Stakes for Nettleton, Wynne much higher this time around

Nettleton and Wynne engaged in a shootout when they last met two years ago, the Raiders prevailing 64-57 at Yellowjacket Stadium on a lastminute touchdown.

The stakes will be much higher tonight and the score figures to be much lower as the teams meet again in Wynne.

Nettleton and Wynne will decide the 5A-East conference championship this evening. Both teams are capable of putting up plenty of points, but the Raiders and Yellowjackets have also been impressive defensively while rolling through their schedules.

Wynne (9-0, 6-0 conference) has been especially stifling with shutouts in its last three games. The Yellowjackets haven’t given up a touchdown in 16 quarters and have yielded just 23 points in conference play.

Nettleton (9-0, 6-0 conference) has given up 34 points in conference play while holding each of its first six league opponents to single digits. The Raiders put themselves in position to play for an outright conference title against the defending 5A-East champion Yellowjackets by holding off Valley View 14-7 last week.

Tonight’s game became a battle of unbeaten teams Wednesday when the Arkansas Activities Association announced that Marion has forfeited its season-opening victory over Wynne because of the use of an ineligible player.

The only challenge the Yellowjackets have faced in their last eight games came from Valley View, which stayed close for three-plus quarters before Wynne punched in a late touchdown to finish a 21-6 victory. Nobody has scored on them since then.

Wynne’s defense features all-state end Tirrell Johnson, a 6-3, 225-pound senior who has 26.5 tackles for loss and 13 quarterback sacks. Johnson has 69 total tackles, two pass break-ups, a forced fumble and three quarterback pressures.

A stout front leads the Raiders defensively. Tackle Jordan Pigram has 18 tackles for loss, while end Javontae Wallace has 13 and interior lineman Kam Phillips has 10. Nettleton turned Valley View away without points twice after the Blazers drove inside the 5-yard line.

Quarterback Cameron Scarlett and running back Koby Bradley power Nettleton’s offense. Scarlett has rushed for 959 yards and passed for 1,020, accounting for 24 total touchdowns.

Wynne fullback Kobey Davis has 986 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 6.5 yards per carry asnd will more than likely pass the 1,000 yard ruhsing plateau tonight.

John Watson is the Yellowjackets’ quarterback and Cardarian Washington is at slotback.

Carl Washington, who is being recruited by Arkansas Tech, is drawing plenty of attention after running for close to 1,400 yards last season, Paschal said.

The teams did not play last season as Nettleton canceled its last three regular-season games because of COVID-19 issues. Wynne holds a 20-2 alltime lead in a series that dates to 1998.

When the teams played two seasons ago, Nettleton was out of the playoff picture and Wynne was out of the race for the league title. They combined for 121 points.