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Freshman Wood On Fire Despite Rainy Conditions

Sports

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7:04 pm

Freshman Wood On Fire Despite Rainy Conditions

It’s been quite some time since the area has seen any significant rain. Leave it to Caddo Hills to host a cross country meet and invite the rain.

Despite intermittent heavy downpours, Mansfield set fire to the racing field with a flurry of solid finishes across the board at their most recent road trip. Highlighting those Tiger flames were the glow of three team plaques and a standout spark by freshman Laney Wood.

Laney Wood leads the Caddo Hills race from start to finish.

Wood, the team’s shiniest star of late, smoked the 42 person field in the junior girls race for her third win of the season and her second consecutive victory this past week. The freshman sensation took the overall victory at Caddo Hills on Saturday after taking the Lamar Cabin Creek small school run four days earlier.

“Laney has been on fire of late,” said Mansfield head coach John Mackey. “She’s so determined. It’s really fun to watch. Not many can keep up with her step for step.”

Turns out, Wood did hear footsteps coming from behind as she neared the Indian Run finish line. Fortunately, they were the splats of Lady Tiger teammate and training partner Trinity Triska.

Triska was only four seconds behind Wood. In consecutive order, the pair crossed in 10:51 and 10:55 for the 1.5 mile loop.

The one-two splash did not go unnoticed by Mansfield’s head coach.

Trinity Triska places second overall at Caddo Hills.

“It was good getting Trinity (Triska) and some of the other volleyball players back,” exclaimed the coach. “Having those two run together makes both better. When all the girls are back, we run better.”

Triska, Wood, Azlynn Stover, and Addie Bowman have been playing many nights for the school volleyball team. Triska and Stover are varsity starters on the volleyball team and have to work hard to fit in the occasional cross country meet. Wood and Bowman lean more towards running and miss the occasional volleyball match.

This weekend the group of four had a rare weekend off and joined Rileigh Parker to form a five-person squad headed to Caddo Hills. Together the unit scored enough points to take third overall in the team standings. Only Magnolia and Bismark scored higher team totals.

The plaque was one of three team awards the full Mansfield groupings collected on the day. The senior high girls scored a second place team finish in the opening race. The junior boys capped the morning with second place team finish in the last race.

Darby Jones posted a 19:37 for third place overall in her opening senior girls’ race. Realistically, that time more likely converts to a 22:12 as the course fell short of the full 5K run. Nonetheless, Jones and company ran well factoring in the soggy conditions of the mud puddled course.

Jones took home yet another individual medal as did teammate Faith Rainwater who finished seventh. McKenzie Griffin came in ninth. Jadelynn Wood went 18th, and Hope Rainwater went 20th.

Mansfield’s lone blocker, Katlynn Moore, was 21st place as the team collected 56 points. The runner-up point total was bested by only Magnolia High School, a class 4A school with 50 points.

Mansfield junior boys took home their runner-up plaque falling once again to Waldron. The pair of boy teams have met several times this season with the Bulldogs edging out the Tigers each time.

Joey Fidles is third overall at Caddo Hills.

Joey Fildes once again took top honors off the Tiger squad. The eighth grader placed third overall with a 1.5 mile mark of 9:26.

Gunner Willimas was 12th. Braxton Bartlett followed a good week of practice to take 18th place. Rylan Nichols and Jonah Martin were separated by only two places as the pair crossed at 19th and 21st respectively. Joseph Carter was the team’s first displacer at 22nd place.

Mansfield junior boys collect runner-up trophy.

MHS sr girls endure the mud of Caddo Hills course.

Arkansas Farm to School Month

Outdoors

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8:42 am

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Governor Asa Hutchinson has proclaimed October as Arkansas Farm to School Month. This recognition is part of nationwide efforts to connect schools, early childhood education sites, and other educational organizations with local farms to bring fresh, local, and healthy food to children.

Read the full Arkansas Farm to School proclamation here.

The National Farm to School Network began this trend in 2010 by having National Farm to School Month designated by Congress. Since then, more and more states have joined in celebrating Farm to School Month. Arkansas has formally recognized Arkansas Farm to School Month since 2014, when then-governor Mike Beebe first proclaimed October as Arkansas Farm to School Month.

