Coaches often talk about starting fast. Booneville has gotten the message this season as fast starts have become the norm.
In the last two weeks the Booneville Bearcats have scored 99 points, with 92 coming in the first half. That makes six times the Bearcats have scored at least 32 first half points.
For the year the Bearcats have failed to score in only two of 22 first half quarters and have scored a combined 343 first half points.
MASCOTS: Booneville Bearcats; Manila Lions
WHEN: 7 p.m., November 19, at Bearcat Stadium
SERIES: Teams have never met
LAST MEETING: Teams have never met
STREAK: Teams have never met
FIRST MEETING: Teams have never met
CONFERENCE AFFILIATIONS: Booneville is 3A-4; Manila is 3A-2
NOTES: Bearcat Stadium is hosting its 59th playoff game. The Bearcats are 45-13 in those games, a 0.776 winning percentage.
The 1986 Bearcats are scheduled to be in the house tonight. Thirty-five years ago that team won the school’s first state title in football by beating Lake Village in War Memorial Stadium. It was the second of what would be four finals appearances over five years.
With the win last week the 2021 Bearcats are now one of 21 teams with at least 11 wins.
THIS DATE IN BEARCAT FOOTBALL HISTORY: The Bearcats are 4-5-1 in games documented to have been played on November 19. In playoff games the November 19 record is 3-2.
A couple of the more notable games are from 1993 and 1999. The November 19, 1993 game was in Rivercrest and saw the Bearcats beat the Colts and Arkansas signee Tyrone Henry. The game includes a blocked punt return for a touchdown – Joey Ballin took it in from 25, and he also ran for 104 yards.
The 1999 game was a 59-6 beatdown of Warren that included 238 rushing yards by Brandon Rowland, which is the second most rushing yards by a Bearcat in a playoff game. Allen Ray added 168 yards, kicked eight PATs and a field goal for 29 total points. There were also four interceptions, one each by John Chase and Andy Taylor, and two from Brad West, with one of West's going back for a touchdown. Will Swint also had a 64-yard punt return for a touchdown in that game.
The 2004 28-14 win over Ashdown on November 12 included a 77-yard kickoff return by Tobler Turner. Floyd Parnell ran 78 yards for a touchdown against Paris in a 1965 game.
