In a scheduling anomaly the Booneville Bearcats will play their only October home game this Friday when they host West Fork.
After an August home date, there were two home games, a game in Paris, and an open date in September. The Bearcats are loading buses on three of the four Fridays in October.
Due to the schedule quirk the Bearcats and Tigers will play Friday in what will be the annual Pink Out game for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Having played in Greenland last week the game also completes the northwest Arkansas portion of the conference slate.
• Mascots: Booneville Bearcats; West Fork Tigers
• When: 7 PM, October 18, at Doug Scheel Field at Bearcat Stadium
• Series: Booneville leads 13-1-0 (.929)
• Streak: Booneville has won last 7
• Last Meeting: Booneville 40 West Fork 0 on September 29, 2023
• First Meeting: Booneville 35 West Fork 7 on November 22, 1985
• Conference Affiliations: Both are 3A-1
TODAY IN BEARCAT FOOTBALL HISTORY: The Bearcats are 10-4-1 in games documented to have been played on October 18 with wins in the last eight games on the date. Randy May ran for 226 yards and scored four touchdowns in a wild 59-24 win over Waldron on October 18, 1991. Twice during the depression era the Bearcats had big defensive games recording four interceptions against Danville in a 7-7 tie in 1940 and picking off five passes against Charleston in 1935 in a 26-0 win. Willis and Hoyt Houston combined to throw for 177 yards in the 1935 game. On October 18, 2013 Cody Harrel ran for 129 yards, including 70 on one play, and Matt Berry returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown in a 49-28 win over Mena.
NOTES: Among the 14 meetings with West Fork are two that occurred in the playoffs. The Bearcat winning streak is now 18 games. Rhett Nietert’s 141 rushing yards Friday night are the most by any back this season. The Bearcats gained 560 total yards last week marking the third time a Bearcat team has topped 500 yards against the Pirates. With his 37-yard scoring run, Chase Shelton (shown) became the eighth different Bearcat to rush for a touchdown this season. Shelton is also the seventh with over 100 rushing yards this season. The Bearcats were a perfect 6-of-6 on third downs against Greenland. There were plenty of flags last week. The Bearcats were assessed 114 yards in penalties on 11 flags and Greenland had 107 yards on 13 with two holding calls declined.
THE 3A-1: While the Bearcats were putting up 64 points at Greenland and winning by 50, West Fork broke into the win column for the first time, beating Cedarville, 49-27. Elsewhere Mansfield remained unbeaten in 3A-1 play with a 52-6 thrashing of Lavaca, and Charleston topped Hackett 42-22.
While the Bearcats and Tigers are playing at Bearcat Stadium this week Mansfield will be on the road at Cedarville, Greenland is at Hackett, and Charleston is at Lavaca.
THEME: The pep rally theme is pink out.
FRIDAY IS ONLY OCTOBER HOME GAME FOR BEARCATS
