By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Hughes Blue Devils begin the season with a big "bullseye" attached to their jerseys.
After finishing second in the 10-team, 3AA Conference in 2002 and riding postseason all the way to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs, the Blue Devils are the preseason favorites to win the league this time around.
It is, actually, the second consecutive year that Hughes has been the preseason pick.
The team, guided by sixth year coach James Wright, almost lived up their 2002 expectations. It all came down to the final regular season game between the Blue Devils and the Marked Tree Indians. Both teams entered the game tied for the league lead.
Marked Tree edged Hughes 37-35 in a wild game played at Indian Stadium to win the outright league title (the school's fifth straight) while the Blue Devils settled for second.
Much of Marked Tree's success a year ago can be directly attributed to running back Anquion Williams, who ran for 2,500 yards and scored 30 touchdowns.
However, Williams graduated and is playing for Central Methodist (Mo.) College. Finding a replacement is a major concern for Marked Tree coach Tim Branum.
"I'm not saying we don't have a couple of good running backs," said Branum, who is starting his third season at Marked Tree. "I'm just saying we don't have any proven backs yet."
The Indians also lost all-star linebacker Brandon Gillis, running back Kelsey Snow and quarterback Sugar Ray Jones.
The Indians begin this season riding a 29-game conference win streak.
The Indians also have a college prospect in senior tight end Alan Price (6-4, 230) who has already drawn the interest of Arkansas, Tennessee, Memphis, Arkansas State and Rice.
Branum expects the 3AA Conference to be tougher this season, listing five teams that are much improved.
*As Walnut Ridge ended the 2002 season at 4-6, the Bobcats were looking forward to the 2003 year which appeared bright with the return of two 1,000-yard backs and nine starters from an offense that averaged 45 points per game in four conference victories.
That was then, this is now.
Starting quarterback Brett Shrable transferred to rival Hoxie and tailback Jeb Davis tore his ACL playing American Legion baseball.
Shrable led the team in rushing, passing and scoring. He ran for 1,040 yards and 14 touchdowns while also becoming an all-conference linebacker.
Davis rushed for 1,004 as the starting tailback and was one of the top defensive players in the secondary.
The Bobcats fell short in 3AA conference games against Salem and Palestine-Wheatley before winning their last three games only to miss the playoffs by one victory.
*After being grounded by the competition more often than not over the past two seasons, the Rector Cougars are taking to the air to try to fly by their foes this season.
Third-year coach Wade Williams has installed a spread offense that strongly emphasizes the pass as the Cougars try to rebound from last year's 2-8 campaign. Rector was 4-6 under Williams in 2001.
Traditionally, the Cougars have been a run-oriented team.
"The conference (3AA) we're in is so athletic, we're going to try something a little different," Williams said. "We tried to run the option the last two years, but we just can't get anything done because we're not as fast as those people we play."
Rector will employ a one-back set in it's new air-oriented, four receiver offense
But the Cougars do not plan to completely abandon the running game. Williams said his 4-3 defense will focus on what most of Rector's conference foes do best.
"We're going to try to stop the run first," the coach said. "If people can beat us with the pass, God bless them. Not a lot of people around here, in our conference anyway, throw the ball much."
After finishing near the bottom of the 3AA conference last year, the Cougars were forecasted to fall even further this season, being picked last of 10 teams in a preseason poll of league coaches.
*For more than four years, Cross County was known for having the state's longest losing streak.
Last year, the Thunderbirds broke a 44-game losing streak with a 61-0 thrashing of McCrory in the season opener. Cross County went on to finish 5-5, winning four of its first six games.
The Thunderbirds return 19 starters in 2003, including all but one on offense.
Third-year head coach Steve Williams believes his team is primed to continue its ascent in the 3AA conference where it finished tied for sixth last year.
"I believe they are hungry," Williams said. "They got a little bit of success last year and these seniors, we've got a group of 11, these seniors have been through all of it. They're hungry for the playoffs and hopefully they can step up on Friday nights and get us where we need to be."
Before Williams took over the program in 2000, the Thunderbirds had endured five coaching changes in five seasons during the long losing streak.
Cross County, which operates out of the wishbone, returns every starter on offense except running back Daniel Bennett, who led the team with 1,022 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The offensive line from a year ago remains fully intact.
Several Thunderbirds will simply turn around when the team lines up on defense. Five starters on offense will also start on defense.
Cross County returns nine of 11 starters on defense.
The Thunderbirds, who are up to 31 players this season, have a brand new field house.
"The community has been really supportive of us," Williams said. "I just hope we can pay them back by giving them a football team to be proud of."
*With head coach Bob Grass once again on active duty with the U.S. Marines in Kansas City, defensive coordinator Wayne Guiltner will take the reins of the Salem Greyhounds, who finished 5-5 last year, but did not make the playoffs.
If fast senior tailback Rick Cowart (5-10, 131) can get up to speed with the offense this season, Guiltner's job will become much easier. Cowart, a backup in 2002, ran for 112-yards against Hughes.
Greyhounds, who finished 5-5 last year, but did not make the playoffs.
If fast senior tailback Rick Cowart (5-10, 131) can get up to speed with the offense this season, Guiltner's job will become much easier. Cowart, a backup in 2002, ran for 112-yards against Hughes.
Speed is the cornerstone of the 3AA with teams like Hughes, Marked Tree and Palestine-Wheatley. So Salem will try and counter the speed with an intelligent game plan and a methodical "four-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust" running attack.
Guiltner sees his team's strengths in the offensive line with four returning starters and in the secondary and linebacking units on defense. But an unproven quarterback and overall lack of team speed raise questions about the Greyhounds' success in a conference that is top-heavy with quickness.
