thrashers 10-13-year-old Forrest City soccer team (Forrest City League) completed an undefeated regular season last week and then won the postseason tournament. The Thrashers were coached by Steve Roberts. Team members are: Tate Roberts Spencer Loeb, Tyler McCluskey, Findley-Scott Laws, Barrett Beshears, Shane Gracey, Stacey Gracey, Kelsey Ferguson, Mandy Utley, Danny Turner, Tracie Turner, Jimmy Turner, Jamie Clark, Grant Smith, Jonathan Utley and Ladarius Hardaway.
by Fred Conley
With two regular season games remaining for area high school football teams, the AAAAA-East and the 3AA Conferences haven't really decided much of anything.
In the East, Jacksonville, Jonesboro, Cabot and West Memphis are jammed into a four-way tie for first place. Each team is 4-1.
The four square off Friday night against each other and the only thing we will know for sure come Saturday morning, is that two will still be tied for first and two will be tied for second.
That will set the stage for next week's final matchups.
More than likely, the four above mentioned teams will move on to postseason play. All that remains to be decided is the order of finish and the seeding into the state tournament.
Searcy, with three conference losses already, is the "bubble team" while Forrest City and Mountain Home with four conference losses each and Blytheville with five league losses, are out of the running for postseason play.
Even if Forrest City were to win out in their final two games, a 3-4 conference mark isn't going to get them past regular season -- as it did in 2000 when the Mustangs ended 3-4 and still made the cut.
Had the Mustangs beaten Jacksonville last Friday, their postseason chances would have looked a little better, but after a very well-played first half, in which the Mustangs shut down Jacksonville offensively, Forrest City lost the first-half focus and gave up two second half touchdowns.
Head Coach Donnie Willis didn't mince his words during a postgame interview.
"I'm very disappointed," Willis said. "We just reverted back to the same old crap that we have done in the past. When you're playing a good team like a Jacksonville, you can't come out and throw interceptions, you can't make mistakes."
Willis said the bottom line against Jacksonville was his Mustangs "just didn't take care of business because Jacksonville was a very winnable game for us."
Even at the half, the Mustangs were still in the game, trailing just 7-0.
The Mustangs were coming a solid, complete game effort the week before in a big win over Blytheville.
"After the win over Blytheville, we let ourselves take too many steps backward instead of building on the victory and moving forward," Willis said.
Forrest City has two games left -- at Mountain Home and at West Memphis.
Look for Willis to make a lot of personnel changes.
"I'm going to go with the younger kids to get them some experience for next year," Willis said.
The Mustangs are favored over Mountain Home, who along with Searcy moved up and into the AAAAA-East Conference this season.
Then it's the annual battle for the Cotton Bale trophy against the Blue Devils at West Memphis, on Nov. 8.
*Meanwhile the Hughes Blue Devils and Marked Tree, the two scoring leaders in the 3AA, are on track for their season-ending showdown next week at Marked Tree.
Hughes has scored 346 points this season while the Indians have scored 329.
Both are unbeaten in the conference.
The winner will carry the No. 1 seed into the playoffs and the loser will go as No. 2. Both teams would host first-round playoff games , entertaining the third and fourth-place teams from the 6AA.
The Palestine-Wheatley Patriots, also on the bubble in the 3AA, still have a shot at the playoffs, but they could need some help.
The Patriots, 4-3 in the league,can get there by winning their final two games or by splitting their final two games and hoping for some help from Earle when the Bulldogs play Salem.
P-W has Walnut Ridge and Salem left to contend with.
Ending at 5-4 could nail down the fourth playoff spot. Finishing 4-5 won't.
* LOCAL SPORTS
MEN'S FALL SOFTBALL
Thursday, October 31
Section 8 Youth vs Gym 2000, 6 p.m.
Barnes Timber vs Miller Insurance, 7 p.m.
Wynne vs Morgan, 8 p.m.
Marion vs Young Guns, 9 p.m.
JUNIOR HIGH FOOTBALL
Thursday, October 31
Salem at Palestine-Wheatley
Wynne at FCity Blue
FCity White at Blytheville
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Friday, October 28
AAAAA-East Conference
Forrest City at Mountain Home
Searcy at Blytheville
Cabot at Jonesboro
West Memphis at Jacksonville
3AA Conference
Marked Tree at Palestine-Wheatley (Sr. Night)
Turrell at Hughes (HC)
Rector at Parkin
Salem at Earle
Walnut Ridge at Cross County
* PREP VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL STATE TOURNAMENTS
Thursday, Oct. 31-Saturday, Nov. 2
Class AAA - Harrison Youth Center
Thursday, October 31
Piggott vs Yellville-Summit, 1 p.m.
Mansfield vs Jonesboro Westside, 1 p.m.
Fountain Lake vs Cathedral School, 3 p.m.
Valley Springs vs Lavaca, 3 p.m.
LR Christian vs Lonoke, 5 p.m.
Class AAAA - Harrison High School
North Pulaski vs Paragould, 12 noon
Malvern vs Greenwood, 12 noon
Wynne vs West Helena, 2 p.m.
Morrilton vs Magnolia, 2 p.m.
Harrison vs Arkadelphia, 4 p.m.
Marion vs LR Mills, 4 p.m.
HS Lakeside vs Siloam Springs, 6 p.m.
Sylvan Hills vs Nettleton, 6 p.m.
Class AAAAA - Cabot High School
Jonesboro vs LR Hall, 12 noon
Sheridan vs Russellville, 12 noon
FS Southside vs Camden-Fairview, 2 p.m.
N. Little Rock vs Jacksonville, 2 p.m.
Conway vs Rogers, 4 p.m.
Cabot vs Lake Hamilton, 4 p.m.
Texarkana vs Mountain Home, 6 p.m.
FS Northside vs Mt. Saint Mary's, 6 p.m.