Resident News Network

Eagles Return to the Road on Friday to Play Crucial Conference Game at Jessieville

Sports

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2:11 pm

Eagles Return to the Road on Friday to Play Crucial Conference Game at Jessieville

PARIS- The scheduling onslaught of the 3A-4 conference continues this Friday when Paris travels to Jessieville for an important conference match-up for the Eagles.

After opening the 2023 conference slate with the top two predicted finishers in the conference, Paris will travel to Jessieville with the intent to return the favor of last year’s loss in Paris by the score of 57-21.

Last year’s game result was a little misleading for the Eagles. Paris, coming off of a lopsided loss at Bismarck, was missing key players going into their game the following week with Jessieville. As a result, the Eagles were even more limited with what they could do on offense for the first half of the game with the Lions. This year, Paris faces a road challenge to go into Jessieville that has a reputation of being a hard place to play for opposing teams.

The Eagles’ game at Jessieville is the first of four games in the remaining five game stretch that Paris has an opportunity to be competitive in with hopes of making the state playoffs. Remaining games with Jessieville, Two Rivers, Centerpoint, and Danville will determine the Eagles’ fate. Magnet Cove, who will represent the Eagles’ final regular season road trip, is ranked in the top ten in Class 3A along with Glen Rose and Bismarck.

Jessieville entered the current season predicted to finish fourth in the conference according to Hooten’s Arkansas Football publication. But as the season has progressed, the predicted third place finisher, Centerpoint, has not lived up to their preseason prognostication. An Eagles win at Jessieville could cause a major shake-up in the final standings, should Paris go on to defeat Centerpoint, Two Rivers, and Danville. Such a scenario would actually propel the Eagles into a fourth-place finish in the conference. RNN Sports predicted in August that Paris would finish fifth in the conference; a fourth-place finish would be an outstanding finish for a young program that is rebuilding and looking forward to the next two seasons. To finish third, the Eagles would have to win these games and upset Magnet Cove. Both Jessieville and Paris may be playing on Friday to perhaps finish as the conference’s fourth seed going into the state playoffs.

As of September 25, Jessieville has a record of 2-2 with wins against Mount Ida (47-6), and Atkins (48-33). Their two losses have been against Mineral Springs (20-8) and Bismarck (46-6). Again, at publication time, Jessieville was preparing to take the field against Glen Rose.

At deadline for this story, the Eagles were preparing to host Bismarck for homecoming. Next week, the Eagles’ road trip will continue with a visit to Two Rivers to play the Gators. Jessieville, who was playing at Glen Rose last week, will be at Centerpoint on October 13.

Kickoff in Jessieville is set for 7 p.m. RNN Sports will be there to bring you all of the action in pictures, as well as in our post-game story on Saturday. Just go to our website at residentnewsnetwork.com on Saturday to read our story!

And, as always, we will see you at the stadium on Friday!

Charleston Hosts Mansfield in 3A-1 Showdown

Sports

Resident News Network

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2:10 pm

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Charleston Hosts Mansfield in 3A-1 Showdown

CHARLESTON- Each season, there are pivotal games on the schedule that have a big impact on the success of the season. And for both Charleston and Mansfield, one of those weeks is this week.

The Charleston Tigers will return home this Friday to Alumni Field to host the Mansfield Tigers in an epic 3A-1 showdown. The game could be for the eventual two seed or higher in the conference going into the state playoffs in November.

At press time for this story, the Charleston Tigers were preparing for a conference road trip to Cedarville on September 29. Charleston started the season 0-3 against tough 4A schools; two of those games were away from home. The Tigers won their conference opener on September 22 by defeating Greenland, 51-9.

Mansfield began the season undefeated, and at press time, the Tigers were preparing to make the trip to Northwest Arkansas to play the Greenland Pirates. Mansfield defeated Magazine by the score of 56-0, Paris by the score of 47-9, and Waldron by the score of 48-6. Mansfield opened conference play on September 22 with a 38-8 win over West Fork. As of September 22, Mansfield’s record overall was 4-0 and 1-0 in conference.

