By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Unseasonably cool weather greeted the Forrest City Mustangs Wednesday evening as the team continued summer drills.
Actually, according to one coach, it felt more like early Fall, as a mist fell for mos of the practice session and northerly winds enticed some to don wind light breakers.
With in-service in session for teachers and other staff, the Mustangs will continue to work in the afternoons as they prepare for the Sept. 3 season opener.
The Mustangs spent Wednesday working through their offensive and defensive schemes as the coaching staff continues to fill holes along each line.
*At Palestine-Wheatley the patriots are looking sharper as the team went through some basic hand-off drills.
The Patriots are favored in the 6AA Conference this season.
*The Cabot Panthers are developing a few injuries as practice continues. Almost all of those revolve around the interior, especially the defensive line.
"We're thin," Cabot coach Mike Malham said. "On the defensive line we're getting thinner by the day it seems like. Right now I don't know what we're going to do. We're going to need some people to step up that's for sure."
Malham's Panthers are favored in the AAAAA-East.
Also Wednesday, Cabot running backs went through agility and balance drills, learning to stay low while the offensive line worked on drive blocking for much of the practive.
The East Arkansas Youth Football Association will play a six-team jamboree at Palestine-Wheatley on Saturday, Aug. 21.
The league, for youths ages eight through 12, has expended to six teams this season.
The Forrest City Ponys, Razorbacks and Titans and the Caldwell-based Gators will be joined by the Earle Bears and the Marianna Raiders this season.
The league will play its schedule of games on Saturdays at Palestine-Wheatley's Patriot Stadium this year rather than at the Forrest City Sports Complex. The regular season will kick off on Saturday, Sept. 4, with three games each Saturday.
League organizers are not sure if an admission will be charged at the gate for Saturday games, but did say that all donations to help support the league will be accepted and appreciated.
The league receives no financial support from the city and relies on donations from individuals and business.
League organizers also trying to set up a series of halftime scrimmages which will be played during the Palestine-Wheatley home football games this season.