Not only did the Hughes Blue Devils defeat Barton last Friday, they did it by the exact same score as they did in 1998 when Hughes knocked off Class AA's most prolific winner. The only difference was the 1998 win over Barton came in regulation -- at Blue Devil Stadium while last week's win came in overtime on the Bears' home field.
The win puts the Blue Devils right back in the thick of the 6AA Conference playoff race and into a second-place tie in the league standings with Harding Academy.
If the Blue Devils can stay on track for two more games, the regular-conference ending game, against the Palestine-Wheatley Patriots could be huge.
Everyone in the league is chasing Palestine-Wheatley, who have yet to lose a conference game.
But not to overlook tonight's key conference matchup against the Des Arc Eagles, 3-3 overall and 3-2 in the conference.
It is the first meeting between the two teams since the 2002 season, when Hughes used Des Arc as a first-round springboard into the second phase of the Class AA state playoffs.
The Blue Devils eliminated the Eagles 26-15 at Blue Devil Stadium.
A year ago, the Eagles were unable to score from inside the so-called "Red Zone" or 20-yard line on 18 trips.
That failure to score led to a disappointing 2-7 season for Des Arc.
The Blue Devils have advanced as far as the Class AA quarterfinals each of the past two seasons and are looking for yet another postseason shot. Winning two of their next three would definitely have the Blue Devils playing past Nov. 5.
Hughes has the edge in team speed but the Eagles may have the edge in experience at the skilled positions.
The Palestine-Wheatley Patriots continue to lead the state in two categories -- total offensive yards and most points scored.
Last Friday's win over Des Arc saw the Patriots put up more than 600 yards of total offense and move past the 300-point barrier in scoring.
Still standing at No. 3 in the Class AA polls, the Patriots did receive a first-place vote in the state-wide balloting. What the Patriots really want is to be in Little Rock at War Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 6:30 p.m.
That's the date and time for the Class AA state championship game.
The Patriots are six games removed from achieving that goal.
Tonight's home game against Clarendon should be classified as "easy win" and it may well be, but there is always the possibility that it won't be.
While the Lions may not have the athletes to match up one on one against Palestine-Wheatley, Clarendon has shown the ability to put together a solid passing game when needed. Big passing plays have been a sore spot for the Patriots' in the past.
Clarendon will operate with quarterback Jacob Ellis calling the signals to junior fullback William Norris and receiver Ryan Hampton.
A lack of size and experience will make for a long game for the Clarendon defense who are faced with the daunting task of stopping Palestine-Wheatley backs Antonio Leak, who is running through defenders, Fred Leak, a threat anywhere he lines up, Brad Barton, who has proven difficult to bring down and Rashun Barnes.
All of the Patriots backfield are capable of running for 100-plus yards usually before their chances reach double digits.
This one could be lop-sided win for the Patriots as they head into an open date next week.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Forrest City got touchdowns from six different players Thursday and the Junior Mustangs posted their first shutout win of the season, a 38-0 homecoming victory over West Memphis East at Sam Smith Stadium.
The Junior Mustangs improve to 2-5 for the year.
Leonard Banks put the Junior Mustangs on the board in the first quarter on a 15-yard touchdown run and Xavier Jones added the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
Banks' score was set up when Xavier McGrone blocked a WMEast punt and recovered the effort at the WM 15.
Chris Tripp made it a 14-0 FC lead with 5:20 left in the second quarter scoring on a 14-yard run and Jeffrey Vaughn's 2-yard run with 1:15 left in the first half put the Junior Mustangs up 22-0 at the half after Mario Sims tacked on the conversion run.
Forrest City held the ball for the first six minutes of the third quarter but couldn't score. Barrett Beshears downed Forrest City's fourth down punt at the WMEast 1 and Dexter Adams did the rest sacking the WMEast quarterback in the endzone for a safety and a 24-0 lead.
McGrone fielded the WMEast free kick on the run, broke two tackles and scored from 51-yards out. Tripp tacked on the two-point conversion for a 32-0 lead as the Junior Mustangs put 10 points on the board in two plays covering 27 seconds.
Sims' interception and 90-yard return for a touchdown with 3:25 to play in the game produced the final score.
Forrest City will travel to West Memphis Wonder next week.
Annie Camp 26, W.M. Wonder 0
Annie Camp blanked West Memphis Wonder 26-0 Thursday night in AAAAA-East junior high football behind 291 yards of total offense.