The Mansfield Tigers, under first year coach, Whit Overton, have a bevy of running backs that fuel their awesome rushing attack. Under former Booneville junior high coach Overton, the Mansfield offense resembles Booneville in its power rushing game.

The Tigers have two talented quarterbacks: Cole Kindle, who was last year’s starter, and Jeremy Strozier who is a dual-threat quarterback who can beat you with his legs running the football.

The Charleston Tigers seemed to have turned the corner in their final non-conference game at Nashville. Sophomore quarterback Carter Little had his best game against the Scrappers and continues to develop at the position. Charleston head coach Ricky May is doing one of his best coaching jobs this season with a predominately sophomore team playing their first season of varsity football. And as the season continues into its second half, those sophomores will begin to play more like juniors with the experience they have gained playing a tough schedule in the first half of the season.

As of September 22, Mansfield, Lavaca, Booneville, and Charleston all won their opening conference games. Those four schools will likely battle for the remainder of the season for the top seeds in the state playoffs. One of the remaining schools who did not win their opening conference games (Hackett, West Fork, Greenland, Cedarville) will likely be the five seed in the conference. Of course, there is a lot of football to be played, and head-to-head games will have a dramatic effect on the final seedings.

For the Mansfield Tigers, assuming they won at Greenland at press time, the game at Charleston is one of the biggest for their program in several years. RNN Sports predicted Mansfield to finish third in our preseason special, with the additional note that the October 6 game at Charleston could be for the two seed for both schools. The outcome of the game at Alumni Field will send the winner to another showdown with Booneville for the possible one seed in the state playoffs. Mansfield will return home on October 13 to host Booneville, and Charleston will host Booneville the following week on October 20. So, all three contenders, Booneville, Charleston, and Mansfield, will play back-to-back weeks against each other to determine what most probably will be the final seedings from the 3A-1 going into the state playoffs.

The stadium at Charleston should be packed on both sides for this one, and we recommend that you arrive at the stadium early to get a seat. This game has all of the earmarks of the 2019 game in Charleston when the Tigers were driving late to put the game away when Mansfield’s Layton Howard intercepted a pass in his own end zone and raced over 100 yards with approximately 45 seconds remaining in the game to defeat Charleston 28-24. This year’s game could be just as exciting.

Watch for our postgame story on our website on Saturday at residentnewsnetwork.com. RNN Sports photographer Ronni Tate Young will be on the field to bring you the action in pictures next week. Just go to RNN Sports’ “Team Press Pass” Facebook page to view and share the photos at no charge!

Good luck to both schools…it should be one heck of a game!

RNN Sports Stone Cold Lock Of The Week: Week 6

Ross Fujibayashi

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6:22 am

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RNN Sports Stone Cold Lock Of The Week: Week 6

Cooler weather coming in as action starts to heat up across the area!

I was wrong…. Hackett was ready to play the spoiler against Lavaca. Jeremy Lawyer and Cole Ketchum what a performance, 33 carries for 266 yards with two touchdowns for Lawyer and 114 yards and also two touchdowns from Ketchum. For Lawyer, I have been waiting to see him have a break out game in High School since seeing him run the ball in Junior High.

To our fans that read this column every week, thank you!

RNN Sports Stone Cold Lock Of The Week

Ozark @ Lincoln

Ozark takes the trip to Northwest Arkansas to face off against the Lincoln Wolves. Both teams share an identical record of 4-1. Lincoln’s only loss on the season came at the hands of Gravette and it was a close one with a final score of 36-34. On the other side of this matchup, Ozark’s only loss was to the heavily favored to be taking a trip to Little Rock in December Booneville in week 1. Both teams are averaging nearly 40 points a game and this could either be a stalemate or a shootout. I think Ozark has the advantage, Adam Hecox believes Lincoln has got this one. Check back Friday night to see all the scores from the RNN Sports coverage area.

The Rest

Mansfield @ Charleston

Finally! The one we have been waiting for! The Tiger Battle at Alumni Field. I would love to use the phrase “Mansfield has cruised through the schedule” but when you are averaging 51 points per game and defense is stopping teams at an average of 5 points. Yes you read that right 5 POINTS PER GAME. Mansfield is sitting in the top 10 of several polls for the 3A, but this will be the start to proving to the state Mansfield is indeed for real. Charleston started the season rough and are looking to slow down the Mansfield offense.

