Sports

MARIE - Rivercrest’s strong first half propelled them to a 35-14 Homecoming victory over visiting Jonesboro-Westside. The Colts raced to a 21-0 lead after one period and led by 28 points at the half. The Warriors would finally get their vaunted run game going in the second half as they had a pair of touchdown drives, one in the third and the other in the fourth quarter, to get within 21 points on two occasions. ...

CAVE CITY - Rivercrest jumped to a 14-point lead in the first half then relied on its stout defense to hold off Cave City 16-13 in Conference 3-4A football action Friday at Caveman Field. The Colts used a pair of early scores to build a 14-0 lead but saw its offense bog down a bit in the second half, while the Cavemen made a comeback bid...

PIGGOTT - Osceola scored 46 first half points, overwhelming the Piggott Mohawks, on their way to a 67-0 victory at Hunter Midkiff Memorial Stadium in Piggott. The Seminoles, playing for the first time in nearly a month, came out firing moving all the way down to the Mohawks 1-yard line on a 52-yard run by backup quarterback Torian Bell, Jr. But a false start and four unsuccessful plays resulted in the Seminoles turning the ball over on downs with 7:39 to play in the first quarter...

MARIE - The Rivercrest Junior Colts overcame a 12-0 first quarter lead with two second half scores to post a 16-12 victory over Cave City Thursday at Cortez Kennedy Field. The win improved Rivercrest to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in Conference 3-4A play. The Junior Cavemen scored on a pair of first quarter touchdown passes, one going for 55 yards, and the second for 11 yards. Rivercrest would stop Cave City’s two-point conversion attempts after both scores to keep their deficit at 12 points...

The Osceola Junior Seminoles used a few explosive offensive plays and a stingy defense to halt visiting Piggott, 30-0, Thursday at Seminole Stadium. The Osceola offense showed more consistency in the victory after struggling in the second half of the previous week’s win over Corning. The Junior Seminoles defense posted its first shutout of the season keeping the Junior Mohawks on their side of the 50 most of the game...

MARIE - Rivercrest sophomore Michael Rainer scored five touchdowns and senior quarterback Mike Sharp tossed four touchdown passes as the Colts held off the Pocahontas Redskins, 61-41, in the Conference 3-4A opener for both teams Friday at Cortez Kennedy Field...

The Gosnell Pirates fired a team score of 238 to win the 3-3A Conference Golf Tournament Thursday at Blytheville Country Club. The Manila Lions finished second with a 267 paced by Rex Farmer’s 78. Rivercrest finished third with a 307 total missing qualifying as a team. Rivercrest senior Chandler Warhurst led the Colts with an 89 and qualified as an individual for the state tournament...

South Mississippi County athletes are having an impact on football teams in the Great American Conference. Jariq Scales, a redshirt freshman at Southern Arkansas University, leads the conference in rushing. Scales prepped at Osceola High School. Scales and the Muleriders stand 2-2 in conference play this season...

Osceola built a 28-8 halftime lead then held on in the final quarter to post a 28-24 victory over the visiting Corning junior Bobcats Thursday at Seminole Stadium. Osceola had its way in the opening 16 minutes of the game, taking a 14-8 advantage in the first period. ...

BROOKLAND - Fullback Tray Jones scored three touchdowns and the Rivercrest Colts evened their record at 1-1 with a 31-26 victory over the Brookland Bearcats Friday at Jordan’s Stadium in Brookland. Rivercrest started fast in this game as they took the opening kickoff and moved smartly down field starting at their own 47 yard line. ...

After having the start of their 2021 season delayed by COVID the Osceola junior Seminoles opened the season with a 24-8 win in their 3-3A conference opener at Manila. The junior Lions controlled the football for most of the first half, in fact, Osceola did not run an play on offense until the 3:38 mark of the second quarter. ...

Rivercrest’s girls golf team finished second in the 3-4A tournament and qualified for the state tournament at Glenwood Country Club. Ashley Sullivan led Rivercrest with a 96. Emma Barnett fired a 110 and Caroline Jones shot a 162. Gosnell won the district tournament behind Aspen Austin’s score of 86...

