By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Sam Smith Stadium has been a very quiet place the past two weeks.
With both the Junior Mustangs and the Mustangs playing road trips the past two weeks, the stadium has been sitting in the dark.
That changes Thursday night.
The Junior Mustangs will host Blytheville in the season-ending football game for both teams and then on Friday, Halloween, the Mustangs will host Mountain Home for a "fright night" game.
Both games have huge implications.
The Junior Mustangs 4-2-1 overall and 4-1 in the AAAAA-East Conference, can win the league championship with a win over the Junior Chicks.
Even though the ball and the title is theirs for the taking, the Junior Mustangs will need a little outside help. Jonesboro Annie Camp will have to defeat Jonesboro MacArthur.
MacArthur is also 4-1 in the league. A MacArthur loss and a Forrest City win gives the Junior Mustangs the outright title.
Forrest City defeated Blytheville two weeks ago in a nonconference matchup.
Friday's game against Mountain Home is a very important matchup for the Mustangs.
With back-to-back conference wins under their belts, the Mustangs find themselves right back in the hunt for a playoff berth.
The Mustangs defeated Mountain Home 24-12 a year ago in the first-ever conference meeting between the two teams.
Forrest City must win out to get there. That means defeating Mountain Home Friday and then taking care of business against West Memphis in the final game, set for Thursday, Nov. 6, at Sam Smith.
The last win over a West Memphis team came in 1997 at Sam Smith.
Should the Mustangs make the postseason cut, it would their first playoff trip since the 2000 season when made the playoffs and lost to Little Rock Central in the first round at Quigley Stadium at Little Rock.
Besides the 2000 trip, Forrest City reached the Class AAAAA state playoffs in 1997. Forrest City made several postseason appearances during the 1980s and 1970s when the school was classified AAAA.
History may repeat itself for the Mustangs. A fourth place finish would send the Mustangs right back to Quigley on Nov. 14, for a first-round meeting against top-ranked Central.
A third-place finish would more than likely send the Mustangs to either Fort Smith Southside or Fayetteville for a first-round playoff game.
In other area games Friday, Hughes will play at Turrell and Palestine-Wheatley will be at Marked Tree.
Both the Blue Devils and Patriots have already clinched a postseason berth in the Class AA state playoffs.
The 2003 prep football season hasn't even reached playoff stage yet but fans already know how the 2004 season willbegin.
The inaugural Diamond Bank Bowl, a doubleheader football showcase featuring two of the biggest rivalries in central Arkansas, will kick off the 2004 high school season Tuesday, Aug. 31, at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
The Bowl features four great schools, four great programs and two good rivalries.
Benton will play Bryant at 4:30 p.m., and Conway will meet Cabot at 8 p.m.
The Diamond Bank Bowl is a spinoff from the Conway Classic, which has been held the past two seasons with Conway, Cabot, El Dorado and Fort Smith Southside taking part.
Bolding and Cabot Athletic Director Johnny White began discussing the possibility of opening the season in a special game at War Memorial.
When Bolding and White found out Benton and Bryant also planned to open in War Memorial, the Diamond Bank Bowl was born.
Tickets are $7, good for both games.
A "5-on-5" Basketball Tournament, will be played Saturday, Nov. 1, at Mustang Arena from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.
The single elimination, full court tournament will benefit Lincoln Middle School.
All teams entering the tournament must be sponsored by or represent a business or organization and there is a 10-player limit per team.
The first place award is a four-foot trophy while the second place award is a three-foot trophy. A tournament MVP will be named as well.
Drawings and door prizes will be given away and competitions will include a three-point shootout and a half court shot.
Admission to the tournament is $3 for adults and $2 for children. All players must pay.
Each game will consist of two 30-minute halves.
For more information or to enter a team, contact Kris Renigar at Lincoln Middle School 633-0310 or Amie Rhoden at 633-0021.