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Charleston Hosts 4A Nashville in Friday’s Non-Conference Tilt at Alumni Field

Networks

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5:47 pm

Charleston Hosts 4A Nashville in Friday’s Non-Conference Tilt at Alumni Field

Note to Our Readers: The accompanying images in this story were taken by Mrs. Ronni Tate Young. Mrs. Young is a RNN Sports photojournalist contributor, and we thank her for bringing these great pictures to our readers!

At deadline time for this story, the Charleston Tigers, fresh off of their big win at Elkins, were preparing to take the field against the Ozark Hillbillies. Ozark had lost big at Booneville the week before, and the “Battle of Franklin County” was an important game for both schools. Watch for an update on this game in the online edition of RNN Sports.

Looking ahead to Week Three of the Tigers’ season, head football coach Ricky May and the Tigers are preparing to host the Nashville Scrappers from Class 4A. The Charleston match-up with Nashville is unique due to the ripple effect of Hot Springs Fountain Lake electing to play eight-man football. A schedule gap was created from the Cobras’ move to eight-man football, and both Charleston and Nashville were looking for a Week Three game. Thus, this Friday night’s game at Alumni Field, and RNN Sports will be in Charleston to bring you exclusive, special coverage of this great match-up!

Image special to RNN Sports / Ronni Tate Young

Nashville plays in the 4A-7 conference with member schools Arkadelphia, Malvern, Mena, and Waldron. It is a six-team conference that resulted from the drop out of Fountain Lake. It is a very tough conference that may be short on the number of member schools, but each team is very strong. Five of the six schools will make the playoffs from their conference.

The Scrappers return seven starters on offense and five on defense from a year ago. Nashville finished the 2021 season with a record of 4-6 and finished sixth in their conference. They are coached by Mike Volarvich, running the spread offense and multiple defensive sets.

Nashville opened the 2022 season with a Week Zero loss to Magnolia by the score of 35-27, and a Week One victory over Hope, 74-42. At deadline time for this story, the Scrappers were preparing to host DeQueen on September 9.

When I asked Charleston coach Ricky May to comment on Nashville, he replied, “They are very explosive and really potent on offense. They scored 74 points last week (vs. Hope). Their defense can really run to the ball and their special teams are dangerous!” Nashville has a tradition of talented athletes and great team speed, and this year’s edition of Scrappers football is no different.

Kickoff time in Charleston is scheduled for 7 p.m. RNN Sports will have two photographers on the field to bring you all of the action from this non-conference thriller! We will see you at the game, and we look forward to bringing you all of the action!

Timepiece: Small Town Morning

Featured

Tammy Teague

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5:46 pm

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By Dr. Curtis Varnell

Early morning and the sun was just peeking through clouds in the east. A beautiful morning, like so many other Arkansas days. Patterson’s 22 café was abuzz, voices raised in a crescendo of sound from each of the packed tables arrayed on the hard tile floor of the café. Smokey tendrils drifted upward from scattered ashtrays, joining with the delicious odors of frying bacon, fresh biscuits, and scrambled eggs.

Solving the world’s problems was the business of the day and various of the gentlemen waxed eloquent on topics arranging from Nixon’s impeachment to why our team lost Friday’s football game. A daily occurrence, it was morning coffee and gossip time in my hometown and in many others scattered across the South.

Not only did the men like sharing the latest of news, they enjoyed the practice of picking at each other and playing pranks on their best friends. The more extravagant the prank, the more enjoyment for the crew and the more fun in the sharing of the exploit in the coming days, months, and years. “Yonder comes Woodrow,” one of the men blurted with a gleam in his eye. I knew something was up. Woodrow was one of the regulars. A large, stout truck-driver and a known prankster, he stopped by most mornings to begin his day. Woodrow stomped in, cigar dangling from the corner of his mouth, and seated himself at one of the tables. Taking off his cowboy hat, he threw it upside down on the floor beside his chair and began holding court.

One of his friends, seated directly behind him and feasting on pancakes, used the remainder of his syrup bottle to quietly fill Woodrow’s hat. A half-hour or so later, Woodrow was in a hurry to get to work. Still talking, he grabbed his hat and smashed it onto his head. Immediately, a brown torrent of Karo syrup cascaded over his head and washed over his shoulders. Some of the gooey liquid found its way down the length of the cigar and dripped from the stale ashes onto the floor. Speechless and furious, Woodrow exited the café to the howls of the crowd within.