*The Turrell Rockets will look to the air for answers.
The Rockets suffered through a winless season in 2002 under head coach Kwame Brown, but they believe they have a way to turn the program around.
Senior Joe Gibson will use his arm and speed to elude defenses at quarterback for the Rockets.
"We are going to throw the football. I like to spread things out and go vertically down the field. We have the speed and we have the quarterback to put points on the board," Brown said.
Gibson spent all last season at wide receiver but will relinquish those duties to Anthony Thomas and John Carson, both speed demons on the outside.
Turrell has fair size on the offensive line with senior 300-plus pound Andrew Moore at center.
The Rockets will be expected to play "Iron Man" football again this season with only 18 players dressing out.
With such a low number, depth becomes crucial.
The Rockets will open play at Gillett Sept. 5, before beginning conference play at home against Parkin.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Not many coaches will say that the entire season rests on the first game of the season.
But Forrest City Coach Donnie Willis will. And he has.
Willis' Mustangs open the 2003 high school season Friday by hosting Wynne in a rivalry that has spanned several decades and spawned many great games.
"Opening against Wynne is the benchmark for our season," Willis said Wednesday. "The kids know that, the fans know that, and the coaches know that. It may be the opener, but we may not play another game this year that is an important as this one. If we can get past this game, I believe it will take us where we want to go the rest of the season. So, yes this is a big game."
It's been a long dry spell for Forrest City in the series against Wynne with the last Mustang victory coming in 1997.
With 25 seniors leading the way in 2003, Willis believes this could be the year for the Mustangs to break through.
The coaching staff has the game-plan drawn up and already know what the Yellowjackets will do.
"They are just Wynne," Willis said. "Why would they change. They've been successful doing what they do. They showed that at the preseason scrimmage they played Friday against Searcy. I knew exactly what their first seven plays were. Nothing fancy."
Forrest City has been preparing for Wynne since the first day of practice. Execution will be the key.
"Our game-plan is solid," Willis said. "This is our second year to run the new offense we put in place a year ago and we have had time to tweak those areas that needed tweaking."
When asked what the offense is called, Willis declined to give away more information than necessary, saying it is just a "basic 'I' formation, with some new wrinkles."
Willis said the new offense affords the team the chance to do many different things.
"This year, we know more about it, the kids know more about it," Willis said.
Another luxury is that the Mustang staff has all 22 starting spots filled, led by junior quarterback Terrance Ware and senior Tae Chism at tailback.
Willis says that is the best combination for the Mustangs, even though early on Chism appeared to be the frontrunner to call the offensive signals.
"Chism has the speed," Willis said. "Senior Demarcus Sinclair will be in the backfield and he is a bruising runner. he doesn't have the break-away speed that Chism has but he can do some powerful things. Andrew Embry and Willie Berry will be used as fullback/blocking backs. At 250 pounds, you can't not use Berry."
Willis says the offensive and defensive units will be manned by all seniors except for Ware and sophomore Kelvin Williams at center this year.
Only three Mustang players will be used both ways this season. There are others who will be "spot players."
It is reminiscent of Wynne's run to the Class AAAA state title two years ago when the Yellowjackets started 22 of their 25 seniors.
Another new wrinkle put in place this season by the Mustang coaching staff involves a "before game day test."
"Each player has a copy of the offensive and defensive game plans," Willis said. "They are required to know it. On the day before each game, they will be tested, just like a classroom test. They don't have to score a perfect mark, but if they don't pass, they won't play. If they don't know what we're doing, they don't need to be on the field."
If there is a worry going into Friday's game, it rests with the kicking game, which is still being refined.
John Scott Carroll has been the place kicker in preseason, handling point after kicks, field goals and punts. Marcus Fair will handle the kickoffs, even though he tends to be erratic at times.
And finally, starting offensive lineman Stephen Henry has been noticeably absence from practice for several days, battling flu-like symtoms.
"He will spot play Friday," Willis said. "But he will be on offense only. Everybody else is good and ready to go. That includes the coaches. We are ready. It's been a great preseason. Everyone has worked hard."
Wynne Coach Don Campbell, beginning his 13th year with the Yellowjackets, admitted his expectations are lower this year than what they have been in the past.
But, it's the past that makes the expectations higher still in Wynne than they would be elsewhere.
Ten season victories is a banner season at most schools. Yet, at Wynne, 10 wins is looked at as just n average season.
Willis would like to have just an average 10-win season.
"We have been 4-6 the past three years," Willis said. "If we are going to surpass that mark and improve on it, this is the year to do it. A victory over Wynne would be just the medicine to cure our ails."
The game will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. at Sam Smith Stadium. Past the opener, the Mustangs spend two weeks on the road playing out their nonconference schedule at Marianna and Osceola before starting AAAAA-East play at home on Sept. 26, against Jonesboro.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Forrest City Junior Mustang coach Rich Trail believes his team is ready for tonight's opener at Marianna.
"They have been out here practicing against each other for several weeks now and I think they are ready to play. I'm pretty sure, anyway. It comes to a point where they want to play a game." Trail said. "I think they are ready. We need to build on what we did at the preseason jamboree at Osceola. We didn't make very many mistakes and we need to keep that going."
Trail said the same people who filled the starting roles at the jamboree will remain in those slots tonight.
"There have been a couple of surprises but pretty much we will use the same kids" Trail said. "They know what to do."
The Mustangs are going into tonight's game blind. "We haven't seen any film and don't know anything about Marianna," Trail said. "It won't take long after kickoff to figure out what we need to know and do."
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.