By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The junior high football season kicks off Thursday night with all four area teams taking the field.
On Friday, it's the high school players' turn.
Both Forrest City Junior Mustang teams -- the Blue and White -- will open the 2002 season.
The Blue team will host Marianna at Sam Smith Stadium at 7 p.m., while the White team will be on the road opening at Brinkley, also at 7 p.m.
The Palestine-Wheatley Junior Patriots, coming off an undefeated season, will open at home when they host Earle and the Hughes Junior Blue Devils will make the trip to Walnut Ridge.
On Friday, it's the Mustangs at Wynne, the Blue Devils at Barton and the Patriots hosting Des Arc.
Forrest City season football tickets -- good for all home games -- are now on sale by the Mustang Athletic Booster Club.
The Forrest City seventh-grade football program is working toward their season opener on Saturday, Sept. 14.
Coach Tommy Wheetley said today the team is still learning the basics but are "working hard.
"Being off three days set us back a little bit, but if can get them on the field and lined up on the 14th, that will be half the battle," Wheetley said.
The seventh-grade will share doubleheaders this season with the eighth-grade Blue and White Mustangs.
* ARKANSAS COLLEGE
Saturday, September 7
Boise St. at Arkansas (Fayetteville), 6 p.m.
UCA at Abilene Christian, 6 p.m.
Northeastern State at Arkansas Tech, 6 p.m.
UAPB at Mississippi Valley St., 6:30 p.m.
Eastern Central at Harding, 7 p.m.
OBU at SE Oklahoma, 7 p.m.
Tulsa at Arkansas State, 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 14
Arkansas St. at Illinois,11 a.m.
C. Oklahoma at Arkansas Tech, 6 p.m.
Langston at UCA 6 p.m.
South Florida at Arkansas (Little Rock), 6 p.m.
S. Arkansas at Texas A&M-Commerce, 6 p.m.
Southern U. at UAPB, 6:30 p.m.
Henderson St. at Stephen F. Austin, 7 p.m.