Just one of many pranks originating in the café, one had to be careful of your actions because paybacks were heck. One morning the crew placed a broken class decal over the windshield of a friends’ vehicle. Looking exactly like a shattered glass, the pranksters even placed some broken glass and a rock on the dash. When the customer exited the café and glimpsed his vehicle, he was thoroughly convinced someone had thrown a rock through his windshield. Without a thorough examination, he ran back into the café and reported it to the local police. While he made the call, his prankster friend removed the rock and decal. The local police, in on the prank, arrived in minutes with lights flashing. The gentleman was certainly amazed and embarrassed to discover that his window was undamaged and none of his friends would collaborate his story about the damage he had seen previously.

So many stories, so little space in which to tell them!!! The group once sat up a Grit newspaper stand for Bentley Allen to subsidize his low teaching salary and to provide enough money for him to pay for his breakfast. The group arranged for a local deputy known for sleeping on the job to have his car, with him in it, rolled out into the middle of highway 22 while he was on night duty. He awoke the next morning with cars circling on either end of his vehicle, parked on the center-line of highway 22.

An early morning visit to the Dinner Bucket, Mel’s Highway 10, Old South in Russellville, the Charbroiler in Waldron, or Workman’s in Ozark and you can still see the continuation of this tradition. A part of Southern life, men still meet to enjoy coffee and conversation. As a friendly reminder, watch your back-side if you’re a frequent visitor!!

Bulldogs To Open Conference Slate

Networks

Ross Fujibayashi

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2:43 am

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Greenwood will take on the Bombers from Mountain Home this Friday

Senior Storm Scherry *Photo by Ross Fujibayashi*

In what has been a whirlwind week for the Varsity Bulldogs, the ‘Dogs have turned their attention to their first conference opponent Mountain Home. Unless you have not had access to the internet since Friday night around 10:30 P.M. Greenwood pulled off a very improbable victory over Fort Smith Northside. Down 18 points with 3 minutes left in the 4th quarter every aspect of the team stood tall and made it happen until no time was left on the clock. It was then Freshman QB Kane Archer found Sophomore Grant Karnes on the 5 yard line. Karnes would make the catch then dive into the end zone setting off a frenzy of students storming the field.

Freshman Kane Archer *Photo by Ross Fujibayashi*

The fun did not stop there as the story was picked up nationally by MaxPreps, Scorebook Live and other outlets. While an obvious team effort, several media outlets have recognized Archer and Karnes for their play. 5News and 103.7 The Buzz (Little Rock) selected Grant Karnes as the player of the week. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette named Archer Player of the Week. High accolades for the talented underclassmen.

Sophomore Grant Karnes *Photo by Ross Fujibayashi*

The Bulldogs are riding a 1-1 record as they face off with an 0-2 Mountain Home. The Bombers losses are to Harrison (Wk 1 20-7) and Nettleton (Wk 0 49-39). This will be the 5th meeting of Mountain Home and Greenwood in the past three seasons, each time Greenwood being able to add a mark in the win column.

In the last game for Mountain Home against Harrison, until their final drive, the Bombers had gotten 98 yards of offense on 4 first downs. Greenwood against Northside racked up 596 yards of Offense with 511 of those yards coming through the air to 7 different receivers. The Bomber secondary will definitely have its hands full.

Defensively the Bulldogs have faced two talented QB’s the last two weeks and big offensive lines. In the 4th quarter against Northside the defense stood stall on crucial 3rd down forcing the Grizzlies to punt setting up one of the last two Touchdowns.

Sophomore Isaiah Arrington *Photo by Ross Fujibayashi*

Kickoff this Friday is at 7pm at Smith-Robinson Stadium. Live Stream provided by the team of Greenwooddogpound.com and Greenwood Sports Center on Youtube.

South Carolina Gamecocks Come to DWR Razorbacks Stadium on Saturday to Open SEC Play

Resident News Network

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12:04 am

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South Carolina Gamecocks Come to DWR Razorbacks Stadium on Saturday to Open SEC Play

The Arkansas Razorbacks, fresh off of their 31-24 victory over last year’s college football playoffs semifinalist, Cincinnati, will now open SEC conference play in just the second week of the regular season. The Hogs will welcome the South Carolina Gamecocks to Razorbacks Stadium for an 11 a.m. kickoff. The game will be nationally televised by ESPN.

