Rivalry game set

Rivercrest needed a game after Highland canceled because of covid-19.

While Rivercrest Coach Johnny Fleming said he was talking to teams in the state and in Missouri, a familiar school came open for the Colts on Wednesday.

The Colts agreed to play its longtime Mississippi County rival Osceola on Friday, shortly after Osceola learned of Harrisburg’s covid-19 situation Wednesday. Harrisburg canceled its game against the Seminoles after announcing that several players were having to quarantine.

Before Fleming had a chance to tell his superintendent Sally Bennett about Osceola being open, Osceola Superintendent Alfred Hogan already contacted Bennett. The game was finalized and the Colts and Seminoles will meet Friday at Cortez Kennedy Stadium in Wilson.

It didn’t take long for the Colts’ players to express their thoughts with playing the Seminoles.

“The kids were blowing up their phones and the internet,” Fleming said. “It will be a little different because of the number of fans that will be able to attend.”

Fleming said that with the school’s covid-19 protocols, they will allow for 300 fans to sit on the home side of Cortez Kennedy Stadium and 165 fans on the visiting side.

“There may be cars parking on the interstate to watch the game,” joked Fleming, whose home stadium sits just east of Interstate 55 in eastern Arkansas.

Rivercrest (6-0, 3-0 4A3) has won the past nine meetings against Osceola (2-2, 2-0 3A-3). Friday’s game is a nonconference affair, but Fleming said the Seminoles will provide the Colts with a good test for the postseason.

“They’re as athletic as they’ve ever been,” Fleming said. “Their quarterback [Dontavian Littleton] can throw it. He also can run it as well.”