Governor Asa Hutchinson has continued the tradition every year since. This year, Arkansas Farm to School Month is themed “Connecting Schools, Farms, and the Community to Local Food.”

Learn more about the Arkansas Farm to School Month and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Farm to School and Early Childhood Education Program on the new website!

Eagles Trounce Gators at Two Rivers, 58-0

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10:56 pm

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Eagles Trounce Gators at Two Rivers, 58-0

On a misty night in Yell County that threatened heavy rain all night, the Paris Eagles took care of business against at Two Rivers Gators program that is struggling to compete in Class 3A football. Paris’s Duke Walker took the opening kickoff approximately 70 yards for the first Eagles score, and Paris never looked back. Paris led the entire game and quickly took the Gators out of competition for the game. And for the fifth straight game this season, Paris starters were able to leave the game early in the first half to avoid exposure to possible injury. The Eagles reserves have seen significant playing time this season, and tonight at Two Rivers, those players played for more than one half of the game.

Otherwise, it was a lack luster night for both teams. The Gators were simply overwhelmed by the talent and numbers of Paris, and the Eagles easily dominated the game on their talent and experience. But the win improved the Eagles’ record to 5-0 overall, and 2-0 in conference play. Paris will return home next week for its annual homecoming game when it hosts the Little Rock Baptist Prep Eagles at Paris Stadium. Paris coach Jeff Weaver and his staff will work to keep the players focused on Baptist Prep and to minimize the potential distraction of homecoming day activities. In last year’s game at Little Rock, Paris played an uninspired game, eventually breaking the game open late in the second half.

Next week’s homecoming game will be the first of a three week home stand for the Eagles that will include Baptist Prep on October 8 and will be followed in successive weeks by Atkins and Perryville. So for Eagles fans, your team is finally returning home and their will be a lot of good Eagles home football games on tap in the month of October.

Photos from this game will be posted on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports on Sunday night. Watch for a recap of this game and a preview next week of the upcoming homecoming game with Baptist Prep. Paris will be going for its second consecutive 6-0 start and 3-0 start in conference play when it hosts Prep.

Congratulations to the Eagles on going 5-0 this season, and get out tomorrow and enjoy the Frontier Days festivities in Paris!

JR Tigers Storm Past Pirates

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11:49 am

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By Adam Hecox

The Jr Tigers football team has had its ups and downs so far this season. Sitting with a record at 2-4 overall and 1-1 in conference play, Mansfield was missing their identity as a team. On Thursday, September 30^th though, the JR Tigers not only found their identity as a team, they found out what it takes to dominate as Mansfield breezed past Greenland 56-24.

The game was push up to a 6:30 pm kickoff time due to impending storms rolling in from the west. Little did Greenland know; the true storm was the boys from the south who began the game rolling over the Pirates from the get-go. The Tiger’s offense turned to its tried-and-true run game to start things off. Mansfield’s stable of running backs like Zander Walters, Dawson Robinson, and Trey Powell ran wild for big yards. As the Pirates heads spun trying to figure out which back to zone in on, quarterback Jeremy Strozier read the defense like a book, pulled the ball, and darted downfield for a 45-yard touchdown. Strozier would then mimic the exact same play to tack on a two-point conversion giving the Tigers an early 8-0 in the first quarter.

Greenland would strike back at the beginning of the second quarter closing the score to an 8-6 Mansfield lead, but that gap was very narrow. On the next possession by Mansfield, Walters took a Strozier handoff and barreled downfield for 39 yards. With a little bit of slide of hand, Strozier then faked the handoff to Walters and then took the ball himself for a 42-yard touchdown. When Greenland got the ball back, the Tigers defense pinned their ears back and went for broke. Ethan Martin, Zander Walters, and Alex Hecox each got a quarterback sack on that possession by the Pirates forcing a turnover on downs. The Mansfield offense then popped in a cassette of their favorite band, Run DZT. Dawson Robinson and Zander Walters bust downfield for big plays leaving a gaping hole later in the drive for Trey Powell to punch the ball in for another Tiger Touchdown. Strozier crossed the goal line to tack on the two-point conversion.

