Last Friday the Forrest City Mustangs increased their consecutive win streak over Marianna to four games.
Tonight, the Mustangs will be trying to extend their win streak over Osceola to three games.
Last year, the Mustangs shut out the Seminoles 18-0 and the year before, was awarded a forfeit win over Osceola.
The 46-0 shut out win over Marianna on Friday may be a little misleading.
Forrest City really didn't kick in until the second half.
"We sputtered around offensively in the first half," said Mustang Coach Donnie Willis, even though the Mustangs led 21-0 at the half.
A 25-point second half performance was much more pleasing to Willis and his coaching staff after making some adjustments.
Defensively, the Mustangs played very well, holding Marianna to 46 total yards of offense -- all in the second half.
Andrew Embry surfaced to score four rushing touchdowns while his younger brother, Cory, scored once.
Osceola is led this season by tailback Chris james who ran for 182 yards and scored three times in a 35-27 loss to West Memphis last Friday.
"Osceola is big but they probably don't have the speed in the secondary to match up with us," Willis said.
Almost every Forrest City Mustang played against Marianna. The staff would like a repeat.
Game time is 7:30 p.m.
Tonight's 3AA Conference matchup between Hughes and Rector could go exactly the same way last year's game went.
A year ago, the Blue Devils ran all over the Wildcats on their way to a second-place conference finish.
Hughes is just as good this time around while unfortunately, Rector is, still Rector.
Picked to finish dead last in the 10-team, 3AA, the Wildcats do have some experience in the back field with five starters back, led by senior running back Aaron Parsley but beyond that Rector is not very big and there is a decided lack of depth.
The Blue Devils, along with Palestine-Wheatley, are the two teams to beat in the 3AA. Rector is just another step toward an Oct. 10 showdown at P-W.
Against Walnut Ridge, Hughes senior tailback Andre Walker ran for three touchdowns and Johnny Payton equalled that feat, scoring three times as well.
Ayodele Ogunsakin, a cousin of Walker's is another backfield threat for the Blue Devils, as is Alex Chamness, who -- pound-for-pound -- is the strongest Blue Devil and provides excellent run-blocking abilities for the Hughes stable of running backs.
Senior tackles Wayne Bartosh, Drew Latham and Jacob Young anchor a very talented defensive unit which is one of the hardest-hitting groups in the conference.
Kick off is set for 7:30 p.m.
Palestine won their conference opener over Earle last Friday and remain the only unbeaten team in the 3AA Conference.
A win over Cross County tonight gives the Patriots their first 3-0 season start since 1997.
The Patriots have jumped into the league's driver's seat and have done so with just three seniors and a very talented cast of sophomores and juniors.
Along the Patriot offensive line, there are three sophomores and three juniors -- including quarterback Fred leak, who is coming more and more into his own with each game.
Leak threw two touchdown passes against Earle and ran for another.
"He is still learning the offensive system," P-W Coach Terry Farmer said. "When he gets the full grasp, he will be a real force."
Another real force is tailback Brad Barton, who caught two of Leak's passes and behind Hughes' Andre Walker, is the best back in the 3AA.
Earle was quick and gave P-W a little trouble early. Cross County may not be quite as quick but they are big and running back Rolandas Hill chewed up 250 yards and scored five times. This will be a test for the swarming Patriot defense led by Antonio Leak, Elisha Duncan, Chris Jones, Dustin and Douglas Taylor, Daniel Haynes, Jonathan Wheeler and Rashun Barnes. Antonio Leak and Jones are averaging 10 solo tackles per game.
This will be a good one. Kick off is 7:30 p.m.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Junior High ninth grade Mustangs pulled out their first win, Thursday with a 22-7 victory over Jonesboro MacArthur.
According to Forrest City Junior High School Head Coach Rich Trail, the Mustangs took a 14-0 lead into the locker room at half-time. Rylan Nimocks opened the scoring when he took a pass to the endzone from Stephon Weaver.
The team scored it's second touchdown on the first of Michael Holland's two touchdown runs. After missing on their first two-point conversion attempt, John Washington scored to give them the two touchdown lead at the half. According to Trail, the Mustangs lead would have been larger if not for a penalty.
"We had another opportunity to score after we ran a punt back for a touchdown, but it was called back due to a clipping penalty," said Trail.
In the second half, Holland scored his second touchdown of the game which was followed up by a William Mitchell two point conversion. Dion Davenport chipped in on the defensive side of the ball with an interception.
The Junior High Mustangs will put their 1-1-1 record on the line next Thursday when West Memphis West comes to Sam Smith Stadium.
Earlier this week, the eighth grade Mustangs fell 24-16 to Wynne at Sam Smith Stadium. The Mustangs fought back from an 18-0 half-time deficit, but couldn't pull the victory out against the Yellowjackets.
Cameron Norris put Forrest City on the scoreboard in the third quarter with a touchdown run followed up by a two point conversion by Rico Troupe to pull the Mustangs within 10. Xavier Jones' 10 yard touchdown scamper got the Mustangs as close as 18-16, after a Josh Johnson two point conversion, but that was as close as they would get.
"This game really showed me a lot about these kids. You hate to get down 18-0, but it says a lot about the kids that they came out in the second half and got right back in this," Trail said.