Here are some game notes as provided by the University of Arkansas:

South Carolina Gamecocks
(1-0, 0-0 SEC)
at
19/23 Arkansas Razorbacks
(1-0, 0-0 SEC)
Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022 u Noon ET (11 am CT)
Reynolds Razorback Stadium (76,000)

The South Carolina Gamecocks (1-0, 0-0 SEC) travel to Fayetteville, Ark. to take on the No. 19/23 Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, Sept. 10, in the 2022 SEC opener for both squads. Game time from Reynolds Razorback Stadium (76,000) is set for 11 am CT (noon ET).

This week’s game is being televised nationally on ESPN. Bob Wischusen will handle the play-by-play
with Dan Orlovsky providing the color commentary. Kris Budden will work the sidelines for the network.

ESPN Radio also has a national broadcast with Mike Couzens on the call with Max Starks as the analyst and Mike Peasley on the sidelines.

Both teams come into the contest off season-opening victories. The Gamecocks used two touch-
down returns of blocked punts in the second half to pull away from a feisty Georgia State squad, 35-14, while the Razorbacks took a 14-0 lead into intermission and held on for a 31-24 victory over Cincinnati.

South Carolina and Arkansas joined the SEC together in 1992 and were assigned as “permanent” cross division rivals. That held as the teams played every year until Texas A&M and Missouri joined the conference in 2013. The Aggies became the Gamecocks “permanent” cross-division rival at that time, while the Tigers and Razorbacks were paired up in a similar fashion. After facing each other on the gridiron for 22-consecutive seasons between 1992-2013, South Carolina and Arkansas have only met once since that time (2017).

For the second-straight week, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer will be facing a former colleague. Coach Beamer and Sam Pittman were on the Georgia staffs together under head coach Kirby Smart for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The 2016 squad went 8-5 and defeated TCU in the Liberty Bowl. The 2017 Bulldogs defeated Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl, then lost to Alabama in the CFP Championship game by a 26-23 score to finish 13-2. Last week, Coach Beamer faced Georgia State head coach Shawn Elliott. Both were on the 2010 South Carolina staff under head coach Steve Spurrier. Kirby Smart, Sam Pittman and Shane Beamer

A capacity crowd is expected this week and fans should arrive well in advance for the game. If you have not already read RNN Sports’ story on the “Razorbacks Fans Experience” it may be helpful to you to read the story for helpful hints if you plan to attend the game.

Watch for a recap of this game next week on RNN Sports, and….GO HOGS!

Note to Our Readers: This story was sourced from the University of Arkansas, Office of Communications, Kyle Parkinson, Associate Athletic Director / Communications.

Charleston Gets Big Road Win at Elkins in Week 1, Defeating the Elks 42-22

Resident News Network

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11:38 pm

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Charleston Gets Big Road Win at Elkins in Week 1, Defeating the Elks 42-22

The Charleston Tigers made the long trip to Elkins last Friday to open the high school football season. Charleston did not play in Week Zero, so last Friday’s game against a tough 4A-1 opponent on the road was set to be a big test for the Tigers. And when it was all over, Charleston came away with a big 42-22 victory over the Elks.

On the night, Tigers senior quarterback Brandon Scott was 10 of 15 passing on the night for 176 yards and one touchdown. The two-time All-State quarterback added another 156 yards of offense rushing on 16 attempts, and added two touchdowns. Reese Merechka had two receptions for 64 yards and one touchdown. The dual-threat Merechka added 17 rushing yards on 9 carries and scored one rushing touchdown. Brevyn Ketter also had a big night, racking up 64 receiving yards on two big receptions, including one touchdown reception. Ketter also scored a rushing touchdown and had a total of 28 yards running the football. Ketter’s brother, Bryton, had a “scoop and score” to add to the Tigers’ scoring on the night.

Defensively for Charleston, Brycen Kindrix led the Tigers with seven tackles, and Sebastian Ganoa had one interception in the game.

After the game, a proud Charleston coach, Ricky May, posted, “The kids played their tails off! Played with passion and with purpose!”