Mansfield pulled the needle off the running record though late in the second quarter as Strozier found the one, the only, the Toby Towe who towed in a 32-yard pass for a touchdown. Greenland tried to anchor down and bring the Tigers scoring surge to a halt, but as the rain began to fall, so did the Pirate’s hopes. Strozier again played the perfect card on a play-action read and found himself in the end zone again on a 34-yard run. After the half, it was all Mansfield. Powell and Walters set up another, you guessed it, Strozier touchdown. The Tiger’s offense continued to be impeccable, but the defense would not be left in the dark. Joseph Carter got the Tigers’ first turnover of the game when he read Greenland’s quarterback mind and leaped into the atmosphere to intercept the Pirates pass to finish the third quarter.

The start of the fourth quarter saw a play that is very rare and hasn’t been seen in over a year. Cooper Edwards went in for Strozier and on his first play from scrimmage split the Pirates defensive hull with a “Cooper Keeper” for a 35-yard Tiger touchdown. With the Tiger’s defense still keeping Greenland’s offense blue, their offense had some more scoring to do. Defensive linebacker, Aaron Persons, went into the game on offense as a running back late in the fourth quarter. It only took two plays for Persons to make every person in green miss the tackle as he dodged his way 22 yards into the end zone. Still not enough points you say? How about Trey Powell closing the game out with an epic kickoff return giving the Tigers a 56-24 final score for the win.

The Tiger’s huge win over a conference foe wasn’t due all to the starters though. Mansfield was short multiple starters for the game which put players, many of whom barely even rotate in, in new positions starting positions. Jacob “Peanut” Delp, who usually closes out games on defense, played the entire game as a starting offensive lineman. Delp played so well in fact that the team picked him to “call it up” after the game. Alex Hecox shifted from a backup linebacker to starting defensive tackle and raked in multiple sacks and tackles in the game. Joey Fields, Leland Powell, Logan Newman, and Joseph Carter help the Tigers defense shut down Greenland’s high-powered passing offense. Come to find out, the JR Tigers’ identity isn’t on offense, defense, or special teams. The Mansfield JR Tigers identity turned out to be working as one big family.

Mansfield will have a short time to enjoy the Greenland victory though. The next big step for the JR Tigers will come on October 7th when they host the Charleston Tigers. Charleston has owned the 3A-1 football history books for years. That being said, every empire must fall and Mansfield plans to knock the first brick out of Charleston kingdoms wall. The 7^th Grade will kick off at 5:30 pm and the JR High will start at 7:00 pm.

The Game Ends With An Emotional Tie

Megan Hecox

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5:57 am

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When I started the path of sports writing for Resident Press five years ago, I didn’t know a thing about sports. None of them. Sure, I watched a few games on television, but if you asked me what a first down or foul ball was, I wouldn’t be able to tell you. Sports weren’t my thing. I was more of a Choir and Drama Club gal. And the only reason I had ever attended a pep rally was because a teacher would find me and my friends hiding somewhere in the school and force us to the gym. Fast forward to today and I know a lot more than I did. I know plays, penalties, and can almost tell you what every definition in the book is about each sport. Half of this knowledge came from the actual games themselves but the other half came from the incredible coaches I have come to know who took pity on me and my attempt to sound like I knew what I was talking about in my articles and took the time to explain their sport to me in a quick Sports for Dummies version.

My Resident Press journey got started because I was working at the hospital at the time and was ready for a change of scenery. It would allow me to stay close to home and be there for my kids when they needed me. It was something to earn a little cash and keep myself busy when the kids were in school. Nothing more and nothing less. What I didn’t count on was falling in love with EVERYTHING about small-town sports. I was timid in the beginning because I was a tiny fish in a big sea of sports writing that I knew nothing about. But as time went on, I got more comfortable and my writing started to suck a little less.

There is nothing easy about stepping away and saying goodbye. Honestly, the day that I put in my two-week notice was one of the hardest days of my life. I bawled like a baby. Then to make matters worse, I had to turn around and let all 30 of my coaches and co-workers know that I was exiting left. One of my favorite things about this job was the countless bonds formed with coaches, students, and parents over the years. They all knew my family and I knew theirs. We wished each other happy birthday, checked on each other when someone was sick and enjoyed conversations about life in general. My work relationships went well beyond the definition of a job. We became family. Every time a coach informed me that they were transferring out of my coverage area or I had to watch my seniors graduate, I felt it to my core.

