Tonight’s Forrest City-Wynne matchup is a tale of two teams

Forrest City's 33-16 victory over Wynne during the 2019 prep season, ended the Mustangs ninegame losing streak against the Yellowjackets, which began in 2011.

Tonight, in the tale of the two teams, Forrest City (2-6 and 1-4) will host the Yellowjackets (7-1 and 5-0) in the next to last conference game for each team.

Tonight's scenario heavily favors Wynne, a team that has scored 263 points this season while holding opponents to a total of 73.

Wynne's season journey started on Aug. 27, on an awkward note, when Marion senior kicker Dylan Pieri kicked a 40-yard field goal with no time remaining in regulation to boot the Patriots past Wynne 24-21.

It was Marion's first victory over Wynne since the 2018 season and so far, remains the only blemish on Wynne's season record.

No other team since that opener has scored more than 14 points against the Wynne defense. Morrilton, in a nonconference game put up 14 points in their loss to the Jackets.

Since the Morrilton game, Wynne has held opponents to 13 points or less with two shutout victories, 31-0 over Batesville and 51-0 against Paragould.

Tonight, Wynne brings its 7-1 overall mark and perfect 5-0 mark to Sam Smith Stadium to face the Forrest City Mustangs.

A Yellowjacket win tonight and a Nettleton victory over Valley View tonight will set up next week's Wynne/Nettleton game, which, more than likely will decide the outright conference champion.

Valley View remains in the conference mix as well, one game behind Wynne and Nettleton (8-0 and 5-0).

Tonight's games are all about seeding and trying to get a home playoff game.

Nettleton is one of only three unbeaten teams remaining in the Class 5A ranks along with Vilonia and Greenbrier.

Like Wynne, Nettleton’s defense has been stingy allowing only 27 points against conference opponents.

Forrest City is trying to avoid finishing in the conference cellar holding their own with Paragould, the Mustangs' only conference victory this season and Brookland, Forrest City's final season opponent next week which will also be the first ever football meeting between the two schools.

Last year's scheduled game against Brookland was cancelled due to covid concerns.

Through the previous eight games, the Mustangs have been held to a combined 86 points scored, while giving up 259.

Wynne comes into tonight's game after the Yellowjackets jumped on Paragould 33-0 in the first quarter last week, easing to a 51-0 win.

Forrest City's defense will be faced with stopping senior slotback Carl Washington, who ran four times for 40 yards and a touchdown and caught a 40-yard touchdown in the victory over Paragould. Wynne sophomore fullback Cobey Davis is also a run threat rushing 10 times for 121 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Valley View (6-2, 4-1 conference) has been equally stingy in conference play, giving up 27 points in five games with three shutouts, two of those coming over the past two weeks.

Valley View holds a 5-4-1 lead over Nettleton in a series that began in 2010.

Tonight is also Senior Night for Forrest City.

••••• Thursday night, playing at Wynne, the Forrest City Junior Mustangs had their three-game win streak halted, losing to the unbeaten Junior Jackets 40-8.

Forrest City trailed 32-0 at the half and the "mercy rule" continuous running clock came into play with 3:30 left in the third quarter

The Junior Mustangs (6-3 and 4-2) avoided the shutout scoring their lone touchdown with 26 seconds remaining in the game, a 38-yard touchdown pass and a two-point pass as time expired to Jarvis Palmer.

Defensively, Wynne had a first half interception and recovered a Forrest City fumble in the second half.

The Junior Mustangs will host Brookland on Thursday, Nov. 4, to close out the regular season.

•••••

Eric Jimmerson scored twice Thursday to help push the Palestine-Wheatley Junior Patriots past Piggott 28-8 in the final 3A-3 junior high conference game of the season played at Patriot Field.

The Junior Patriots end the year at 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the conference.

Anthony Pendleton scored twice for the Junior Patriots and had one two point conversion play.

••••• Palestine-Wheatley (0-7, 0-5) is still looking for its first varsity win of the 2021 season, and so is Piggott (0-8, 0-5).

One of the two conference teams will walk away tonight with that victory while the other will more than likely finish the year in last place when the Patriots make the road trip to Piggott.

Piggott found its offense in last week’s 53-38 loss to Harrisburg, but it still wasn't enough to cap a win.

P-W was fell hard to Corning losing 49-14 in a game that became confusing early and finished that way when the game officials walked off the field after P-W scored with no time on the clock and without having the chance for a two-pont conversion play.

Last week, Piggott and Harrisburg combined for five touchdowns in 87 seconds at one point in the game.