With the win, Charleston goes to 1-0 on the season and will host Ozark on Friday night at Alumni Field. Ozark lost last week at Booneville by the score of 35-7. It will be the renewal of the “Battle of Franklin County” in a rivalry series that is always a great football game. Kickoff in Charleston is set for 7 p.m. on Friday.

The Tigers vs. Ozark game preview can be found in the RNN Logan County weekly newspaper this week! And watch for the Nashville game preview in next week’s newspaper! If you have not already subscribed, you can go to residentnewsnetwork.com and click on the subscription link.

So, Tigers fans, enjoy the game this week!

Arrest Reports 8/28

Police Reports

Tammy Teague

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7:21 pm

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Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department:
Cody Len Cole of Magazine was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 28 at 12:38 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Cole was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree – conduct, possession of drug paraphernalia – felony, possession of controlled substance – schedule I/II felony <2g, parole violation, absconding, and contempt – willful disobedience (failure to pay fine).

Caylee Garner of Subiaco was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on September 3 at 9:28 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond September 3 at 3:02 p.m. Garner was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Nicholas William Vasios of Magazine was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on September 3 at 12:50 p.m. and released to an outside agency September 4 at 8:37 a.m. Vasios was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Felony, and Public Intoxication – Danger to self or others.

Jong Yang of Waldron was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on September 1 at 1:25 a.m. and released on signature bond September 1 at 4:47 a.m. Yang was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Arresting agency – Mansfield Police Department:
Robert John Ellinger of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 28 at 11 p.m. and released to an outside agency on August 29 at 1:09 a.m. Ellinger was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Felony.

Dearl Edward Suttles of Havana was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 28 at 2:01 a.m. and released on August 29 at 8:27 p.m. Suttles was charged with Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Dillon Joe Yandell of Waldron was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on September 1 at 9:38 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond September 2 at 1:23 p.m. Yandell was charged with Violation Of A Protection Order Misdemeanor.

Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office:
Travis Wayne Freeman of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 31 at 7 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond September 1 at 2:32 p.m. Freeman was charged with two counts of released from ADC has previous charges they have not bonded on.

Brenda K McAllister of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on September 2 at 8:05 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. McAllister was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 2nd offense.

Michael Anthony Patton of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 31 at 3:45 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Patton was charged with Driving on Suspended or Revoked DL – DWI.

Michaela Mary Phillips of Paris was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 31 at 6:47 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Phillips was charged with Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.

Jerry Lee Whillhite of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on September 2 at 11:15 a.m. and released on September 4 at 7:53 a.m. Whillhite was charged with Drug Court Sanctions.

Arresting agency – Barling Police Department:
Chelsey Brooke Kuykendall of Central City was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 31 at 12:09 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond August 31 at 9:06 a.m. Kuykendall was charged with Petition to Revoke – Felony.

Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department:
Dennis Ray McCombs of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 31 at 10:46 a.m. and released on signature bond September 6 at 10:15 a.m. McCombs was charged with failure to appear – class B misdemeanor, and contempt – willful disobedience (failure to pay fine).

Jerri Danielle Morse of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on September 2 at 10:59 a.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Morse was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Misd., Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine), and Failure to Appear – Class A Misdemeanor.

Jeremy Keith Powell of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 30 at 4:42 p.m. and released September 1 at 8:07 p.m. Powell was charged with two counts of Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor, and Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Angelina Slavens of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 30 at 10:53 p.m. and released on signature bond August 31 at 2:27 a.m. Slavens was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Anthony Reubeun Vigil of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center August 31 at 11:53 a.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Vigil was charged with assist outside agency – felony, theft of leased, rented, or entrusted personal property <$1k – purposely, and failure to appear – class C felony.

Arresting agency – Arkansas State Police Troop H:
Andrew Lee McKinney of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center August 28 at 6:01 p.m. McKinney was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Arresting agency – Hartford Police Department:
Cory Shane Palmer of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 30 at 11:59 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Palmer was charged with two counts of Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.

Arresting agency – Lavaca Police Department:
Ashley Nicole Rine of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 28 at 3:23 a.m. and remains at the SCADC. Rine was charged with failure to appear – class B misdemeanor, contempt – willful disobedience (failure to pay fine), failure to appear – class A misdemeanor, possession of drug paraphernalia C felony, and furnishing a prohibited article – correctional facility.

