Friday's AAAAA-East matchups should help clear up the conference's playoff picture.
Bring into sharper focus, if you will.
Going into Friday night, the conference is a mess with Sylvan Hills, Cabot and West Memphis living in a three-way tie for first place.
None of the three face each other, but the matchups are intriguing.
Cabot goes to Jonesboro, West Memphis travels to Jacksonville and Sylvan Hills hosts Searcy.
Jacksonville is hanging on to fourth place and needs to win out to get into postseason play.
The remaining conference game Friday has Forrest City at Mountain Home which will be of little consequence since both teams are out of the postseason picture and are playing purely for pride and bragging rights.
Last week, Cabot handed Sylvan Hills its first loss of the year while Searcy picked up its first win of the season by defeating Jonesboro. West Memphis had their way against Mountain Home and a game Jacksonville team stopped a Forrest City two-point conversion attempt to hold off the Mustangs 16-14 to put themselves back into the postseason contention.
If Jonesboro somehow pulls the home upset over Cabot, it would have a huge impact on the final conference standings.
After a fast start, Jonesboro has lost three of its last four and is on the postseason bubble. The Hurricane finishes next week against Sylvan Hills.
Any speculation as to Jonesboro's playoff hopes will be moot with a Cabot win.
Cabot has picked up steam after their loss to West Memphis.
Jacksonville, with 30-plus seniors on roster and West Memphis, may be the two most talented teams in the conference.
Earle on, West Memphis wasn't living up to that billing, but has turned it on the past month.
Jacksonville has been a model of inconsistency on offense this year, but seems to have found something by giving sophomore running back Justin Akins (who transferred to Jacksonville from Augusta) a few more carries. Both Akins and the starter Terrod Hatcher have game-breaking speed, but Hatcher is used more between the tackles. Akins ran for more than 100 yards in the win over Forrest City leaving the Mustang defenders looking as if they were running in mud.
Both teams have big lines so the game inside the trenches could be interesting as well.
A Jacksonville win would all but assure them of a spot in the playoffs. A West Memphis could help close the door considering the Red Devils have to end against Cabot.
Sylvan Hills lost their first game of the year last week and are looking to bounce back with a win. Searcy, again this week, wants to be the spoiler.
The Bears can't overlook a scrappy team like Searcy if they
want to keep their share of the conference crown.
The Forrest City Junior Mustangs will return to action tonight when they travel to West Memphis Wonder in AAAAA-East Conference play.
The Junior Mustangs will close out the regular season on Tuesday, Nov. 2, when they host Jonesboro Annie Camp.
Game time is 7 p.m.
Hughes and Palestine-Wheatley have completed their seasons.