Hackett @ Cedarville

As I stated in the lead in, Hackett shocked some folks coming back from 35-7 against Lavaca. Not sure what else to point out other than, the Hornets will sting the Pirates in this match up.

Greenland @ Booneville

While the focus to Booneville’s success has been the running of Dax Goff, the Quarterback play of Jace Washburn has raised some eyebrows. Between running and throwing Washburn has the Bearcats in a unique position. Greenland is sitting at 1-4 currently and it maybe a long night for the Pirates.

West Fork @ Lavaca

West Fork is in a four game slide going against Lavaca. The Golden Arrows were up big on Hackett until the Hornets swarmed back. This makes Lavaca a dangerous team for the West Fork Tigers. It will not be a party in the Arkansas River bottoms for West Fork. I expect Lavaca to come out swinging.

Magazine @ Mountainburg

Magazine just has not had the ball bounce their way this season. Sitting at 1-4 the Rattlers face a tough rest of the conference schedule. Mountainburg on the other hand has had a bit more luck this season, while they are 2-2 the Dragons will bounce back against Magazine

Paris @ Jessieville

Paris and Jessieville have faced the same two teams over the past two weeks, Glen Rose and Bismarck. They both have had similar results in those games. Obviously one of these teams has to bounce back this week, but as the two tasked with picking winners for this great publication….. We are split on this. I’m picking Paris and Adam is going with Jessieville.

LR Hall @ Waldron

Both of these teams have not had a great first half of the season. LR Hall has the leg up in this contest.

Greenwood is on a Bye Week

The Others

Fayetteville @ Fort Smith Southside

Fayetteville is making the trip back to Sebastian County after meeting Greenwood in the AAA Benefit Game. Fayetteville is sitting at #2 in the Statewide poll behind Conway and are looking to prove they belong. The Purple Dogs and the Mavericks played close games against Rogers, Fayetteville won but Southside lost. Could be a tight game for Fayetteville.

Fort Smith Northside @ Jonesboro

With the Grizzlies in the 7A Central it means either Jonesboro or Northside must make the cross state trip. 4 hours on a bus to play a game is a long bus ride even in the nicest of busses. Northside is coming off a big Homecoming victory over Little Rock Central. The Grizzlies stop the Hurricanes.

Games	Ross’s Picks	Adam’s Picks
Ozark @ Lincoln	Ozark	Lincoln
Mansfield @ Charleston	Mansfield	Mansfield
Hackett @ Cedarville	Hackett	Hackett
Greenland @ Booneville	Booneville	Booneville
West Fork @ Lavaca	Lavaca	West Fork
Magazine @ Mountainburg	Mountainburg	Mountainburg
Paris @ Jessieville	Paris	Jessieville
LR Hall @ Waldron	LR Hall	LR Hall

Free CWD tests for hunter-harvested deer may land lifetime hunting and fishing license

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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1:02 am

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Free CWD tests for hunter-harvested deer may land lifetime hunting and fishing license

Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications

LITTLE ROCK — With cooler weather on the horizon and archery deer season underway, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wants to remind all hunters to help monitor chronic wasting disease in the state by using one of the AGFC’s free CWD testing locations. All resident hunters who submit a sample for testing also will be entered into a special drawing at the close of the 2023-24 hunting season for one of two Resident Sportsman’s Lifetime Combination Licenses and Permits (valued at $1,000).

The most popular method for hunters to have their deer tested is through the AGFC’s system of drop-off containers throughout the state.

“We have at least one container location in every county, and multiple locations in many counties near the areas where CWD has been found.” AJ Riggs, wildlife health biologist for the AGFC, said.

To use a drop-off container, bring the deer’s head with 4 to 6 inches of the neck attached and any antlers removed, and place it in one of the provided plastic bags with your name and contact information on the card provided. The AGFC will collect these samples and have them analyzed. Testing results should be available within two to three weeks.