Arresting agency – Arkansas Parole:
Dustin Wayne Tankersley of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on September 3 at 4:45 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Tankersley was charged with parole violation, absconding, and failure to appear – class A misdemeanor.

Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Office:
Jason Geels, 41 of Scranton, SC, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on August 28 at 3:32 p.m. Geels was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tara Hale, 40 of Dardanelle, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on August 29 at 9:40 a.m. Hale was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, posession of methamphetamine or cocaine with the purpose to deliver.

Robert K Evans, 45 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on August 29 at 9:28 p.m. Evans was charged with three counts of breaking or entering, and three counts of theft of property.

Elizabeth Lewis, 61 of Van Buren, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on September 2 at 11:20 a.m. Lewis was charged with hold for U.S. Marshal.

Susan McGahey, 41, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on September 2 at 12:10 p.m. McGahey was charged with hold for U.S. Marshal.

Ashton Sloan, 24 of Magazine, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on September 2 at 12:49 p.m. Sloan was charged with contempt of court.

Jill Goodman, 29 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on September 2 at 2:18 p.m. Goodman was charged with hold for drug court.

Tina Guerrero, 27 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on September 2 at 2:55 p.m. Guerrero was charged with hold for U.S. Marshal.

Kristie Hudson, 31 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on September 2 at 3:36 p.m. Hudson was charged with hold for U.S. Marshal.

Teresa Bennett, 42 of Ozark, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on September 2 at 5:03 p.m. Bennett was charged with failure to appear, and parole hold.

Benjamin Deer, 31 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on September 2 at 5:11 p.m. Deer was charged with residential burglary, and parole hold.

Jeremiah Dupree, 39 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on September 3 at 12:59 a.m. Dupree was charged with body attachment, and non-support.

Jonathan Byrd, 51 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on September 3 at 9:15 a.m. Byrd was charged with body attachment.

Kenneth Pack, 48 of Stilwell, OK, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on September 3 at 3:53 p.m. Pack was charged with contempt of court.

Tabetha Koch, 37 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on September 3 at 8:14 p.m. Koch was charged with fail to pay.

Donnie Pruitt, 60 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on September 3 at 8:42 p.m. Pruitt was charged with two counts of posession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance.

**The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts.**

Waldron Track Team Outshines the Competition

Sports

Tammy Teague

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7:19 pm

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Waldron Track Team Outshines the Competition

The Waldron track team competed in the Magazine Invitational on Tuesday, September 6, and the Bulldogs outshined the competition!

The Lady Bulldog senior high team took the win, and the senior high boys came in runner-up.

Track team Coach Angie Bailey was elated at the team’s success!

Junior high girls’ medalists: Connie Grano 3rd, Emily Defoor 8th

Junior high boys’ medalists: Eli Connelly 3rd, Jonny Williams 7th.

Senior high boys’ medalists: Kason Moudy 5th, Landon Defoor 10th, Cole Bailey 12th, Billy Garrison 13th, Julio Grano 15th, Kylon Fielding 18th, Keegan Lynch 19th.

Senior high girls’ medalists: Erika Gabel 6th,
Ashlynn Stidman 7th, Emily Sears 10th, Ailey Ledesma 13th, Cali Hargis 15th, Kynlyn Frayer 18th.

Booneville Rolls Over Ozark, 35-7

Resident News Network

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7:09 pm

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Note to Our Readers: The following story and images were sourced in their entirety from Mr. Glenn Parrish, Director of Communications, Booneville School District. Mr. Parrish is a RNN Sports contributor and we thank him for this story.

There was a new voice coming over the public address system at Bearcat Stadium Friday night. Kyle Elmore was behind the mic and said a lot of names that might not have been expected.

Of course one name Ozark didn’t want to hear, they would hear, a lot. Dax Goff ran 10 times for 136 yards and two touchdowns, made nine total tackles, and returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown.

Dealing with a rash of injuries, the Bearcats (2-0) took a next man up approach. More often than not the next man delivered and the Bearcats beat Ozark 35-7, completing a three year sweep for the senior class.

Ozark’s first three plays netted four yards with Goff recording the first on his nine tackles in the series.

Goff was just getting started.

Goff and Trace Hall were the options to punt towards. The Hillbillies (1-1) chose Goff. He returned the kick 58 yards for a touchdown.

