By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Is it an upset when you beat a team two years in a row?
The Conway Wampus Cats have put forth a good case for being the first week's biggest surprise, whipping Cabot, 37-15, at Estes Stadium.
There's no other way to put it.
"I couldn't believe what I was seeing when I read the score in the paper," said Forrest City Coach Donnie Willis. "That just doesn't happen to Cabot. But you have to remember, it's early and you can bet they (Cabot) will be on track once conference play begins."
Cabot is a member, along with Forrest City, of the AAAAA-East.
Scott Coulter pulled out the return man's hat trick for Conway, returning a kickoff, fumble and an interception for a touchdown.
It was just Cabot's eighth loss in the team's past 67 games.
In other early-week games, El Dorado clipped Fort Smith Southside 14-13, who took the state's No. 1 ranking into the game.
The Wildcats' Cody Smith kncoked away a two-point conversion pass with less than two minutes remaining to spoil the Rebels' comeback attempt from a 14-7 halftime deficit.
Springdale defeated Warren, 41-14 to end the state's longest high school winning streak at 15 games.
That leaves Bentonville, with a five-game winning streak, with the state's longest going into Friday's game with Jefferson City, Mo.
Also, Bryant turned back Shiloh Christian 34-14 and Pulaski Academy whipped Benton 47-31.
The Bruins scored 27 unanswered points behind junior quarterback Adam Thrash, who completed 28 of 42 passes for 370 yards.
The full slate of high school games gets under way Friday across the state.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Junior High football season kicks off tonight.
And both the Blue and the White Mustang teams are ready for opening game day action.
Both head coaches -- Stan Siler and Rich Trail -- have proclaimed their teams ready and fit for action.
The Blue Junior Mustangs will open at Sam Smith tonight at 7 p.m., when they host Marianna.
The White Junior Mustangs will open on the road at Brinkley.
In other area games, the Palestine-Wheatley Junior Patriots will host Earle and the Hughes Junior Blue Devils will play at Walnut Ridge.
"I think out boys have worked especially hard," said Siler, who coaches the White team. "You never know, but I know they are anxious to get on the field and see what they can do. It's been a long four weeks of summer practice and they are ready to see someone else."
Siler has about 60 players on the squad this season.
Siler will go with two quarterbacks -- Alfred Robinson, a freshman, and Travis Holloway.
Siler likes both and adds both players will benefit the team.
Linemen Otha Hall returns this season and will play both ways and Quinton Phillips, who worked hard during the off season should help.
Siler said he will try to show a good blend of the run and pass tonight.
"As always, we know what we want to try to do but we will take whatever the defense gives us," Siler said.
Siler said he thinks his players are ready "from the standpoint that I know it's time for us to play a real ball game. I know the mistakes we will make in the first ball game because I've seen it before. The blocking probably won't be very good, but I hope I'm wrong, the tackling won't be good because we aren't going to wrap up like we should, I can see that coming, but I hope that's wrong also."
The White team begins he season with two road trips, although the two trips are to Brinkley and Wynne next week.
"That's almost as good as being at home," Siler said. "They're short trips."
Trail, who coaches the Blue Mustangs, agrees with Siler when it comes to saying his team is ready to play.
"The last couple of days our practices could have been better, but I think it's just a case where the kids are ready to play a game," Trail said. "I think they're ready.
What Trail is ready to see is the continuing battle between his two quarterbacks -- Stephon Weaver and Marcus Fair.
As of Wednesday, Trail had not yet made a decision who would start.
"I may not make it until game time," Trail said. "Maybe one will start and the other will come in. I've been watching them like a hawk and right now it's a photo finish as to which one gets the starting nod. They are running neck-and-neck. They know each other is there and while it's a friendly competition, it's still a competition. They both want the quarterback job."
Both will play on defense and both will probably be on the field at the same time with Fair at linebacker and Weaver at safety.
Transfer Preston Echols will see action in the backfield, even though he is nursing a bruised thigh.
"He will be on the field," Trail said. "It will be hard to keep him off the field."
Trail says his team appears to be ready, but he knows enough to know their first game effort won't be perfect.
"I'm sure there will be some cases of nerves and probably some minor miscues, but that's okay as long as it is minor," Trail said.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Forrest City Mustangs believe they have a chance for an opening season victory at Wynne Friday night.
Mustang head Coach Donnie Willis thinks Forrest City is beginning to "bridge the gap" that has carried the Yellowjackets to three consecutive wins over the Mustangs.
Forrest City's last victory over Wynne was in 1997.
"Friday night, we have a great opportunity to play with them," Willis said. "A win over the Yellowjackets would certainly give us that shot of confidence which could help propel this team to a very successful season. The kids believe in themselves and a victory Friday would be huge."
Willis and his coaching staff saw the Yellowjackets in last Friday's Arkansas Showcase preseason jamboree at Jonesboro.
What they saw was not the same team they watched win the Class AAAA state title last December at Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium.
The 'Jackets lost to Searcy 10-8.
"Of course, Wynne always does some good things on the field," Willis said, "but I think we have a chance. They're not the same team from a year ago."
That is an understatement.
The Yellowjackets lost their entire backfield and return just four starters from last years high-powered offense that averaged 36 points and more than 300 rushing yards a game that led to an 11-2-1 season and the state title.
The biggest loss was highly-touted halfback DeAngelo Williams, who will do his best to help the University of Memphis Tigers attain success this season and halfback Michael Stegall.
Williams rushed for 2,204 yards and 34 touchdowns last year while Stegall ran for 1,399 yards and 15 TDs.
Two-year starting quarterback Rob Lawson also is gone as is all-state defensive tackle Marquis Dixon and all-state guard Jeremy Hunt.
The Mustangs are coming off a solid preseason scrimmage performance against West Helena and Brinkley in which the Forrest City defense pitched two shutouts.
But there is a world of difference between the Cougars and the Tigers and the Yellowjackets.
West Helena used the pass -- or tried to -- which played into the Mustangs' secondary strength.
"We have some people who can cover a lot of ground on defense," Willis said. "We think our pass defense is strong and we hope, no, we want Wynne to throw the football."
Unfortunately, Wynne is not noted for putting the ball in the air.
In the Jonesboro scrimmage, the Yellowjackets tried the pass a couple of times, but "they didn't look to good when they went to it," Willis said. "They used two quarterbacks -- one who looked a little shaky and the other who moved the offense."
Like the Yellowjackets, Willis said the Mustangs will use two quarterbacks -- senior Austin Easley, the starter and backup Kenyatae Chism.
"Both bring something difference to plate and both are more than capable of moving the offense and putting points on the board," Willis said.
The Mustangs will use a lot of running backs, which Willis said will be "interesting."
"We are trying to narrow the back field down a little, but the fact is we have a half dozen backs who can run the football and more than likely each one will get their chance," Willis added.
Headed into Friday's opener, the Mustangs are healthy, with the exception of starting lineman Terrance Cook, who suffered a slight injury during the West Helena scrimmage.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 at Yellowjacket Stadium.