Riggs said anyone who submits a positive sample will be notified via phone as soon as the results come back.

“That’s why it’s so important to fill out the information card as clearly as possible and include all the information asked for,” Riggs said. “We want to get in touch with anyone who has a deer that tests positive as soon as possible so that we can make arrangements to dispose of that deer’s carcass properly and follow up with the exact location of harvest to continue tracking the disease in the state. We also can give a replacement tag to harvest another deer to make up for the lost meat.”

The bottom half of the information card that the hunter keeps will provide directions so the hunter can verify results for themselves if they do not receive a phone call.

“The results are posted online and a confidential code will allow you to receive your results for peace of mind,” Riggs said.

The other free option to get your deer tested for CWD is to take it to one of the AGFC’s network of participating taxidermists, who will pull a sample for you. Most taxidermists should pull a sample from any deer submitted to them, even if you are not using their service to preserve your deer.

“Sample quality is also important for hunters to keep in mind,” Riggs said. “Hunters are concerned, and should be, about ensuring their harvest is properly cared for, but it should also include the head. If you can’t get to a taxidermist or a drop-off container, keep the head cool so the sample does not deteriorate.”

All testing locations are available at www.agfc.com/cwd. Some of the locations have changed from last year, so hunters are encouraged to look ahead of time and find a sample location closest to their hunting area and note hours of operation.

Dr. Jenn Ballard, state wildlife veterinarian for the AGFC, reminds hunters to follow transportation regulations concerning their harvested deer and the CWD Management Zones, even when submitting samples for testing.

“We are trying to slow the spread of CWD throughout the state, and we really need hunters’ help to do that,” Ballard said. “We need you to keep hunting, keep submitting samples and keep the remains of those harvested animals disposed of properly.”

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects members of the deer/elk family (cervids). It was first described in 1967 in Colorado and since has spread to 26 states, Canada, South Korea, Finland and Norway. It was discovered in February 2016 near Pruitt and has since been found in 18 Arkansas counties. Infected animals will not show signs of disease for a long period of time, but late in the disease process, they will be thin and may demonstrate weakness, abnormal behavior, excessive thirst, or drooling. Animals generally die soon after the onset of these signs.

Last year the AGFC collected a record 8,804 samples from cervids in Arkansas (8,759 white-tailed deer, 33 elk and 12 exotic cervids). The vast majority of those samples came voluntarily from hunters. Last year’s test results reported 217 positive cases of CWD (208 white-tailed deer and nine elk).

Learn more about CWD at www.agfc.com/cwd.

Volleyball preps for Family Weekend, Pink Out matches

Sports

Tammy Teague

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8:37 pm

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Volleyball preps for Family Weekend, Pink Out matches

FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Volleyball returns home to Gayle Kaundart Arena at the Stubblefield Center to host Texas A&M-Kingsville and Texas A&M International for Family Weekend.

The Lions will host Kingsville Friday at 6 p.m. and International Saturday at 2 p.m. as they return to Lone Star Conference action. Saturday’s match will have free admission.

UAFS will also host Arkansas Tech in its final nonconference match of the season Tuesday, October 10 in its annual Pink Out game. It will be the first time UAFS hosts Arkansas Tech in any sport.

All three matches will be streamed on the Lone Star Conference Digital Network with live stats available at uafortsmithlions.com. Friday’s and Tuesday’s matches will also be broadcast on Fox Sports Radio 103.5 while Saturday’s match will be on KOOL 104.7FM.

NOTES:

LAST WEEK: The Lions swept road LSC matches at Oklahoma Christian and Western New Mexico before defeating Drury in nonconference action in five sets.

STREAKING: UAFS is currently on a five-match win streak. The last such streak was a seven-match winning streak in the shortened 2020-21 spring season.

KEEP DIGGING: UAFS ranks fourth nationally and leads the league with 19.13 digs per set. Libero Paola Fragalle is fifth in the LSC at 4.92 digs per set.

AT THE NET: Middle blocker Hannah Watkins is seventh nationally with 73 total blocks and leads the LSC. Her 1.22 blocks per set rank second in the LSC.