Marcos Mullor added his first of five straight extra points for a 7-0 lead.

Ozark’s next three plays saw tackles made by Demari Poole with Goff, Dakota Mattson, and David Hicks, two of which were for a loss.

After a punt Goff nor Hall could get to the Bearcats took over at their 40-yard line.

Two plays later they were at the Ozark 40. Both plays were passes by quarterback Peyton Tatum. Both went to Hall.

The next two plays were carries by Cody Elliott and covered 24 yards. Elliott completed the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0 with 5:32 left in the first quarter.

Handling the fullback role, Elliott ran 10 times for 65 yards and would score a second touchdown before the opening quarter ended.

Clayton Loftin made the tackle on the ensuing kickoff pinning Ozark at their 12.

Even with an offsides penalty, the Hillbillies could not move the chains and punted again. Hall broke up a pass, and Poole had a sack and another tackle in the series.

A 66-yard drive that took eight plays made it 21-0. Elliott got the touchdown on a run of 22 yards.

The Hillbillies returned the kickoff to the Bearcat 11– Mattson saved a touchdown — but were turned away when Hall broke up a fourth down pass.

The entire second quarter was played in Bearcat territory but the defense repeatedly made stops with Dunn Daniel making consecutive stops and Hall breaking up another pass on one Hillbilly possession.

Chase Plymale made his presence known on two stops on one possession prolonged by a 15-yard penalty, which ended with Cameron Osborne tracking down both Hillbilly quarterbacks who saw action.

Image Credit: Mr. Glenn Parrish, Boneville School District

Out of halftime the Bearcats had a false start penalty to move the ball back to their 24. Goff went 76 yards on the next play and it was 28-0.

After Hicks, Mathew Crosby and others stuffed a fourth-and-1 run to force a turnover on downs, Goff went 49 yards for a touchdown but it came back due to a holding flag.

Ozark’s next possession saw a 23-yard gain — more yardage than was gained the entire first half — but Hall broke up another pass and the Hillbillies again turned the ball over on downs.

Ozark was 1-of-10 on third down and 0-of-4 on fourth.

The Bearcats made it 35-0 with a 72-yard drive that used the final five minutes of the third quarter and had the Bearcats at the Hillbilly 1 when the quarter ended.

Image Credit: Mr. Glenn Parrish, Booneville School District

After an injury delay, Goff scored on the first play of the final quarter.

Ozark was forced to punt on its next possession but got to keep the ball through a roughing call — the Bearcats drew 75 yards in penalties.

It wouldn’t matter because Dylan Todd broke up a pass and tipped it until he turned it into an interception.

Four downs later the Bearcats had quarterback Jace Washburn take a knee on fourth down, giving Ozark the ball and a little more that two minutes.

With 75 yards of total offense to that point, the Hillbillies doubled their production in two plays, a 16-yard pass and a 59-yard run, to make it 35-7.

The Bearcats are open this Friday and will next play on September 16 when Harding Academy comes to Bearcat Stadium.

SR Tigers Holding Heads High Going Into Bye Week

Adam Hecox

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12:48 am

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SR Tigers Holding Heads High Going Into Bye Week

Although the Mansfield Tigers players, coaches, and loyal fans knew something special was in the works in Mansfield’s football program, no one else thought twice about Mansfield having any success. After two seasons with just three wins, Mansfield was picked to be the bottom of the barrel by nearly everyone coming into the 2022 season. Those predictions by many sources were justified too since the Tigers hadn’t proven otherwise…..until now that is. After a scrimmage win over Mena and convincing victories against Magazine and Paris though, Mansfield is starting to turn some heads as they head into their bye week.

Daniel Burton (#4) rolls past the Rattlers for a big gain.
Photo courtesy of Megan Hecox

Last season, the Tigers averaged 16 points per game scoring only 150 points in nine games. So far this year though, Mansfield’s balanced offense has rolled up 72 points against their first two opponents. The key part of that sentence is not the combined score of the two games, but the balance it took to achieve that scoring. Mansfield’s offensive coordinators, Coach Layton Robinson and Daniel Martin, have kept their opponents’ defenses heads spinning with an almost perfectly balanced play calling set up. The Tigers combined for 315 yards passing and 391 yards rushing against Paris and Magazine. So Mansfield must get all of those yards from one or two really good players, right? Wrong! The passing yards were spread out to receivers Peyton Martin, Tyler Turnipseed, Clint Stovall, Daniel Burton, Treyshon Powell, and Fisher Willsey. The six receivers racked up their 315 yards in just 18 total catches. Of course, someone has to be on par with zipping those passes to the talented Mansfield receiving corps and that someone has been Tigers quarterback, Cole Kindle. Kindle has hit an amazing 19 completions out of 24 passes and three touchdowns. That puts Kindle completing 79.1% of each throw that leaves his hand. Judging from those numbers, you’d think Mansfield must be one of those finesse spread offenses. Think again.

