You would be hard pressed to have a more tradition rich playoff matchup that the one in Fordyce this Friday night. Obviously both know Booneville and Fordyce know a thing or two about playing during the Thanksgiving weekend.
Between them the Bearcats and Redbugs own nine state titles spanning 1986 through last season with the Bearcats adding a fifth last year to the 1986, 2000, 2013, and 2018 titles.
For Fordyce the most recent came in a second back-to-back run in 2019 and 2020. The other was in 1990 and 1991, the later on a route that took the Bugs through Booneville.
It bears mentioning that the Fearless Friday website reports eight titles with titles in 1929, 1598, 1959, and 1960, though the one from the 16th century in likely a transposition and 1958. However, there were no playoffs at all 1953-1968.
Between them the schools own a recognized 130 playoff wins with the Bearcats at 85 and Fordyce at 45.
If that weren’t enough Fordyce plays in a stadium renamed in 2012 for Paul “Bear” Bryant. Arkansas Heritage features a story about Bryant, the nickname, as well as the Redbug mascot and more at
History aside, this year it is the Redbugs who are the only 12 win school in Class 3A after a second round elimination of Jessieville last week.
• Mascots: Booneville Bearcats; Fordyce Redbugs
• When: 7 PM, November 22, at Paul “Bear” Bryant Stadium in Fordyce
• Series: Tied 1-1
• Streak: Booneville has won last 1.
• Last Meeting: Booneville 39 Fordyce 6 on November 16, 2001.
• First Meeting: Fordyce 22 Booneville 0 on November 29, 1991.
• Conference Affiliations: Booneville is 3A-1; Fordyce is 3A-8.
TODAY IN BEARCAT FOOTBALL HISTORY: The Bearcats are 4-3 in games documented to have been played on November 29, including 2-1 in playoff games. In the most famous of the games, the Bearcats beat Prescott 10-9 in a semifinal game on November 29, 1985. Robbie Jones kicked a 34-yard field goal in that game. Ironically that game is the only one on the date not won by a shutout. Completely dismantling an unbeaten Lincoln team on November 29, 2013 the Bearcats got 69- and 64-yard scoring runs from Bryson May, who totaled 177 yards, as well as a 78-yard run from Matt Berry, a 47-yard run from Cody Harrel and one of 40 by Josh Smith. In 1951 the November 29 foe was Paris for the season finale and in that one Orben D. McLemore returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown. It was the longest punt return recorded until 1974.
NOTES: Hunter Warren became the 11th different Bearcat to have a 200-plus yard rushing performance in a playoff game with is 214 yards last Friday, which came on 32 carries. He now has 1207 yards on the season. Dakota Mattson’s touchdown catch moved him alone into the top spot for playoff touchdown catches by a Bearcat with six. Jace Washburn’s threw five of them and now has thrown for more playoff touchdowns than any Bearcat. Mattson (shown breaking up a pass) also intercepted two passes in Friday’s game which is the 10th time that has happened, and he is the ninth player to do it (Matt Berry did it in two different seasons).
THE 3A-1: While the Bearcats were beating Mayflower 35-13 last week, Mansfield was dropping Newport 34-14 and Charleston was on the receiving end of a 50-28 at Osceola.
This week while the Bearcats are at 3A-8 champion Fordyce, Mansfield is hosting 3A-8 fourth seeded Dumas.
THEME: The pep rally theme is Western and will be held outside in the band room parking lot at 10:30 a.m. Friday.
A THANKSGIVING WEEK GAME STUFFED WITH TRADITION
