They are storylines that neither the Searcy Lions nor the Forrest City Mustangs wanted for tonight's AAAAA-East Conference game at Searcy
Straight off their second consecutive loss, Searcy has to go without its starting quarterback and face a team that features three linemen who tip the scale at more than 300 pounds -- Stephen Henry (6-4, 332), Maurice Lay (6-1, 350) and Clarence Wyatt (5-11, 308).
The Lions (1-2-1, 0-1 AAAAA-East Conference) should not expect an easy Homecoming game against Forrest City (2-2, 0-1) team at Lion Stadium.
The Mustangs fell to Jonesboro 14-7 last week in a game that involved several controversial calls, including having two touchdowns called back. Forrest City coach Donnie Willis was reprimanded and placed on probation for the rest of the season by the Arkansas Activities Association for publicly criticizing officials afterward the game.
"They should have beaten Jonesboro," Searcy head coach Danny Mallett said of the Mustangs. 'They're as disciplined on offense as we've seen a team all year."
The Lions gave up 381 rushing yards against Cabot. The Mustangs are ranked second in the AAAAA-East in defense. The Lions have a very quick defensive line which could give Forrest City's much bigger offensive line some problems.
There is another problem for Forrest City -- senior tailback Demarcus Sinclair is sidelined with a separated shoulder and on doctor's advice will sit out tonight.
The big Mustang linemen will not have a shot at Searcy junior quarterback Chris Bryant, who suffered a shoulder injury at Cabot..Junior Blake Robertson will start at quarterback for the Lions.
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Forrest City 2-2 (0-1 AAAAA-East); Searcy 1-2-1 (0-1 AAAAA-East)
The two teams are meeting for only the second time since 1975. A year ago, Searcy defeated the Mustangs 23-14 using 190 rushing yards from former tailback Earl Young. Young is graduated and the Lions have struggled to a 1-2-1 start. Forrest City is second in the league in defense, allowing just 11 points per game but stand at 2-2 overall.
Keys for a Forrest City victory: Containment on Weston Dacus and holding their own against Searcy's ultra-quick defensive line.
Keys for a Searcy victory: A big game by Dacus and using their quickness to nullify Forrest City's bigger and much more powerful offensive line. Kick off is 7:30 p.m.
The Palestine-Wheatley Patriots are coming off a huge 69-0 win over Rector.
The one-game total of 69 points is one point more than the Patriots scored total in their first four games.
Next up for the Patriots is Walnut Ridge tonight, on the road.
Walnut Ridge may not be a conference contender, but the Bobcats are much better than Rector.
"Walnut Ridge is much bigger but they don't have the speed to go along with that size," said Patriot Coach Terry Farmer. "What they do is give us different looks and they keep us guessing. Their coaching staff is very good at that."
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Palestine-Wheatley 3-1 (2-1 3AA Conference)
Walnut Ridge 1-3 (1-2 3AA Conference)
This a very important game for Palestine-Wheatley despite the difference in the two team's season records. The Patriots lipped up against Cross County. They have Hughes next week. There is no room for looking ahead.
Keys for a Palestine-Wheatley victory: Holding on to the football and being able to incorporate their passing game into the scheme.
Keys for a Walnut Ridge victory: The team's size and how they use it to offset Palestine-Wheatley.
Salem scored 30 points last week in a win over Turrell. Hughes scored 33 in their win over Cross County. Salem may contend for a playoff spot, but probably lacks the overall talent to take down this Hughes team.
While the 2003 Blue Devils are not quite as strong or talented as last year's squad, they are playing good football and they believe they can win each time step onto the football field. Hughes is hard to stop and not many teams have accomplished that.
The Blue Devils, who are heavily favored to win the game, are second in the 3AA in points scored with 136. Salem is in a five-way tie for second in the league standings.
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Hughes 3-1 (3-0 3AA Conference)
Salem 2-2 (2-1 3AA Conference)
Hughes only beat Salem by 10 points a year ago -- 24-14 on the road. Salem finished the year at 5-5 while Hughes went deep into the Class AA Playoffs. Neither team has an abundance of seniors. P-W has three and Salem has only four.
Keys for a Hughes victory: Defensive pressure on the Salem backs and especially on Salem's unproven quarterback.
Keys for a Salem victory: Overcoming a lack of scoring points which hurt the team against last year's top four.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
FORREST CITY -- The Annie Camp Whirlwinds stopped an early Forrest City scoring threat at their own one-yard-line and then drove 99 yards for what proved to be the winning score in a 7-6 victory Thursday night in junior high football.
Annie Camp (5-0, 2-0 AAAAA-East) scored its only touchdown on Bryce Bennett's seven-yard pass to Grant Davidson. Josh Lopp's point-after kick made it 7-0.