Quarterback, Cole Kindle (#3), releases a smooth pass against Paris.
Photo courtesy of Jim Best

Mansfield’s backfield is a force to be reckoned with. The Tigers running backs are a perfect storm of speed, moves, power, and grittiness. Seniors Tyler Woolbright and Fisher Willsey lead the Tigers rushing attack as the duo have combined for 249 yards on 37 carries. Although the two seniors may lead the way, the players who rotate in are not to be taken lightly. The stable of running backs rotating in over the past two games has consisted of Clint Stovall, Andrew Burton, Samuel Burton, and Jeremy Strozier who have all combined for their own 112 yards. Mansfield will even throw quarterback Cole Kindle into the rushing mix now and then as Kindle has tacked on 6 carries for 34 yards and a touchdown. Overall, Mansfield’s coaches have put the football in the hands of thirteen different players in just two games. With an assortment of different players getting the ball via rush or pass, the Tigers have produced an almost perfect offensive balance.

Running Back Tyler Woolbright (#22) takes a handoff behind blockers Clint Stovall (#1) and John Broadaway (#61) against Magazine.
Photo courtesy of Megan Hecox

Then there are the Tigers titans of the trenches. Linemen Coach, Keith Stovall, has watched many of these young men start in senior high games from as young as sophomores. Now the Tigers have multiple two and three year starters with plenty of experience under their belt. Offensive linemen Braxton Byers, Reegan Emery, Kindel Noblitt, Turner Wright, John Broadaway, and Austin Quinalty now form one of the most experienced lines the Tigers have seen in years. Although they are not 6’7 – 300 pound behemoths, they are rough and tumble fighters who aren’t scared of man nor beast. The offensive stat books being so well balanced has a lot to do with those warriors up front. Mansfield can also give their offensive line something else that they haven’t been able to do in quite some time. Rest. The Tigers have the talent and numbers to keep many of their linemen from playing on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball for four quarters this season. The experience and rest rotations of linemen have proved to be highly effective in their first two games.

Defensive end, Trey Vaughan (#24), rips past a Magazine block in pursuit of a tackle for loss.
Photo courtesy of Megan Hecox

Offense is pretty and all, but it’s the mean-n-ugly defense that puts confidence in the Tigers tank. It’s not an easy task to keep any opponent off of the scoreboard. Head Coach, Tim Cothran, is the defensive mastermind of the program and has the Tigers pouncing on anyone not wearing Red and White. Mansfield has proved that they can do a pretty good job of crushing their opponents as the Tigers have only allowed a total of 6 points in two games. The capability of such a feat comes from a talented and deep roster. In total, 23 different Tigers have been credited with a takedown so far. Solo tackles, assisted tackles, and team tackles, Mansfield has wreaked havoc on their opponents. Twelve tackles have sent Mansfield opponents for negative yards while the Tigers have also tacked on 3 sacks, a fumble recovery, and an interception. In all, the Tigers have held both of their opponents to merely 246 yards and a single score combined.

Samuel Burton (#23) and Kindel Noblitt (#78) surround a Paris runner.
Photo courtesy of Jim Best

Simply put, the Tigers are 2-0 and they are 2-0 because of……the whole team. There is no one or two individuals that are the reason for this early success. Every individual on the Mansfield roster has contributed to the Tigers success so far. “It would be hard to isolate key players right now because everything we’re doing is at maximum team effort” said Head Coach Tim Cothran. “That’s what we’re always striving for. Everybody is clicking well, everybody is sacrificing, and everybody is putting the team first. I’m really proud of the whole group. We feel good about being 2-0, but we also want to work on correcting mistakes and continue to fine-tune what we have while expanding the playbook. We want to start building momentum each week as we go deeper into the season”.

