Times-Herald

Patriots looking to escape cellar in conference play

Fred Conley

In Class 3A-3 conference action last week, Corning trailed Walnut Ridge 14-7 at halftime last week before losing 42-7.

Palestine-Wheatley, playing their first Friday night game since a loss to Walnut Ridge on Sept. 24, lost to Manila 42-0 last week.

The Patriots will host Corning Friday night at Patriot Field. The winner escapes the 3A-3 cellar.

The Patriots are 0-6 for the season and have not scored a single point so far this season.

Corning senior running back Rhett Eddington led the Bobcats offense with 55 yards on 22 carries. Junior linebacker Jackson Davis paced the defense with five tackles.

Corning finished the 2020 season at 6-5 overall. The six wins were the most for a Bobcat team in the past seven seasons.

The Patriots, plagued by injuries to key players early on and overall low numbers, are just trying to finish out the year.

The Patriots, past this week, will play at Piggott on Oct. 29 and cap the season by hosting Harrisburg on Nov. 4

Harrisburg needs to win out to secure the fourth seed from the 3A-3 after losing last week to Osceola 53-0.

Harrisburg holds a 10-4 alltime mark against Piggott, who fell to 0-7 after losing to Hoxie 46-0.

Piggott could still reach the postseason by winning its final three games, but that road could be tough for Piggott coach Don Simmons, whose team is still battling covid, and key starters who have not played this season.

This week, Osceola plays at Walnut Ridge. The Seminoles are Osceola is unbeaten so far in conference after routing Harrisburg 53-0 last week. Osceola plays Hoxie in two weeks.

Walnut Ridge's Walker Ward led the team past Corning in a 42-7 win.

For Hoxie, last week’s 46-0 win over Piggott and a victory this week will set up a Week 9 showdown with Osceola for the 3-3A title.

Manila, picked to finish last in the 3-3A by conference coaches, can earn a shot at the crown with a win.

•••••

The 5A-East conference playoff race is coming into focus and Brookland needs a victory Friday night to stay in the picture.

At 1-3 in the conference, the Bearcats are tied with Greene County Tech and Forrest City for fifth place. They will host fourth-place Batesville this week.

Brookland’s last two games are against Paragould, the league’s last-place team, and Forrest City. The top four teams in the 5A-East will advance to the state playoffs.

A last-minute touchdown gave Brookland (3-4 overall) a 17-14 victory over Greene County Tech earlier this month. The Bearcats are coming off a 28-0 loss at Valley View, where they trailed 21-0 in the first quarter after running their offense into a fierce wind.

Munoz said Brookland’s plans to throw the ball were taken away early in the game by conditions that led to an eightyard punt.

The Bearcats, who will be Forrest City's last opponent of this season, will be facing the Mustangs for the first time after making the move from Class 4A up to Class 5A last year.

Last season's Forrest City/Brookland game was cancelled due to covid issues.

Before the Mustangs get to Brookland for the season finale, they will host Nettleton this week and Wynne on Oct. 29. Nettleton and Wynne are both unbeaten in the 5A-East Conference.

Both Brookland and Batesville (2-5, 2-2 conference) have faced challenging schedules. The Bearcats’ four losses are to teams with a combined 23-4 record, while the Pioneers’ five losses are to teams that are a combined 26-9.

Batesville owns conference victories over Paragould (37-0) and Forrest City (39-12). The Pioneers suffered a 31-0 home loss last week to Wynne.

Forrest City went to Paragould Friday and was able to bring back a 20-14 double overtime win over the Rams.

In that game, the Mustangs opened a 6-0 lead early before the Rams came through with a scoop and score fumble off a bad Forrest City snap from center to tie the game at 6-6, which stood for the remainder of the game, ultimatley focing overtime.

The Mustangs regained the lead at 14-6 with a touchdown by sophomore Courtney Austin and a two point conversion.

Paragould tied the game at 14-14 using a two-yard run and the two point play.

Forrest City put up the game winning points scoring on a quarterback keeper from the Paragould two yard line.

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2021-10-20T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-20T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thnews.pressreader.com/article/281651078304613

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