RECORD WATCH: Setter Chloe Price leads the LSC in total assists with 589 and is second all-time with 1,862 assists. Right-side hitter has moved to seventh with 796 career kills.

HEATING UP: Outside hitter Nyia Anderson had matches of 17, 17 and 18 kills last week while hitting .382. She hit .419 and .444 in wins at OC and WNMU and had a pair of double doubles.

SCOUTING TAMUK: The Javelinas are 10-4, 2-0 LSC but have played just two road matches this season. Outside hitter Jackie Alanis leads TAMUK with 2.94 kills per set and is tied for the most digs on the team.

SCOUTING TAMIU: The Dustdevils feature LSC Preseason Setter of the Year Emma Lade, who leads the LSC with 10.74 assists per set. She has helped TAMIU to a 10-5, 2-1 LSC record this season and a current three-match win streak.

SCOUTING ATU: The Golden Suns are just 1-13 on the season and have lost their last 13 matches. Libero Jamie Myrick averages 3.63 digs per set while outside hitter Kaitlyn Neal has a team-high 108 kills.

THE SERIES: UAFS is 6-1 all-time against Texas A&M-Kingsville after defeating the Javelinas in five sets earlier this season. The Lions are 21-2 versus TAMIU and 2-0 against Arkansas Tech after sweeping the Golden Suns last season.

Local Concrete Business Credits Success to God, Family and Friends

Featured

Tammy Teague

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6:24 pm

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Local Concrete Business Credits Success to God, Family and Friends

In a day and age where businesses come and go, it is always extraordinary to hear of a company, who not only has stood the test of time, but has bridged generational gaps. In fact, they are as solid as the Rock they stand on.

Master Made Tanks was founded in 1976 by owner and operators Johnny and Judy Culver. The business was born out of a drive to formulate success through hard work and dedication, and throughout the years, they have done just that.

Building septic tanks was Johnny’s dream. “We sure didn’t start out big,” shared wife, Judy. “We had very humble beginnings with a loan to purchase three septic tank forms and a truck to deliver them with. We built up over the years, doing whatever God sent our way to do.”

Seeking God’s guidance from the beginning, the Culvers would decide on the name “Master Made” for their new business. “We knew if did made it, it would be because of our Lord Jesus Christ,” explained Judy Culver. “We searched the scriptures for a company motto and decided on Ephesians 3:20, ‘Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,’ GOD IS ABLE.”

The couple, who were married April 6, 1957, have three children, Johnny “Bullett” Jr., Kristi Culver Pfeiffer, and William “Bill” Culver. Mom, Judy, recalled Bullet being an only child for 11 years as they prayed for a little girl with long fingers who would play the piano. “Bullett was adamant that Kristi not grow up alone like he had to, so we just let the Lord have His way, and Bill was born 14 months later.

The Culver family also credits their success to many friends and family along the way. One in particular, an uncle, Louis Koch. Judy Culver described Koch as a “fine man with many talents and a lot of love for them.” With tremendous fortitude he labored helping them get their start, all while undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

“We had three customers when we first started, James Gilbreath, Lynn Day, and Francis Thacker,” continued Judy Culver. “God used those people, and we still pray that God continues to bless them.”

The family also draws strength congregating at their home church, Southside Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Larry Horne. Judy serves as a Bible teacher, training children in the importance of memorizing and reciting the scripture.

The family is quick to attribute any success they have seen over the years to God’s sufficient grace.

Today, the company employees 44, all of which, according to Judy Culver, “are family to our family.” They service the area with ready-mix concrete, pre-cast septic tanks and installation, and material hauling.

Son, Bill Culver, oversees the fleet of trucks hauling chicken feed for O.K. Foods. Daughter, Kristi Pfeiffer, manages the ready-mix operations, and oversees the business. Founder, Johnny Culver, at age 85, still gets up every morning and works a nine-hour day dispatching the sand and gravel trucks. Son-in-law, Steve Pfeiffer, drives a dump truck, and son, “Bullett” chases parts.