Coach Cothran and Coach Martin working with the Tigers defense during a time out.
Photo courtesy of Jim Best

Although everyone knows that stats alone don’t win championships and Mansfield has only played two games so far, there is something building in the program and community that has recently been missing. Optimism and excitement. Mansfield is sporting new helmet decals and new white facemasks while the boosters, school, and community is selling game day ribbons, painting store windows, and flooding social media platforms with “Tiger Talk”. True, Magazine and Paris are not the Boonevilles, Charlestons, Cedarvilles, etc. that the Tigers will face in the 3A-1 but 2-0 is still 2-0 to Mansfield. The Tigers will take their Week 3 bye week to rest and regroup before squaring off against their Scott County rivals, the Waldron Bulldogs. Waldron won the last meeting between the Scott County foes and with last season’s game being canceled, both programs are eager to tear up the field once again. Mansfield will welcome Waldron to The Jungle on Friday, September 16^th with a kickoff time of 7:00pm.

Timepiece: Summertime Fun

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Tammy Teague

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5:51 pm

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By Dr. Curtis Varnell

I am getting a little old for this; that was my thought as I stepped from the ledge and plummeted more than 40 foot into the creek below. The trees on the opposite bank flew by as I descended and then plunged into the icy cold spring water of the half-bushel swimming hole on Shoal Creek. My toes pushed off from the rocky bottom and I rose to the surface, gasping for air and struggling to pull my bathing suit from around my neck.

Kids growing up in a city will never know the pure joy of swimming in the cold mountain streams found in mountains of Arkansas. Growing up, there were few public swimming pools but people in every community knew of locations where the water was crystal clear, pure, cold, and deep enough to swim and dive. Waldron had the Caddo River, Booneville had Jack Creek and Franklin County had the Mulberry River sites. Further east was Long Pool, Piney Bay, and the Illinois Bayou.

Several streams tumble off Magazine mountain and many form deep holes of water suitable for swimming. Near the town of Blue Mountain, enterprising individuals once constructed small dams, backing up enough water in a small stream to create two swimming holes. Tourists and locals would truck up the steep mountainside to enjoy the pools, the music, and the dance floors. I suspect during the depression era, other things than swimming also attracted them enough to brave the incline.

A small gully cuts under the highway near the Magazine visitor center and slashes to the north down the side of the mountain. As it descends, the gully collects more and more water and cuts even deeper into the mountainside. By the time it reaches Spring Lake road, it has become a roaring creek, wide and deep enough that one has to find the rock outcropping at Millard to cross safely. From there to New Blaine, a series of deep pools invite one to stop, enjoy the beauty, and to test the cool waters. Blue hole, the ford, bluff hole, baptizing hole, the rock, and the Methodist Camp were all outstanding swimming holes but none competed with the Half-bushel. Known as one of the top swimming holes in Arkansas, the half-bushel is formed as shoal creek cuts through Pine ridge. Shear bluffs rise on either side but shoal creek clings to the east bank, cutting its way through the hard sandstone. Resistant stone has deflected the creek into a bow, forming a projection of ledges that jut to the west. The water directly beneath the bluff seasonably varies from ten to more than twelve foot deep. An underground cold water spring feeds water into the basin year-round and the water is always icy -cold.

Locals have used the area for picnics and swimming for generations. The name half-bushel comes from the hole having the dimensions of a half-bushel basket which is located about twenty foot up the bluff. Some people dive and jump off the low ledges, brave ones try the half-bushel, the young and reckless climb to the top and take the plunge. My friend, Rickey Miller would actually get into the pine tree at the top and do a beautiful swan dive, landing right in the deepest and safest portion of the swimming area.

The first time I tried it as a teenager, I managed to get to the top. I discovered quickly that it looked high from the water below; from the top it looked like I was in an airplane. Being young, stupid, and impulsive and with a lot of young girls watching, I was too embarrassed to descend. Closing my eyes and inwardly praying, I forced myself outward and down. Rising to the surface, I screamed, probably not as much is exhilaration as in relief that I was still alive. I have tried in many more times since then, always with a little trepidation and fear, but also with the knowledge that those people in their puny man-made concrete ponds would never experience the pure joy and excitement of my swimming area. At retirement age, I think I have jumped for my last time but I reserve the right to change my mind.

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