BEARCATS ARE OPEN THIS WEEK

Bearcat Stadium will be dark Friday night, not because the players, fans, cheerleaders, band or anyone who might have as much as a casual interest in high school football will have to watch a livestream, a replay or attend a game elsewhere.

It is open week so it is impossible to win or lose. Ironically in 2019, the last time there were Friday night lights to be seen on a September 20, the Bearcats were also open after a week two win.

TODAY IN BEARCAT FOOTBALL HISTORY: The Bearcats are 6-3 all time in games documented to have been played on September 20, the most recent being a 21-7 win over Star City. In that game Mason Berry had a 61-yard run.

On September 20, 1974 Kean Cunningham had a record 91-yard punt return in a 34-6 win over Clarksville. On the 20th of September in 1963 Perry Mikles returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown and H.P. Jones had a safety in a 26-20 win over Dardanelle. In 1991 on September 20 Greenwood was the opponent and a 27-yard field goal by James Lee proved the be the difference in a 10-7 win.

NOTES: With two wins at Bearcat Stadium so far this year the win total for the Home of Champions is now 280. Poteau, OK became the 68th different opponent to lose here and Ozark lost for the 19th time to move into third place alone as the most often opponent to take a defeat at the stadium.

For comparison sake there have only been 31 schools win here a combined 63 times. The overall winning percentage is now .815. Doc Crowley coached teams are now 29-3 at Bearcat Stadium.

Through three games a couple of seniors have risen to the occasion. Damari Poole has scored a team leading five touchdowns and Dylan Todd has scored both offensively and defensively and the pair co-lead the team in sacks with two each. Todd has also scored both offensively and defensively.

Juniors Seth Wilson and Hunter Warren are the defensive leaders. Wilson has 37 total tackles and Warren has 20. Conner Lentz (shown), also a junior, is the leading rusher to date with 222 yards.

Kicker Oliver Loaeza was 5-for-5 on PAT kicks in Paris and is now 7-for-9 on the season, with a 25-yard field goal as well.

THE 3A-1: Conference 3A-1 was 3-5 last week with half of the teams finishing up their nonconference slate. Besides the Bearcats beating Paris 35-9, Greenland beat Berryville 47-21 and Lavaca beat Roland, OK 21-14. Mansfield and Charleston both suffered one points losses with Lamar edging Mansfield 13-12 and Ozark getting past Charleston 35-34. Elsewhere JC Westside beat Cedarville 36-14, Lincoln beat West Fork 46-18, and Gentry beat Hackett 55-18.

This week’s league schedule finds has only four games including Heavener, OK at Charleston, Huntsville at West Fork, Mountainburg at Hackett, and Green Forest at Greenland.

THEME: There is no pep rally, of course. However there is a junior high pep rally today.