Annie Camp quarterback Josh Calamese completed 5-of-8 passes for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Taylor Pruitt caught 2 passes for 56 yards and a touchdown and Jeremy Scales rushed for 60 yards on 5 carries and a touchdown.
Annie Camp improves to 6-1-1 overall and 3-1 in the AAAAA-East.
W.M. West 26, MacArthur 14
Three early rushing touchdowns propelled West Memphis West past MacArthur 26-14 Thursday night at Cooksey-Johns Field.
Cross County 30, Walnut Ridge 6
Craig Walker rushed for 104 yards and 3 touchdowns as Cross County ran past Walnut Ridge 30-6 Thursday in junior high football.
Palestine-Wheatley 7, Marvell 0 (forfeit)
Marvell forfeited to the Palestine-Wheatley Junior Patriots Thursday.
The Junior Patriots finish the year at 4-4 overall and 3-1 in the conference, good enough for second place behind Barton.
There was no score available for the Augusta-Hughes game.
By RAY BENTON
Special to the Times-Herald
Yes, Jacksonville and Forrest City still have just a glimmer of postseason hopes left.
Whoever wins tonight's AAAAA-East Conference game will move a little closer to playing on past regular season.
Granted, the odds appear to be a little better for Jacksonville, 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the league, than they do for Forrest City, 2-5 overall and 1-3, but strange things have happened over the past two weeks.
Forrest City has a little easier conference road left after tonight than do the Red Devils.
The Mustangs have Mountain Home and West Memphis while Jacksonville has West Memphis and Cabot remaining.
Mustang Head Coach Donnie Willis understands how important tonight's home game is.
"We lose this one and it's over," Willis said plainly. "We win and we still have a shot, an outside shot but it's still a shot. We have to come away with a win here or we can forget making the playoffs."
Both teams are feeling the pressure of notching a win tonight.
With 31 seniors, Jacksonville appears to have an advantage over the younger Mustangs, but longtime Jacksonville coach Johnny Watson doesn't see it that way.
"This late in the season I don't think that's an advantage," Watson said. "After seven games your young guys aren't young anymore. They've been in there and they know what it's all about and they know what it takes."
Jacksonville's offense has been the least productive in the league since conference play began, but two late touchdown drives last week could provide a springboard for the Red Devils to finally get the offense rolling downhill.
Through four conference games the Red Devils have totalled just 38 points -- just a little better than nine points per game.
Forrest City has scored a total of 48 points in four league games. West Memphis leads the conference with 102 points in four conference games while Cabot is second with 82 points.
"We hope to finally get our offense rolling," Watson said. "We had two long drives late against Watson Chapel we thought we could build off of, but then it didn't carry over into the next game. So I don't know what to think about that.?"
Both the Mustangs and Red Devils have made a habit of stopping themselves on drives that were going well.
Jacksonville has been on the down side of the turnover ratio in every game this year. They Red Devils committed four turnovers in the first half against Searcy, but went the entire second half without a giveaway, the first time this season.
Forrest City has also made a habit of making crucial mistakes at crucial moments in the game. Last week against No. 6 ranked Sylvan Hills, the Mustangs almost pulled off the upset of the year before falling 6-0 in overtime to the undefeated Bears. The upset could have become a reality had Forrest City finished the big plays.
"We had three sure touchdown passes that were overthrown," Willis said. "That's sort of been the way it's gone all season long. We're doing everything right except finishing. We've got to finish those plays."
While Sylvan Hills has the No. 1 ranked defense in the conference this year, Willis believes Jacksonville has the most imposing defense his team will see in the East."
"They've got some huge guys up there on the line," Willis said. "The scary thing is they're just about as big at linebacker. Sylvan Hills was extremely fast and they had a swarming defense. Jacksonville is that good but different. Jacksonville isn't fast, just big and strong."
That lack of speed concerns Watson.
"Teams who are a lot faster and quicker than us are the teams that have given us the most trouble," Watson said. "Forrest City falls into the mold. We're going to have to be ready and play smart, stay in our lanes and not make mistakes. They can make some big plays with those athletes if you get caught out of position."
Willis also believes his offense is on the brink of getting rolling.
"I do think that we're the type of offense that could just explode at any moment," Willis said. "I know I've got some good players. We've got some great athletes at the skill positions; it's just a matter of getting in sync and getting things working smoothly. I think Jacksonville is right there as well. I just hope it's us that gets it going this week and not them."
Tonight is Senior Night. The senior Mustang players, cheerleaders and band members will be honored before the kickoff.