Sports

By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection Team MANILA – As if it wasn’t enough the Manila Lions were facing the 3A’s seventh ranked team in their first 3A-3 conference game. Mother Nature just compounded the problem with blowing rain and soggy field conditions...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team The Trumann Wildcats (2-2, 1-0) will host the Highland Rebels (3-1, 1-0) in a 4A-3 conference football game this coming Friday. The Wildcats are coming off a 30-0 win over Westside and the Rebels are coming off a 43-13 win over Gosnell. The Rebels beat Trumann 13-0 last year at Rebel Memorial Field in Highland...

Karlee Cullom calls for the Colt fans to yell “Defense” during a recent cheerleaders’ halftime performance. (Photo By David Pierce)

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team HOXIE - On a rainy and windy night at Crider Field, Osceola would get off to a fast start, scoring nine points in the first 23 seconds of the game and would go on to post a 44-7 victory over the Mustangs in the Conference 3-3A opener for both teams...

By Joseph Fondren Sports Connection Team BLYTHEVILLE— Tuesday afternoon at the Blytheville Lions Club weekly meeting, they were updated on the Sportsplex in Blytheville and items the city of Blytheville and facilities board have in the works to update the Sportsplex from the facilities board president and Blytheville Baseball Softball (BBSB) board member Seth Wyatt. ...

By Joseph Fondren Sports Connection Team BLYTHEVILLE— Tuesday afternoon at the Blytheville Lions Club weekly meeting, they were updated on the Sportsplex in Blytheville and items the city of Blytheville and facilities board have in the works to update the Sportsplex from the facilities board president and Blytheville Baseball Softball (BBSB) board member Seth Wyatt. ...

By Joseph Fondren  Sports Connection Team  CAVE CITY— Friday night, head coach Jett Howard’s Blytheville Chickasaws overcame multiple obstacles from a more than two-hour bus trip, rainy weather and penalties to get their first win on the season over 4A-3 foe the Cave City Cavemen, 32-6. ...

By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection Team For the second consecutive week the Westside Warriors will be playing in a homecoming game. Last week, the Warriors (1-3, 0-1 4A-3) hosted Trumann for their homecoming. Friday, the Blytheville Chickasaws (1-2, 1-0) welcome Westside as their homecoming opponent...

By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection Team The scoreboard operator for Friday’s 3A-3 Conference matchup between the visiting Rivercrest Colts and the Newport Greyhounds may need as much prep time this week as the football teams. Considering the two teams’ scoring has been at a premium this season, the scoreboard will likely be flickering with point updates Friday...

Prior to the junior high game the Gosnell 7th Grade squad took on Highland. The 7th Grade Pirates got the night started right with a 26-16 win over the visitors. (Photos Courtesy of Gosnell School District)

\Gosnell hosted Highland in junior high football Thursday night at J.W. Rea Field in Gosnell. The junior Pirates would get the better of their guests posting a 36-22 win. (Photos Courtesy of Gosnell School District)

By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection Team HIGHLAND – The Gosnell Pirates struggles continued Friday as they dropped their 4A-3 conference opener to the Highland Rebels, 43-14. It’s the second straight loss to the Rebels (3-0, 1-0) after the Pirates had won 10 consecutive prior to last season...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Harrisburg (0-4, 0-1) fell behind 40-0 at halftime to Rivercrest (3-1, 1-0) on a rainy night at Jordans Stadium on their way to a 40-14 loss in the 3A-3 conference opener for both teams Friday in Harrisburg. Rivercrest got the ball first and put together a 65 yard drive that resulted in a six yard touchdown run by Jayden Young to make it 6-0 Colts with 9:32 left. The two-point pass play fell incomplete...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team Manila volleyball took on conference rival Cave City Monday with the Junior and Senior Lady Lions both winning. The Junior A squad won both sets, while the Senior girls won in straight sets 25-13, 25-19 and 25-11...

