Booneville and Osceola will meet in a playoff game for the fourth time in six seasons and fifth overall this Friday night at Bearcat Stadium.
The game will mark Osceola’s second visit to Bearcat Stadium. Last season’s quarterfinal meeting was the second to have been held in Osceola. The other was the 2018 state title game in Little Rock.
Last year the Bearcats were up 21-20 with 10:05 to play after making a stop on a two-point conversion attempt.
A 58-yard run by Dax Goff made it an 8-point lead and after a fourth down stop in Seminole territory the Bearcats put it away when Trace Hall recovered a fumble in the end zone with 4:28 left.
The Bearcats reached the second round by beating Drew Central 56-14. Osceola earned its way into the second round by bullying Fouke 64-0. Both games were in hand by half with the Bearcats leading the Pirates 49-0 and Osceola up 32-0 over the Panthers.
• Mascots: Booneville Bearcats; Osceola Seminoles
• When: 7 p.m., November 17, at Doug Scheel Field at Bearcat Stadium
• Series: Booneville leads 3-1 (0.750)
• Last Meeting: Booneville 35 Osceola 20 on November 25, 2022
• Streak: Booneville has won last 3
• First Meeting: Osceola 34 Booneville 21 on November 21, 2008
• Conference Affiliations: Booneville is 3A-1, Osceola is 3A-3
THIS DATE IN BEARCAT FOOTBALL HISTORY: The Bearcats are 5-4 all time in games documented to have been played on November 17, with a 4-2 record in playoff games on the date.
On November 17, 1978 Jay Crowley threw for a playoff record 167 yards and two touchdowns. Ronnie Littleton ran for 150 and the Bearcats had 526 yards of offense in a 32-14 win over Augusta in a game played at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway under the neutral field rules
On November 17, 1989 James Lee kicked 34- and 30-yard field goals, Joel McDonald ran for 133 and Dustin Blankenship added 89 on the ground in a 28-7 win over Greenbrier in another neutral site game played in Clarksville.
On November 17, 2000 Brad West intercepted two passes and both Will Swint and Ronnie Becker also picked off passes. Becker ran for 75 and John Chase rushed for 104 yards and kicked a 22-yard field goal in a 36-0 win in Lonoke.
On November 17, 2017 Brandon Ulmer ran for 224 yards, including touchdown runs of 58 and 55 yards and Austin Dobbs kicked an 18-yard game winning field goal in a 24-21 win over Nashville. A Noah Reyes interception set up the winning kick.
NOTES: The round of 16 in the Class 3A playoffs includes three teams from each of Conferences 1, 2, 3, and 4 and two each from the 5 and 6.
Last week’s point total of 56 marked the eighth time the Bearcats have scored at least 56 points in a playoff game. Oddly there have been 56 points three times in the first round, 59 twice and 60 once in the second round, and 63 and 70 in quarterfinal round games.
As has been noted Dax Goff set career, single season, and playoff game touchdown records last week. What was not noted is that he also set the career touchdown record with his 21st, surpassing 20 by Bryson May.