“We join hands and pray about our business decisions,” Judy Culver shared. “John begins our prayer with Romans 8:26 ‘Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.’ Then we call the names of our family, the Master Made family, friends, and loved ones, knowing our loving Father hears and answers…We thank God for the friends he has placed in our lives, and for the blessings along the way…”

Master Made looks steadfast into the future, led by the Light–strong in faith, with the support of family and friends. As Judy Culver summed up the business, stating, “It’s not our company, it’s God’s.”

Plant Bulbs in Fall for Spring Gardens

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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11:51 pm

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Bulbs that are planted in the fall and bloom in the spring are known as spring bulbs or hardy bulbs. There are several types to choose from, including these popular choices:

Lilies
Tulips
Crocus
Irises
Daffodils
Hyacinths
Aliums
Snowdrops

How To Choose Bulbs

Planting bulbs that will successfully bloom in spring begins with knowing how to pick quality bulbs.

Select healthy bulbs — Bulbs should be plump and firm. Avoid bulbs that feel soft and mushy or show any signs of mold.
Big bulbs are better — Large bulbs, though more expensive, are likely to produce more flowers

Get Ready For Planting

When preparing to plant bulbs, choose an area that receives lots of sunlight. Additionally, think about how you want your bulbs to grow. Planting bulbs offers several options for adding visual appeal, including:

Layering plant heights in a formal garden
Integrating bulbs into existing flower beds
Scattering bulbs around your yard
Planting bulbs in clusters throughout your landscape

How To Plant Bulbs

Once you have selected your spring-blooming bulbs and decided where you want to plant them, it’s time to get your bulbs in the ground.

Start with healthy soil — Plant bulbs in loose, well-drained soil enhanced with organic matter and fertilizer.
Plant at the right depth — Bulbs can be planted individually or more than one to a hole. For best results, make sure to plant your bulbs pointy side up in a hole that is two to three times the height of the bulbs.
Cover and water — Backfill hole after planting bulbs and water generously to remove air pockets.
Planting Tip: If unsure which side of a bulb is up, look for roots coming out of one end and plant that side down or place bulb on its side in the hole and let nature shift it into the right growing direction.

Care And Maintenance

After planting, bulbs require special attention throughout the fall and winter to become vibrant flowers in spring.

Water bulbs immediately after planting and as needed throughout the growing season.
Prevent weeds by spreading a layer of mulch over soil.
Keep squirrels and other critters from digging up bulbs by covering the growing area with mesh or chicken wire.

Game Notes: Ole Miss

Sports

Resident News Network

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11:24 pm

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OXFORD, MS- It has been a tough week for Razorbacks fans, and anyone connected to the football program. After their second consecutive conference loss last Saturday to the Aggies, Arkansas now travels to Oxford to play the Ole Miss Rebels. Ole Miss will be fresh off of their big win last Saturday night against LSU.

To help sort through things from the Arkansas perspective, here are some game notes as provided by the University of Arkansas:

ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS (2-3, 0-2 SEC)
AP/Coaches: NR/NR
Head Coach: Sam Pittman (Pittsburg State, ‘86)
Career Record: 21-20 (4th season)
Record at Arkansas: Same

• Arkansas, on the road for the third consecutive week, will look to snap its three-game losing streak when it squares off against longtime rival and SEC West foe Ole Miss. Kickoff between the Razorbacks and the nationally ranked Rebels is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, on SEC Network.

• The Hogs’ road trip to Oxford, Miss., is their third of four consecutive SEC games away from the friendly confines of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. This season marks the first time since 1925 that Arkansas is playing each of its first four conference games away from home.

• Arkansas, seeking its first win in Oxford since 2017, boasts a 38-28-1 all-time record against Ole Miss. Under head coach Sam Pittman, the Razorbacks have won two of their three meetings against the Rebels since the 2020 season, including both matchups in Fayetteville (2022 & 2022).

• QB KJ Jefferson has completed 85-of-125 passes (68.0%) for 1,050 yards and 10 touchdowns while also rushing for 125 yards and a touchdown through five games this season. Jefferson, who has thrown for at least one touchdown in each of his last 16 games under center, ranks first on
Arkansas’ career touchdown responsibility list with 78 (58 passing touchdowns, 20 rushing touchdowns).