BLYTHEVILLE - Rivercrest traveled to Blytheville Thursday for its 3-4A conference opener against the junior Chickasaws. The junior Colts would run their record to 2-1, 1-0 with a 16-0 victory at Haley Field. After a scoreless first quarter, the junior Colts would get on the scoreboard first with a defensive score. A trio of Rivercrest defenders, Noah Adams, Nolan Williams and Koby Short stopped a junior Chickasaws running back in the end zone for a safety. The score gave Rivercrest the 2-0 lead...

Rivercrest battled for 48 minutes but would come up short in a 25-19 season opening loss at Class 5A Valley View (2-1) Friday in Jonesboro. Rivercrest was missing 12 players including several starters who were held out due to COVID protocols. Trailing by six points with time winding down in the final quarter, the Colts would drive down inside the Blazers 20 yard line. ...

Jonesboro - The Rivercrest junior Colts traveled to Valley View to tangle with the junior Blazers Thursday and would end up on the losing end of a 21-14 score. Valley View took the lead in the first quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run and the converted point after kick gave the junior Blazers a 7-0 advantage...

The Osceola High School Cheerleaders and Band led the student body in its first pep rally of the year Friday afternoon. The Seminoles defeated Blytheville later that night.

Rivercrest rode the strength of two first quarter touchdowns and went on to post a 16-0 season opening shutout victory over visiting Brookland Thursday at Colt Stadium. Rivercrest opened the scoring with a 33-yard touchdown run by back Jakavion Williams. The junior Colts would add the two-point conversion as quarterback Cavonta Washington hit Mike Facson with a perfect pass to make it 8-0...

Osceola (1-1) used a 22-point fourth quarter surge to pull away from visiting Blytheville and went on to post a 28-0 victory over the Chicks (0-2) Friday at Seminole Stadium. The Seminoles entered the period clinging to a 6-0 lead, which they had taken early in the first quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run by senior back Travelle Anderson...

The Jonesboro based travel softball team won SSOA Fall Warm Up tournament over the weekend at the Sherwood Sports Complex in Sherwood, Ark. One of the players on the team is Carleigh Williams, of Luxora. Pictured are (front row, from left), Emmy Thomason, Vada Watkins, Peyton Prater, Mackenzie Whitlock and Hannah Moss; and (back row), Miranda Smith, Phoenix Simmons, Williams, Emma Exum, McKyna Craig, Kylie Walker and Madilyn Conner. The team is coached by Kenny Walker and Justin Craig...

Rivercrest’s boys golf team won a five-way match Aug. 24 against opponents Rector, Walnut Ridge, Corning and Piggott. The Colts had four competitors with Chandler Warhurst and Conner Vaughn leading the way with scores of 39. Jeb Brigance fired a 45 and Eli Ezekiel had a 51. The Colts winning total was 123. The Colts ran their record to 4-0 on the season...

Osceola battled for four quarters but came up just a bit short in a season opening loss at Class 4A power Crossett. It was the second time in as many seasons as the Eagles have defeated the Seminoles. Osceola (0-1) came into the game hoping for a good start, however the Seminoles quickly found themselves in a 7-0 hole...

A large group of bicyclists gathered in Gosnell Saturday morning for a 20-mile silent ride honoring 33-year-old Clinton Foster, who lost his life Aug. 14 when he was hit by a car while cycling near Dell. The event was a benefit for the Foster family who expressed their appreciation to those who participated...

Successful debut - The Arkansas Delta Dawgs AAU football teams, based out of Osceola, played their first games of the season Saturday at Seminole Stadium.

The Rivercrest boys and girls golf teams both won their matches Tuesday, The Lady Colts won a two-way match besting Armorel 150-176. Caroline Jones took medalist honors firing a 47 to lead Rivercrest. Emma Barnett was second with a 51 and Ashley Sullivan had a 52 for the Lady Colts. Rivercrest is now 3-0...

Osceola fell to Nettleton, 14-7, Thursday night in the Arkansas Activities Association Benefit game at Raider Field. The game was full of big plays by both offenses but each team only reached the end zone once in the opening half. The game was scoreless until the 5 minute mark of the second quarter when Raider quarterback scored on an 11-yard run and the point after kick made it a 7-0 game. ...

