The phrase “it’s just a scrimmage” is one that can be taken multiple ways. Sure, there’s no winner or loser in the record books and most coaching staffs use a bare-bones playbook, but to the players, “just a scrimmage” is their first shot to prove to their teammates, coaches, and fans that this is their year. Even if the scoreboard never comes on, the young men who finally get to strap on their helmet and face off against someone who is not a teammate will be keeping score in their heads. To them, scrimmage or not, any time they step on the field, the goal is to win.
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Irvin
Mansfield and Lamar do not have multiple decades of history, but they have had their fair share of showdowns in the 2000s. Lamar leads the overall series 10-5 since 2006, but Mansfield holds both the W in their first meeting and the most recent matchup in 2025. The two most recent games were won by the home team as Lamar edged out the Tigers with a 13-12 victory at home in 2024 while Mansfield walloped the Warriors in The Jungle 30-6 in 2025.
Lamar steps into the scrimmage ready to reclaim some respect after going back-to-back seasons with a 4-6 overall record. Conference wise the Warriors have gone 2-5 the past two years with their only conference victories being wins over Waldron and Dover. The Warriors have heard the negativity about being a low to mid-card program for two years straight, but all they can see in front of them is newness. Lamar will see a fresh 4A-4 conference in 2026 with both Clinton and Dardanelle moving out of the conference which has brought in old school foes Booneville and Subiaco to create what many fans are calling the perfect set of 4A-4 teams. The Warriors will also walk into the scrimmage with a new chief on the sidelines.
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Irvin
The Warriors hired Jackson Guerra as their new Head Football Coach during the offseason and that might have been the shot of adrenaline the program needed. Guerra may be the Warriors’ new coach, but he’s not new to coaching as he brought experience in building winning programs at both the high school and collegiate levels. That list includes a run at Russellville, playing a vital role in Dardanelle’s back-to-back 4A-4 conference championships, and even at the next level at Ouachita Baptist University, where he contributed to a 21–4 record, two conference championships, and two national playoff appearances.
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Irvin
The Mansfield Tigers are entering the scrimmage as the reigning and defending 2025 3A State Champions. As with most championship teams, the Tigers will be replacing integral parts of the team for the 2026 season. Mansfield lost ten seniors from last season’s Championship team and will only suit up five seniors in 2026. Even though Mansfield is only returning a few starters, the Tigers are still just as dangerous as ever. Don’t think so? Well, doubters can look back at the Tigers’ 2024 season when in his first season as a head coach, Whit Overton took a team that had five seniors and shocked the state by making it to the school’s first ever eleven wins season and the State Semifinals.
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Irvin
While Mansfield may be seen as a down team this season after losing ten seniors in 2025, the Tigers are eager to step into the shoes left behind by last year’s crew. They may not have as much flash or pizazz as their predecessors, but they definitely have the same intensity. The 2026 seniors were at Lamar when the Tigers narrowly fell with a 13-12 final score in 2025 and that loss has not left their minds. Will it be a tough scrimmage for the Tigers? Yes. Will Lamar bring all they have against a young and inexperienced Mansfield team? Of course. Do the Tigers care about either of the answers to the previous questions. Absolutely not. The only thing that is on every Mansfield player’s mind right now is execution of their game plan and proving the critics wrong…..again.
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Irvin
This may be “just a scrimmage”, but to two programs looking to prove themselves to the critics, it’s all-out war. Sure, neither coach will likely break out the ol’ hook and lateral, pull off a fumblerooski, or send their star players out to play every snap, but the effort that both programs will put in to come out on top in the scrimmage will be the same. Besides, it’s the first contact these teams have had against an actual opponent since last year so you know everyone will be charged up and ready. Kickoff will be at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, August 18th in Lamar.