By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection Team FORREST CITY – Forrest City High School honored its Class of 2024 Hall of Fame class at halftime of Friday’s football game. But the visiting Jayden Young had a Hall of Fame performance of his own. Similar to Rivercrest teammates Cavonta Washington and Buddah Harris, who accounted for seven and four touchdowns respectively, the week before, Young put on a show with five scores in a 48-34 win over the host Mustangs...

By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection Team The Blytheville Chickasaws are mired in a five-game losing streak dating to last season but a remedy could come in the form of the Cave City Cavemen Friday. Yes, the Cavemen have posted a 2-1 mark but are coming off a 48-0 blowout at the hands of Melbourne Sept. ...

By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection Team The Gosnell Pirates have spiraled since an opening game win over Greene County Tech. Since the team has lost back-to-back games to Missco rivals Rivercrest and Osceola. Can the Pirates right the ship? It may be a difficult task as they are sailing through rough waters on their way to a matchup against Highland - one of the 4A-3 Conference preseason favorites...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team The Harrisburg Hornets (0-3) will host the Rivercrest Colts (3-0) in a 3A-3 conference match-up at Jordans Stadium in Harrisburg. Harrisburg is coming off a bye week and Rivercrest beat Forrest City 48-34 this past Friday...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team The Trumann Lady Wildcats volleyball team took the court twice last week with a 3-0 win over Blytheville on Tuesday and a 0-3 loss to Brookland on Thursday. A gainst Blytheville, Trumann go 25-12, 25-8, 25-11 set wins as Olivia Matos led the Lady Wildcats with 12 assists. In the Brookland match, the Lady Wildcats lost all three sets, 11-25, 11-25, 9-25 as Keely Beavers finished with 10 digs...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team The EPC Warriors (1-2) will travel to Brockewll this Friday to play the Izard County Cougars (0-3) in 2A-2 conference football action at Izard County Stadium. The Warriors are coming off a 32-13 win over Manila on the road this past Friday for their first win of the season. ICC returns to traditional football after playing eight-man football last season...

Riverside tennis takes on CRA and Piggott The Riverside Boys and Girls tennis teams took on Crowley’s Ridge Academy with the Riverside girls winning and the CRA boys defeating Riverside. In the girls singles action Riverside’s Kaylee Cox defeated CRA’s Elizabeth Evans 6-0. The Rebels Blakely Biggers defeated Evans as well 6-2...

Osceola broke open a tight game with a pair of second half touchdowns in posting a 25-6 Conference 3-3A victory over the visiting Manila Junior Lions Thursday at Seminole Stadium. Osceola led 13-6 at the half and added a score in the third and fourth quarters to gain the victory. Coach Shawn Hearn’s squad improved to 2-0, 1-0 on the season with the win. The Junior Seminoles continue their two-game home stand with a game against Hoxie Thursday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (Photos By Steve Knox)...

Gosnell, led by medalist Anna Claire Smith’s 75 (right), finished second at the 4A-3 District Golf Tournament. Morgan Hatch had an 89 for the Lady Pirates, while Aubrey Hill shot a 95. Ashley Whitney also competed for Gosnell and had a 98. The Lady Pirates team score was 259. ...

The Gosnell girls golf team, paced by medalist Anna Claire Smith’s 35, defeated Buffalo Island Central and Rector. Smith’s score paced Gosnell which had a team score of 128. Morgan Hatch (43) and Aubrey Hill (50) were the other Lady Pirates whose scores counted. Also competing for Gosnell were Whitney Ashley and Sara Smith, both of whom fired a 52 and Cayleigh Whitehead (54)...

