Two teams that hold their destiny in their own hands will meet Friday night at Panther Stadium when Cabot hosts No. 6 ranked and undefeated Sylvan Hills.
Cabot has some extra incentive going into the game.
Sylvan Hills was the last team to beat the Panthers on their home field in a conference game -- all the way back to 1999, when the Bears emerged with a 10-6 victory.
The Bears went undefeated in conference that year; also marking the last time Cabot didn't own at least a share of the league title.
Sylvan Hills is currently 7-0, and 4-0 in conference play while Cabot is 5-2, 3-1.
A Cabot win would force at least a two-way tie for first place. West Memphis is also 3-1 and plays Mountain Home Friday night.
A Sylvan Hills' win would all but ruin Cabot's chances of at least sharing the conference crown.
"If we lose we fall two games back and you can pretty much count that (a conference title) out," Cabot coach Mike Malham said.
As head coach of the last conference team to win at Cabot, Sylvan Hills' Ron Sebastian is fully aware of how difficult that task is.
"They just don't lose any conference games at home," Sebastian said.
Sylvan Hills returns to the AAAAA-East after a two-year stint in Class AAAA, which saw two second-place finishes in the AAAA-Southeast and the runner-up in the 2002 Class AAAA state title game.
Sebastian's bears have not faced a Dead T offense this year, but he isn't sure it would matter if they had.
"Cabot does things so much better than everybody else who runs that offense," Sebastian said.
While the small Cabot sophomore backs have been successful, Malham does see some disadvantage to having the 130-pound sophomore Alec Tripp in the backfield, as opposed to injured 185-pound Bronson Britt.
"We're not moving the pile right now like we were, but they're getting the job done alright," Malham said. "Sylvan Hills have so many good backs you can't keep up with 'em all. I can count five right now and I know I've left two or three out."
The significance of Friday's matchup was not lost on either coach, but Malham summed it up perfectly.
"It's all right in front us. If the kids want it, it's out there for 'em."
In other league games Friday, Forrest City hosts Jacksonville, Searcy hosts Jonesboro and West Memphis will host Mountain Home.
Calvary Christian School completed their volleyball schedule Tuesday night at Bald Knob.
The Calvary varsity Lady Eagles defeated Covenant Christian three games to one to win the match while the CCS elementary girls defeated Covenant two games to one.
The junior high and varsity Lady Eagles both finished third at the recent district tournament.
Lindsey Poe and Summer Hess were both named to the junior high All-Conference volleyball team while Meredith Borden was named to varsity All-Conference team.
Calvary will open its varsity boys and girls basketball season on Friday, Nov. 12, when they host Pathway Christian School at 6 p.m.
The Forrest City Junior Mustangs will host West Memphis East tonight at Sam Smith Stadium.
It is Homecoming for the Junior Mustangs.
Forrest City is 1-5 for the year and have two games remaining after tonight.
"A win tonight would be a boost for us," said Forrest City Coach Rich Trail. "We haven't had many of those this year so far. The eighth grade won Tuesday, so a win for the ninth grade would be good."