Another favorite part of my job was giving the athletes, teams, and coaches the public recognition they earned when other sources didn’t want to give our small towns the time of day. Everyone knows that Mansfield is my town. But I also adopted Waldron, Hackett, Magazine, and Cedarville as my own and if an outside source messed with one of us, they messed with all of us. Yes, we were rivals during a game. But off the field or court, we stood up for each other when anyone would try to break us down. I felt as if each and every athlete in the five schools I’ve covered over the years were my own. I enjoyed taking their pictures, giving them nicknames, writing positive stories about them, and cheering them on at each game I could make.

This journey has truly been life-changing but all good things must come to an end. I first want to say THANK YOU to my coaches for putting up with my endless questions at all hours of the day. You never lost patience with me no matter how many times I bothered you during a 24 hour period. Your consistent support in my endeavor to shine a light on small-town sports means the world to me. THANK YOU to my husband Adam and kids Raine and Alex for putting up with my chaotic schedule. Sports writing is not a 9-5 job. At any given season I would have up to 20 individual teams I would have to cover. There are games almost every night of the week and they tagged along to every sport in every town including 6 hour-long trips to State for a school they didn’t even go to and they did it all without gripping. They helped with writing articles, taking pictures, and keeping me mentally uplifted when I felt like I was doing a bad job or was hard on myself when I couldn’t cover a game.

And last but not least. THANK YOU to my incredible Resident Press team! Jim, the love you have for sports writing is beautifully shown in your articles covering Paris and Charleston. You were the best sports partner in crime and I will forever be grateful for all of the help you have given me. And Tammy and Jason. We are the Three Muskateers! We have literally been through everything together. From the laughing until we peed (ok, maybe that was just me) to the bickering because we annoyed the heck out of each other at times, to being each other’s shoulder to cry on during difficult times in life. We sacrificed holidays and time with our families, money, and our sanity to build Resident Press into what it is today. But you know what? It was all worth it and in the end, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I love you guys more than you will ever know and will forever be grateful for the chance you took on hiring this sports illiterate girl almost five years ago. And with my final adieu, Hecox out!

Fall Patterns Starting to Take Shape in State

Outdoors

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6:43 pm

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Fall Patterns Starting to Take Shape in State

Some of Arkansas’s leading fishing lakes are still seeing summer patterns, but with a drop in temperature in other spots, anglers are noticing more signs of fall: crappie activity in particular, along with walleye, in the northern portion of the state.

Lou Gabric, who operates Hummingbird Hideaway Resort on Norfork Lake, has been getting back on the lake lately as things cool down, at least in air temps, and he’s been getting into a lot of crappie, walleye, and catfish, he reported this week in the Fishing Report. Some of his resort’s guests have had some great outings as well.

There’s also been a bit of a stall of sorts in some lakes this week as summer concludes and fall begins, and there are indications that lakes such as Maumelle and Beaver Lake are close to a turnover, according to their reports this week. Everyone is anxious for the fall patterns to arrive, and at least there are some indicators that it’s just a couple of weeks away.

After Episcopal Win, Paris Looks to Avoid Overlooking Dangerous Booneville Team Ahead of Hackett Rematch Next Week

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12:52 pm

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After Episcopal Win, Paris Looks to Avoid Overlooking Dangerous Booneville Team Ahead of Hackett Rematch Next Week

After sweeping the 2019 Class 3A champion Little Rock Episcopal Lady Wildcats on Monday, the Lady Eagles traveled to Northwest Arkansas on Tuesday and swept the Lincoln Lady Wolves in conference play. Tonight, Paris travels to Booneville for their traditional Logan County rivalry, and for Paris, the Lady Eagles will be focused on not overlooking a good Booneville team with a Hackett rematch coming up next Tuesday. Booneville is an improved team this year with a bright future ahead of them, and as always, Paris must go into Booneville and take care of business before it can afford to think about Hackett.