Buffalo Island Central won a three-way match over the Mustangs B Squad and Rector Sept. 17 at Thunder Bayou Golf Links in Blytheville. The Mustangs fired a 146, while the B Squad and Rector both had a total of 162. Gosnell and Blytheville both competed but only had two players each, so their team scores were not counted. Conner Whitehead of Gosnell was medalist with a 44. Landon Thomas had a 45 for Gosnell. The Chickasaws competitors were Jordan (60) and Johnny Moore (57)...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team The Trumann Wildcats (1-2) will travel to Jonesboro to take on the Westside Warriors (1-2) in the 4A-3 conference opener for both teams at Warrior Stadium. Trumann is coming off a bye week after getting a 36-14 win over Harrisburg in week three. The Warriors beat Riverview 34-19 this past Friday...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Cross County took the opening kick-off down in Marked Tree territory before coughing the ball up with Dewayne Pollion recovering the ball at the Indians’ 40-yard line with 5:49 left. Marked Tree gave the ball back a few players as they fumbled the ball with Cross County recovering at their own 42-yard line with 4:43 left in the opening quarter. ...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team After a sluggish first half, EPC (1-2) came out and played well on both sides of the ball on their way to a 32-13 win over Manila (0-3) in non-conference football action this past Friday at Lion Stadium in Manila...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team GOSNELL - Osceola raced to a 15-0 halftime lead and cruised past the Gosnell Pirates 31-12 on rain soaked J.W. Rea Field in Gosnell. The Seminoles and Pirates battled through a scoreless first period after the Pirates turned away the Seminoles initial drive of the game when Osceola quarterback Tyler Bell was stopped short of the line to gain on a fourth and two play from the Gosnell 9 yard line. ...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team GURDON - Senior T.J. Hodges ran for four scores as the visiting Marked Tree Indians (2-1) overwhelmed the Gurdon Go-Devils (1-2) Friday at Go Devil Stadium in Gurdon. Hodges ran for a total of 256 yards, as the Indians ground attack gashed the Gurdon defense all night...

The 2023 Trumann Girls Golf Team was recently named an Academic State Champion for the 2023-2024 school year. Trumann shared the award with Valley View and Melbourne. Pictured from the Class of 2024 are Macey Powell, Jaci Osment, and Jenna Hall along with current Trumann sophomore Casey Riddle. This accomplishment reflects success in the classroom. (Courtesy photo)...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team JONESBORO - Nettleton quarterback Maddox Hampton’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Kam Bobo was the difference as the Raiders (2-1) edged visiting Blytheville (0-2) 26-20 in non-conference action Friday at Nettleton. It was the Raiders fifth consecutive victory in the series between the former conference rivals. Four of those games were decided by seven points or less...

Presley Worsham (right), a student at the University of Arkansas, runs into former Rivercrest Elementary principal Gloria Phillips, of Osceola, at Saturday’s Razorback game. Worsham is a 2023 graduate of Rivercrest.

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Trumann (1-2) got four touchdowns from Tony Postell, Jr. as Trumann beat Harrisburg (0-3) 36-14 this past Friday to retain the Battle for the Ridge trophy in a clash of Poinsett County football teams. Harrisburg got the ball first as Remington Rapert gave the Hornets good field position with a kick return out to the Harrisburg 43-yard line. ...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team The Trumann Lady Wildcats volleyball team last to Pocahontas, 18-25, 25-22, 11-25. 22-25, in high school volleyball action. Devon Andrews had 10 kills for Trumann as Keely Beavers added 11 digs for the Lady Wildcats. The Junior Lady Wildcats lost their match 2-1...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team The EPC Warriors (0-2) will travel to Manila (0-2) for a non-conference game that will see one team gain their first win of the season. The Warriors are coming off a 56-32 loss to Rivercrest as Manila is coming off a bye week after losing 43-6 to Marked Tree in week two...

By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection Team WILSON – Skies rained on The Tez football field Friday just as the Cavonta Washington and the Rivercrest Colts reigned supreme in a 56-32 homecoming win over East Poinsett County. In the first regular season meeting between the two teams since 2013, Washington combined for seven touchdowns – six passing and one rushing – and accounted for 372 total yards to lead the Colts. ...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team Lake City native and Riverside High School Alum Gavin Stone continues to have a solid season with the National League West leading Los Angeles Dodgers. Stone’s team has won 17 of his 25 starts this season, including four in a row capped by L.A.’s 8-6 win Saturday over the Arizona Diamondbacks...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team PARAGOULD - Manila (0-1) went on the road to open the 2024 football season at Paragould and despite a game effort came up short by a 28-7 score to the Class 5A Rams. While the game was not artistically pretty, the Rams had the better of things throughout the game. Manila was hurt by an early turnover, fumbling the ball away on its initial possession and more than 10 false start penalties...

