IT'S GAME DAY

October 8 is about as big of a day as there is in the history of Booneville Bearcat football.

No, there are no state championship anniversaries or anything like that, but Booneville Bearcat football literally began on October 8, 1920. The program came to life with a 46-0 win over Magazine.

Including that game, the Bearcats are 11-2 in games documented to have been played on October 8, most recently a 42-14 win over Dover in 2010.

That 2010 Dover game included an 84-yard punt return by Jayson McKnight. Punt returns are a really big thing on October 8.

Besides McKnight, Brandon Herrera returned a punt 87 yards against Dardanelle on the 8th day of October in 1993 (part of a 4 TD and 29-point scoring night), and both Ronnie Littleton and Tad DuPree returned punts for touchdowns against Mansfield on October 8, 1976, with Littleton's going for 82 yards and DuPree's for 60.

MASCOTS: Booneville Bearcats; Mayflower Eagles
WHEN: 7 p.m., October 8 at Patrick Stadium in Mayflower
SERIES: Booneville leads 1-0 (1.000)
LAST MEETING: Booneville 40 Mayflower 7 on October 9, 2020
STREAK: Booneville has won last 1
FIRST MEETING: Booneville 40 Mayflower 7 on October 9, 2020
CONFERENCE AFFILIATIONS: Both are 3A-4

NOTES: You might have noticed that Randon Ray moved into fourth place in all time rushing yards by a Bearcat last Friday in Timpson, Texas. He stands at 3306 with only the three member 4,000-yard club (Ronnie Littleton 4035, Bryson May 4058, Allen Ray 4243) in front of him.

You might have also noticed that Ray scored four touchdowns. It was the third four TD game of his career.

What you might not know is that Ray has now scored 55 total touchdowns in his career (53 rushing, 1 receiving, 1 defensive). That ties him for third all time by a Bearcat. He’s tied with his brother Carson Ray. Up next at 58 TDs is his father Allen Ray. Bryson May is the current leader with 76, or 21 away.

Although the Bearcats managed just four extra points after their six touchdowns Friday, their point after production is now 30 points after 28 touchdowns with 9-15 on two-point conversions and 12-13 on PAT kicks. Before Friday, no opponent had scored after a touchdown. Timpson scored nine extra points after eight touchdowns, thanks to a two-point conversion after a bobbled snap.

Last year's game with Mayflower was the Homecoming game. The Bearcats led only 13-0 at the half before Chance Broussard scored two second half touchdowns to lead the way to a 40-0 lead. Broussard had a career high 111 rushing yards in the win.