Monday’s Little Rock Episcopal match was unexpected by some as Eagles fans wondered how the team would react to last Thursday’s emotional five-set loss at Hackett. But like baseball, basketball, and other sports that play multiple games in a week, it was good for the Lady Eagles to get back on the court after the loss and forget about the match at Hackett and move on with their season that still has everything ahead of the Lady Eagles that they have aspired to accomplish this season. Episcopal was no match for a Paris front line that came out very aggresively, almost angeriley after the Hackett loss, pounding the ball. In fact, the Lady Eagles’ front line sent two Episcopal players out of the game temporarily after hitting them with hard spikes on the return.

The Episcopal match also gave the Paris program a chance to avenge the bad memories of losing to the Lady Wildcats at Paris Gymnasium in the 2019 state tournament quarterfinals Episcopal went on that year to defeat Hot Springs Fountain Lake decisively in the state final. So, for Paris, the win was group therapy for the Lady Eagles on a couple of fronts, and tonight’s match in Booneville is important for Paris to have a chance to win and to win an important rematch, this time on their home floor, over the Lady Hornets. But, first things first….Paris has to focus now on Booneville. Tonight’s game has all of the possibilities of being a “trap game” for Paris, and the Lady Eagles’ senior leadership will be important to keep their attention on Booneville.

Watch for a recap of this story in Resident Press on Sunday. Also, photos from tonight’s game will be posted on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports on Sunday, as well.

See you tonight in Booneville!

Charleston Could Take Control of 3A-1 Friday with Win at Cedarville

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10:20 am

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Charleston Could Take Control of 3A-1 Friday with Win at Cedarville

The Charleston Tigers defeated a proud and perennially successful Greenland Pirates program by the score of 51-0 last Friday at Alumni Field. Now, the Tigers turn their attention to the Cedarville Pirates who have had great talent, especially in the offensive backfield, and who have been predicted to finish at or near the top of the 3A-1 conference for the past two years. Charleston will travel to Cedarville Friday for a game that could go a long way in determining who will win the conference and the eventual order of seeds from the 3A-1 going into the state playoffs.

Cedarville will enter Friday’s game with a 4-0 record overall and 1-0 in conference play. Some argue that Cedarville has not been tested, having played and defeated Berryville, Green Forest, Mansfield, and in their first conference game, Lavaca, whom the Pirates narrowly defeated 38-36. By contrast, the Charleston Tigers played and defeated three teams from the Class 4A-4 conference that included Dardanelle, Pottsville, and Ozark. And against a traditionally tough Greenland football team, the Tigers routed the Pirates 51-0.

Cedarville is led by their all-state candidate running back, Daryl Kattich. Kattich, according to Max Preps, has rushed to date for a total of 680 yards. He has averaged 170 yards per game, has scored eight touchdowns, and has had four games where he has rushed for at least 100 yards.

The Tigers shut out Greenland last week, and any concerns that Charleston coach Ricky May might have had after their preseason scrimmage with Booneville have apparently been addressed. Coach May remarked that this team played as well as any he has coached in his career. Everyone knew that going into the season, Charleston was deep and talented, and coming off of a conference championship a year ago, the Tigers were favored to repeat this season. But the Tigers are exceeding those expectations, and this could be a huge year for the Charleston football program under Ricky May.

Kickoff in Cedarville is set for 7 p.m. The weather forecast is calling for a significant chance of rain, and Tigers fans should prepare themselves for a wet evening in Crawford County. A wet field could force the game into a contest of who has the best rushing attack, and both teams are well-suited for an old-fashioned, muddy football game. Cedarville will be sky high going into this game, and it will be on the Charleston defense to contain Kattich and the Priates’ ground game. In short, this should be one whale of a football game!

Good luck to Coach May and the Charleston Tigers in their quest to go undefeated in the first half of the season!

Paris On the Road Once Again for Conference Game at Two Rivers

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9:58 am

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Paris On the Road Once Again for Conference Game at Two Rivers

The road odyssey continues for the Paris Eagles this week. On Friday, the Eagles travel to Two Rivers for their second conference game of the 2021 season. Paris (4-0, 1-0) will play a Gators football program that has not had a lot of success, and for Eagles head coach Jeff Weaver, the challenge will be to win the game and get his starters out as soon as possible. A rainy forecast only amplifies the importance of protecting his starters for a month of October that will determine the champion of the 3A-4 conference.

