Bearcat Athletic Director Josh Walker and head football coach Doc Crowley have released the 2024 Booneville Bearcat football schedule.
The slate for the defending Class 3A state champions contains two new nonconference opponents than the just completed cycle, one of which is a longstanding opponent and the other which has not been on a Bearcat schedule in 67 years.
The later of those is Poteau, Okla. The Pirates, who are coming off of an Oklahoma Class 4A state semifinal season, have only appeared on a Bearcat schedule only twice, in 1956 and 1957, and the Sooner state team won both.
The interstate clash in 2024 will be in week zero, Aug. 30, at Bearcat Stadium.
Closing out the three game nonconference period is Logan County foe Paris, who returns to the schedule after a two year hiatus. The Eagles host the Sept. 13 game.
The Bearcats and Eagles will be meeting for the 92nd time but first time in a nonconference tilt in decades.
Traditional week one opponent Ozark, who reached the Class 4A quarterfinals, is back in their spot and will also travel to Bearcat Stadium on Sept. 6.
The Conference 3A-1 slate features the same seven schools as the previous two-year cycle but the order has changed, and two of the games will have the 2023 host at home again in 2024.
After an open date, conference play will start with, rather than end with Cedarville, with the Pirates making a second straight trip to Bearcat Stadium for what will be the Bearcat homecoming game on Sept. 27.
On Oct. 4 the Bearcats go to Hackett and Greenland is back in the week six slot on Oct. 11 with the game set for Greenland.
West Fork will occupy the week seven, Oct. 18 spot and will come to Bearcat Stadium and the Bearcats will close October on the 25th with a road game at Mansfield for the second straight year.
Charleston is in the week nine position on Nov. 1 and will come to Bearcat Stadium for senior night, followed by the regular season finale at Lavaca on Nov. 8.
Playoff dates are Nov. 15, 22, and 29 and Dec. 6, and the Class 3A state title game is set for Dec. 14.