Before the winning drive, a bad punt snap gave Forrest City possession on Annie Camp's four-yard line, but the Whirlwinds held the Mustangs on downs at the 1.
"That was big," said Forrest City Coach Rich Trail. "We played well and we did all of the things we needed to do to win the game. But I give them credit, they have an outstanding defense."
From the four, Michael Holland, who scored the Junior Mustangs' only touchdown, ran three times to the left before Antonio Robinson was stacked up at the one on Forrest City's fourth and goal try.
Holland's touchdown for Forrest City (2-2-1, 2-1) came late in the third quarter, but the two-point conversion attempt by John Washington failed, setting the final score.
Annie Camp later sealed the outcome by intercepting Forrest City quarterback Wilson Parker on a first-and-30 from midfield at the Annie Camp 15 to stop the Mustangs final drive with two minutes left in the game.
The Whirlwinds then ran out the clock.
Cody Powell ran for 122 of Annie Camp's 141 yards of total offense, on 18 attempts.
The Whirlwinds' defense, led by Logan Grant and Tren Gibbs, held the Mustangs to just 114 total yards.
The Junior Mustangs play at West Memphis Wonder next Thursday.
Hughes 36, Palestine-Wheatley 8
The Hughes Junior Blue Devils stayed unbeaten Thursday with a 36-8 win over Palestine-Wheatley's Junior Patriots.
The Junior Blue Devils aided their effort by returning two PWJH fumbles for touchdowns.
Blake Simmons scored P-W's only touchdown and added the two-point play while running for more than 100 yards in the game. Ricky Thorn added 75 rushing yards while Raphael Williams led P-W in tackles.
Hughes will host Parkin next week while P-W will host Turrell for Homecoming.
MacArthur 21, WM Wonder 0
MacArthur improved to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in AAAAA-East conference play with a 21-0 blowout of West Memphis Wonder Thursday night at Cooksey-Johns Field.
Marcus Evans started off the scoring with 6:30 to play in the opening quarter. Evans broke free for a 55-yard touchdown run. Kicker Jacob Lee kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
Then, with 4:30 left in the first half, running back Martin Greenwood ran for a 25-yard touchdown. Lee's kick was good for a 14-0 halftime lead. Greenwood led all rushers with 81 yards on 12 carries.
In the third quarter, Jerico Wright got in on the action with a 40-yard TD run.
MacArthur out rushed Wonder 185-87.
Marked Tree 38, Rector 0
Marked Tree's Brian Coleman rushed six times for 171 yards and two touchdowns as the Indians crushed Rector 38-0 in junior high football Thursday.
Marked Tree (5-0) scored three touchdowns in the first quarter and two more in the second before the mercy rule went into effect.
The Indians led 22-0 after the first eight minutes.
Coleman later added a 55-yard
Walnut Ridge 30, Salem 0
Salem trailed by only 14 points going into the fourth quarter Thursday but Walnut Ridge added 16 fourth-quarter points to blow away the Greyhounds.
Walnut Ridge's Ryan Weir and Logan Morse both scored in the fourth quarter for their second touchdowns of the game. The Bobcats improve to 3-1 for the year.
Morse led all rushers with 11 carries for 127 yards. Weir ran 12 times for 105 yards.
Salem was led by Chris Bryant, who ran for 70 yards on 13 carries.
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Cross County 32, Parkin 22
At Parkin, Michael Cook scored three touchdowns as Cross County beat Parkin 32-22 Thursday.
Cook scored on runs of 11 and 34 yards and caught a 45-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Craig Walker scored Cross County's other touchdown on a 7-yard run.
Cross County improves to 3-2 overall and 3-2 in the 3AA Conference.
The fourth annual Forrest City Athletic Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremonies will be held Friday, Oct. 10, at the Forrest City Civic Center.
Tickets are $10 per person and are on sale by calling Bill Baxter at 633-0780. The banquet begins at 5 p.m.
The 2003 Hall of Fame Class includes Lincoln High School athletes Roy Weatherall, Melvin McAllister and Archie Colerman, and Forrest City High School athletes Jim Williams, Billy Trail and Max Graham (prior to 1970) and Richard Kimble, Richard Benson and Frederick Freeman after 1970.
Benson, who will broadcast his 300th consecutive Mustang football game tonight at Searcy, is being inducted as a broadcast journalist. Coleman and Graham are deceased and will be honored posthumously.
Forrest City will host Cabot in the Hall of Fame football game.
Maggie Howard finished first, Sara Dickey was second and Bethany Doler was third in the 12-15-year-old girls' division at the Junior Golf Championships played recently at Forrest City's Ridgecrest Club. The championships signaled the end of the summer junior golf program which had 39 participants this year. The championships included a "Big'un and Little'un" tournament.