By REVIS BLAYLOCK Sports Connection Contributor MANILA - The Manila Lions volleyball teams swept four matches from Piggott Thursday winning the seventh grade, junior A, senior B and senior high matches. The seventh grade Lions won straight in sets 25-22 and 25-11. The junior A won both their sets 25-23 and 25-22. The senior B won their set and the senior high won in three sets 25-6, 25-25 and 25-23...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team LEPANTO - East Poinsett County hosted 3-3A power Walnut Ridge Friday in the season opener for both schools. While the smaller school had success against their Lawrence County visitors the last two seasons, this time the Warriors offense had a tough time sustaining anything against the Bobcats and fell 37-0...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team MARKED TREE - The fifth ranked team in Class 3A, the Newport Greyhounds, went on the road Friday to face Class 2A power Marked Tree. The Hounds would explode for 40 first half points enroute to a 48-30 victory over the Indians in the season opener for both teams...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team The Harrisburg Junior Hornets (1-0) opened their season with a 34-0 shutout of rival Cross County in junior high football action this past Thursday in Harrisburg. The Junior Hornets came up big on their first possession stopping Cross County on downs to take over at their own 36-yard line with 3:56 left in the first quarter. Harrisburg couldn’t get much going on their first possession and they had to punt...

By STEVE KNOX Sports Connection Team PARAGOULD - Gosnell raced to a 14-0 lead after one period and went on to post a 26-7 victory over the Greene County Tech Eagles Friday. Senior running back Venterrues Lucas got the Pirates on the scoreboard first on a 4-yard run and sophomore Marcus Anderson busted loose on a 63-yard scoring gallop to make it 14-0 Pirates after one period...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team Harrisburg (0-1) traveled to Cross County (1-0) for their season opener Friday night. The only thing that was tougher than both teams was the weather which caused a halt in play with 6:28 left in the game and the Thunderbirds leading 22-0. The weather did not let up and the game was called final around 9:23 p.m...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team The Trumann Wildcats golf team finished in third place at their golf tournament this past Thursday at Newport Country Club. Brayden McClaughlin shot 52 to lead the Wildcats while Asher Box and Brayden Rolland both shot 53. Keegan Holman finished with a 54. Competing as an individual, Caden Adams of Harrisburg carded a 55...

By COSMO COSSEY Sports Connection Team The Marked Tree Indians (0-1) will travel to Manila (0-1) to take on the Lions in non-conference football action at Lions Stadium. The Indians are coming off a 48-30 loss to Newport and Manila is coming off a 28-7 loss at Paragould...

The 2024 mini cheer clinic will be held Sept.10 and 11 from 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. at the Trumann Middle School gym at 221 North Pine Avenue. The Trumann cheerleaders will assist the youngest Wildcats in displaying their Wildcat Pride. Registration forms for students from Pre-K to sixth-grade are obtainable in the main office...

By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection Team BLYTHEVILLE – Freshman quarterback Elijah Moody had a high school football debut to remember as his Mills University Comets routed Blytheville Friday, 46-6. The signal caller accounted for six scores – three rushing and three passing – as the Comets (1-0) scored 40 unanswered points enroute to the win. ...

By DAVID PIERCE Sports Connection Team BLYTHEVILLE – Make no mistake, preseason or not, Blytheville Chickasaws head coach ‘Jett” Howard wants to win. And that his team did as Derick King hauled in a pass reception with 45 seconds left in the game to down 6A West Memphis, 13-7, during the Aug. 20 benefit game...