Every opponent must be respected, and the Eagles cannot go into the Two Rivers game expecting the Gators to not play hard to win the game. As has been the case all season so far for Paris, the object is to score quickly and often, putting the game out of reach and removing any hope of Two Rivers to be competitive in the game. Getting the starters out early and giving the reserve players experience and furthering their development for increased depth this year and for future playing time next year has been the pattern all season so far. But with tough conference games remaining with Atkins, Perryville, and Booneville to name a few, Paris has to get through this week with a win and without injury.

The forecast for Friday according to Weather Bug is an 80% chance of rain and storms. The predicted high temperature is 80 degrees with a low of 68. Fans will want to prepare for a wet night, and in the case of storms, possible delays in the game due to lightning. So, bring your rain gear and be ready for what could be a shortened night due to the “sportsmanship rule”, or, a protracted night due to bad weather. The good news for Paris fans is that next week, the Eagles will return home for a rare home game with the Little Rock Baptist Prep Eagles.

So, travel safely and be prepared for rainy weather, and Resident Press will see you at the stadium to bring you coverage this weekend of the conference match-up between Paris and the Two Rivers Gators.

See you at the stadium on Friday!

The Timepiece: The Legend of Old Sam

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1:11 pm

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By Dr. Curtis Varnell

During my lifetime, I have heard many stories of large snakes and the fear that they engender in many people. Stores of mean copperheads, fishermen surrounded by cotton-mouths, and even falling into pits or rattlesnakes but never have I heard any story that compared to the legend of Old Sam.

No one knows how Sam came to be but the most logical explanation is that a traveling circus show passed through the Roseville, AR community and, while traversing the less than ideal roads, overturned spilling out their large snake. Not able to capture the reptile and not willing to face the possible consequences of loosening it on the public, the circus left the county. What is known for sure is that, on a nice spring day the following year, Sam Webb was preparing his cotton field near Tanyard mountain. His mule suddenly balked and began backing up in the traces, braying at the top of its lungs. Alarmed, Sam stepped sideways and saw the largest snake ever laying diagonally across several cotton rows. Choosing discretion over valor, Sam decided to vacate the field, striding over three rows at a time in his rush to outrun his mule back to the safety of the farm. Webb told the story around the community, marking off the length in the dirt and describing it as rounder than a big stovepipe. His story circulated through the community of unbelievers who felt Sam liked to exaggerate or had too much to drink. In derision, they dubbed the snake, Old Sam.

Webb’s story became more credible in July. During a pie supper at the Zion Baptist Church, several of the kids wandered off to the nearby Deep Bayou. Hearing the squealing of a pig, they ventured near the water and saw a huge snake crushing a half-grown pig to death. The children and adults quickly forgot all about the pie supper and vacated the premises. Sam was somewhat vindicated by this second sighting but there were still many who doubted the existence of the monster snake.

That all changed as school started back at the Big Sandy school in McLean bottoms. The school building was a conventional small school, consisting of a rectangular wooden frame structure with double doors on one end and the teacher desk, stove, and blackboard on the opposite. It was a typical hot, humid end-of-summer day and about time for recess. Valentine Byrd was busy teaching at the front of the room when the double-doors slowly opened. To his astonished eyes, a huge reptile with a head as large as a dinner bucket slithered into the aisle, forked tongue flickering from its large maw. “Walls of Jericho,” he screamed, “Run children, run.” Needing no encouragement, kids exited through doors and windows, breaking door hinges and glass as they left, accompanied by their young teacher in hot pursuit.

The entire countryside was aroused, doors were barred, and some families even prepared to move. A mass meeting was hurriedly called at the general store on Roseville’s main street. Sheriff Clark Wood instructed every man to go home and get their weapons, a snake posse was needed. Scouring the entire region with bloodhounds, the men finally spotted what they thought was Old Sam sinuously swimming in Deep Bayou. Shotguns and rifles exploded, loosing enough ammunition to start a small war. Old Sam sank from sight.

A hundred-plus years have passed, the story of Old Sam is still told, and the people of Big Sandy still pray, “Lord, please make sure that Old Sam was not able to pass on any progeny.”

R

RESIDENT NEWS NETWORK