• RB Raheim “Rocket” Sanders made his return against Texas A&M, rushing for 34 yards on 11 carries (3.1 ypc) and catching a pair of passes for 36 yards. Sanders, who missed the previous three games due to injury, entered the year as a preseason All-American and has rushed for 76 yards and two scores on 26 carries (2.9 ypc) in two games played.

• WR Andrew Armstrong has quickly emerged as QB KJ Jefferson’s go-to receiver, leading the Razorbacks with 27 receptions for 351 yards and four touchdowns through five games this season. The Texas A&M-Commerce transfer, who is in his first year at Arkansas, has recorded at least one
catch in 21 consecutive games dating back to 2021.

• LB Jaheim Thomas is the Razorbacks’ leading tackler through the first five games of the 2023 campaign, racking up 48 total stops with five tackles for loss, including three sacks. The transfer from Cincinnati has team-leading three double-digit tackle efforts this season and has posted four
double-digit tackle games in his career.

Watch for our post-game story on this game at residentnewsnetwor.com on Sunday.

It’s Way Too Early To Try To Figure Out A Who’s Who In The 3A-1

Sports

Adam Hecox

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8:25 pm

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It’s Way Too Early To Try To Figure Out A Who’s Who In The 3A-1

The 3A-1 entered 2023 with a defending State Champion program, a defending State Runner-up program, and four programs boasting new head coaches. Needless to say, the preseason conference predictions were pretty difficult to add up. After just two weeks of conference play, the 3A-1’s final rankings are about as predictable as the Arkansas weather. Although everyone still looks at Booneville and Charleston as the heads of the conference this season, the rest could be seen as a possible coin flip of who’s who. The media and fans tend to look at things like the strength of schedules and previous scores to determine where teams might stand this early in the season and for good reason. The 3A-1s non-conference schedule went pretty much as expected with Charleston and Booneville going in loaded for bear as their combined non-conference schedule had a total of five 4A opponents and a 5A opponent. The rest of the conference scheduled a mixed bag of 4A, 3A, and 2A teams. In the process of everything, some teams won by a lot while others were edged out in close losses. But if you scratch out the math of the non-conference games and just look at the first two weeks of conference, a lot can be seen….or can it?

Lavaca defeated Cedarville 49-0 in Week1 of Conference play.
Photo courtesy of Malinda Mizell

The current leaders of the 3A-1 are definitely Booneville, Charleston, and Mansfield. All three programs sit at 2-0 in conference play and have dominated their opponents in the process. Both Mansfield and Charleston share a win over the Greenland Pirates with Charleston winning at home 51-9 while Mansfield traveled to Greenland to pummel the Pirates 65-0. If you do the math judging solely by points scored minus points against a like opponent, Mansfield would be a 23-point favorite over Charleston. Booneville and Mansfield also share a like opponent as both defeated West Fork with the Bearcats being victorious 40-0 in West Fork while Mansfield won at home over West Fork with a 38-8 final score. Again, using the same algorithm, Booneville would only be a 10-point favorite over the Tigers on paper. Charleston and Booneville’s non-conference schedules were hands down tougher than Mansfield’s, but their like conference opponents show them to be closer than expected. Those numbers sound great if you’re a Mansfield fan, but remember, the math is done on paper, not on the field.

Mansfield defeated West Fork 38-8 in Week1 of Conference play.
Photo courtesy of Joey Bolin

A perfect example of why non-conference schedules and math do not win conference games was played just last week as a new rivalry was created for Hackett and Lavaca. Dubbed “The Battle of Sebastian County”, the Hornets were severe underdogs to Lavaca’s XBOX like offensive numbers going into the game. Lavaca had rolled through four games outscoring opponents 176-34 before heading to The Hive to face Hackett. The Golden Arrows did exactly what everyone had predicted to do against Hackett by dousing the Hornets with a commanding 35-7 lead at halftime. This left Lavaca merely one score away from enacting the mercy rule on the Hornets so by the math, the game should have been done and over with right there. But what Hackett did in the second half is why the game on the field is more important than the numbers on paper. The Hornets defense shut down Lavaca’s offense and didn’t allow a single point in the second half while their offense swarmed the end zone to score an unheard of 35 consecutive points to defeat the Golden Arrows 42-35.

