IT'S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME DAY

Booneville and Prescott have played some remarkable games through the years.

The schools have met primarily, but not exclusively, in the postseason. The exceptions are the 1989 and 1990 season openers on Labor Day weekend each year.

In 1989, what would be Doug Sheel’s last year as head coach, the Bearcats won 12-0 with a touchdown, a field goal, and a safety. In 1990, the Kenneth Rippy era began with a 32-12 win over the Curley Wolves in their first trip to Bearcat Stadium.

The 1985 game was a classic 10-9 game in Prescott in the semifinals, and the following year the Bearcats went back to Prescott and beat the Curley Wolves 30-3 on the way to the school’s first state title.

The 2014 game was s slugfest 42-30 win in Prescott and the 2018 game was perhaps the greatest game Bearcat Stadium has ever hosted, a 34-31 battle decided on an interception at the goal line with seconds to play.

Prescott actually won the first two games in the series, both on neutral fields, one of which was War Memorial Stadium in 1973 ,and the other in Hot Springs two years later.

• Mascots: Booneville Bearcats; Prescott Curley Wolves
• When: 12 p.m., December 9 at War Memorial Stadium
• Series: Booneville leads 6-2 (0.750)
• Last Meeting: Booneville 34 Prescott 31 on December 1, 2018
• Streak: Booneville has won last 6
• First Meeting: Prescott 52 Booneville 0 on November 17, 1973
• Conference Affiliations: Booneville is 3A-1, Prescott is 3A-5

THIS DATE IN BEARCAT FOOTBALL HISTORY: The Bearcats are 1-0 in games document to have been played on December 9.

The only December 9 game was 23 years ago in 2000 when the Bearcats beat Nashville 29-21 in the state title game at War Memorial Stadium.

It was a Brad West 59-yard run that broke a tie at 21 – Nashville had rallied from down 21-7 – and West then threw to Trey Holloway for a two-point conversion. West also threw for 82 yards and three touchdowns that day, all of them went to Will Swint. Bryan Taylor ran for 84 yards in the game as well.

The Bearcat defense also recorded six sacks that afternoon. Jered Goddard recovered a muffed punt that kept Nashville from getting one last Hail Mary shot after the Bearcats were forced to punt in the final minute.

NOTES: The 2023 season is the 10th anniversary of the third state title in school history and the 5th anniversary of the 2018 title team, both of which were undefeated. It is also the 85th anniversary of the first undefeated team in 1938 and the 70th anniversary of the 11-0 1953 team. Those are the only four unbeaten teams in school history.

This marks the fourth time Booneville has reached the state championship game in consecutive seasons. The others are 1985 and 1986; 1988 and 1989; and 2000 and 2001.

On the strength of the two finals appearances, Saturday’s game will be the 14th playoff game for the Class of 2024, which is tied for the most by any class.