Rivercrest jumped out to a 20-0 halftime lead and went on to defeat East Poinsett County 26-8 Thursday in the Arkansas Activities Association Benefit game at Warrior Field. The Colts, defending Class 4A State runners-up wasted on time taking the lead as junior back Tray Jones scored on a 5-yard run to give the Colts the early lead. ...

A pair of former Mississippi County standout athletes are back in town to help lead and mentor the Blytheville Chickasaws throughout the upcoming football season. The brothers, Elroy Brown, Jr. and Gerrett Howard, recently joined the staff, assisting on the defensive side of the ball. ...

We complete our look at the 4A-3 Conference with the four teams expected to finish in the upper half of the league. Westside - Coach Bobby Engle’s Warriors stumbled last season after a strong finish in 2019. The Warriors welcome three new coaches this season as Andy Parker, Bo Grambling and Ryan Cupp join the staff in hopes of righting the ship this season...

Former Seminole great MJ Vance, whose high school and collegiate baseball play have been curtailed by the Pandemic will have a new home this season. Vance announced Wednesday he will be continuing his college baseball play at Williams Baptist University...

Purple and White scrimmage - Osceola held its annual Purple and White scrimmage before a crowd of about 150 at Seminole Stadium.

The Rivercrest boys and girls golf teams were both victorious in their first matches of the season Tuesday at Riverlawn Country Club. The Colts boys defeated Harrisburg and Armorel in a three-way match. Senior Chandler Warhurst and Sophomore Jeb Brigance led the Colts earning medalist honors with both firing a 42.The Colts Eli Ezekiel fired a 54 in his first high school match. ...

Members of the 2021 Lady Colts golf team are (from left) Ashley Sullivan, Caroline Jones and Emma Barnett.

Pictured are (from left) Jeb Brigance, Chandler Warhurst and Eli Ezekiel

Rivercrest ran away with the 3-4A Conference last season winning 12 consecutive games to reach the 4A title game. This season, the Colts are still in the conversation for a second consecutive conference crown. But, the competition might be a little stiffer this season...

Last week we profiled Corning, Manila, Piggott and Palestine-Wheatley none of whom are thought to be in contention for the 3A-3 title. This week, we look at the teams to be considered the top four in the conference. Walnut Ridge - The Bobcats and head coach Jeffery Blake are hopeful after a 2020 season that was wrecked by both the pandemic and injuries. ...

The Northeast Arkansas based Tri-County Rockets went a perfect 3-0 over the weekend at the Great American Shoot-Out in Texas. The team is coached by former Osceola teacher Tarrus Hayes and features former Seminoles Chris Littleton and Terry Harris on its 10-member squad...

The Manila girls basketball team comprised of young ladies in grades 6 and under won the Hot Summer Showcase championship July 18 in Batesville, Ark. The team defeated the Arkansas United, of Pine Bluff, 25-24, in the title game. Team members are, from left, Katie Beth Harper, Addison Bunch, Kaci Jo Shelton, Taryn Crane, Harleigh McGuire, Addyson Eaton and Emma Byrd. The team is coached by head coach, Shea McCain and assistant coach, Johnny McCain...

The Rivercrest High School cheer squad attended a team camp this week at Fayetteville High School. Their coach Elea Robertson said the girls were “rockin that Colt spirit.” Team members in attendance were, (front row, from left) Sydney Harris, Kemiya Bornds, Marissa Cowden, Emma Brooks, Kyleigh Routledge, Hailey Lambert, Kylie Baker and Annabelle Chandler; and (back row, from left) Hadleigh Bell, Grace Strop, Addy Norvell, Alanah Hawkins, Raven Powell, Presley Worsham, Emma Baker, Hayley Gore, Paisley Ward and Mary Jo Booker.. ...

Amber Clay was introduced to the Osceola Seminole fan base Tuesday during a meet and greet in the Osceola High School Cafeteria. Coach Clay, who comes to the school from Holmes Community College in Mississippi, is a Blytheville native and a Blytheville High School graduate. ...