Charleston defeated Cedarville 37-16 in Week2 of 3A-1 Conference play.
Photo courtesy of Malinda Mizell

Although the Cedarville Pirates didn’t pull off an upset, they too can be in the mix of why schedules and math don’t add up sometimes. Cedarville was 0-5 going into their match with Charleston in Week2 of conference play, yet still hung tight early on by holding the defending State Champs to a mere 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter before Charleston ran away with a 37-16 win. The West Fork Tigers fell to Booneville 40-0 last week, but they held the Bearcats to a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter which is quite a commendable feat. Each team in the 3A-1 still has a mathematical chance at winning the conference and making the State Playoffs going into Week3 of conference play. Sure, some are favored big-time in future games while others are huge underdogs, but you can’t count any team in the 3A-1 out quite yet. Hackett holds the tiebreaker over Lavaca after their win as both teams now sit at 1-1 in conference play. Cedarville, Greenland, and West Fork are all currently 0-2 but will have a shot at making a State Playoff push later in the season. The only team to not have played any of the current Top3 teams is Lavaca but they’ll have a chance to knock off one or more of the contenders as the Golden Arrows will play Mansfield, Booneville, and Charleston for the last three games of their regular season.

The 3A-1 crown could be anyone’s going into Week3 of Conference play, but there’s still a lot of football left to play.

There are only three teams left with an undefeated conference record right now as Booneville, Charleston, and Mansfield are sitting pretty at 2-0. That is guaranteed to change though as one team will have no choice but to lose when Mansfield travels to Charleston on Friday, October 6th. Booneville will face off against the Greenland Pirates but will then have to travel to both Mansfield and Charleston for the following two weeks. When it comes to the current Top3 teams, strength of schedule favors the Bearcats, home-field advantage favors Charleston, and the stat numbers favor Mansfield. Just don’t forget about Hackett, Lavaca, Cedarville, West Fork, and Greenland as they could upset the balance of powers on any given Friday. Basically, no matter how you math the math, the math will not be mathing until the scoreboard shows 0:00 in the fourth quarter of each game. So instead of trying to calculate stats, scores, schedules, and all of the other ways the 3A-1 conference teams might pan out, just load up in the car and go enjoy some great 3A-1 football over the next few weeks.

UAFS rallies for five-set win at Drury

Sports

Tammy Teague

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3:39 pm

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Volleyball rallied for a five-set 25-19, 21-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-9 win at Drury Tuesday as the Lions defeated the Panthers for the second time this season.

The Lions hit a blistering .526 in the fifth set, scoring 10 of their 15 points via the kill. After Drury scored the first point of the set, UAFS scored the next four and never relinquished the lead. The Lions also scored the final four points of the set.

UAFS dominated the first set, holding the Panthers to a .071 attack percentage while racking up 17 kills on a .302 percentage. However, the Lions’ attack was cooled in sets two and three as the Panthers took a 2-1 lead.

The Lions grabbed a 5-1 lead to start set four before the Panthers scored five straight for a 6-5 advantage. A 5-0 run gave the lead back to UAFS and the teams traded points until Drury pulled within 22-21. A pair of blocks and a kill by outside hitter Nyia Anderson kept the Lions alive and force the fifth set.

Outside hitter Caelyn Gunn tied her career-high with 24 kills while Anderson hit .318 and added 18 kills. UAFS tallied double-digit kills in all five sets. Setter Chloe Price dished out 50 assists, her second 50-assists match of the season.

Price, Gunn and Anderson all recorded double-doubles with 20, 13, and 16 digs, respectively.

Libero Paola Fragalle tallied a team-high 25 digs, with defensive specialist Taylor Lintz also recording 20 digs. Middle blocker Hannah Watkins had a hand in five of the Lions’ eight blocks on the night.

UAFS returns to Lone Star Conference action Friday by hosting Texas A&M-Kingsville at 6 p.m. at the Stubblefield Center.

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