Sports

EPC and Bigelow both come in to the second round of Class 2A state football playoffs with 8-3 records as the Warriors beat Gurdon 26-20 in Lepanto and the Panthers beat Poyen 21-0 in Bigelow. This game will be a rematch of the 2023 state championship game that Bigelow won 28-14...

Dee Buchanan finished with 10 carries for 159 yards and two touchdowns to lead the EPC Warriors (8-3) to a 26-20 win over Gurdon in the first round of the Class 2A state football playoffs this past Friday at Warrior Field in Lepanto. The win sets up a rematch of last year’s state title game with Bigelow...

Harrisburg (1-0) jumped out to a 21point lead in the opening quarter and never looked back on their way to a 67-15 win over Palestine-Wheatley in girls’ basketball action this past Thursday at the Hornets’ Nest in Harrisburg. Hannah Mross scored the first points of the game for the Lady Hornets with a steal and lay-up before Liz Green scored inside making it 4-0. ...

The Trumann Lady Wildcats (0-1) opened their basketball season with a 47-20 loss at the hands of the Brookland Lady Bearcats last Monday (Nov. 11) at Wildcat Gym in Trumann. The Lady Bearcats jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Chelsy Jones hit a jumper for Trumann to make it 5-2. Brookland pushed the lead to 10-2 with 1:20 left before Jones hit two free after being fouled. The Lady Bearcats hit one of two free throws late to make it 11-4 at the end of the first quarter...

Marked Tree honors seniors at last home football game.

EPC and Marked Tree prepare to first round of football state playoffs.

EPC (7-3, 6-1) used a dominant ground game to take a 56-30 win over Marked Tree (6-4, 4-2) to claim the stop seed in the 2A-2 conference in a game stopped in the third quarter due to an injury to Marked Tree’s T.J. Hodges with just under three minutes left in the third quarter. The Warriors will host Gurdon Friday in the first round of the 2A state playoffs as Marked Tree will travel to play Murfreesboro...

Trumann (3-7, 2-5) ended their season on a high note with a 52-30 4A-3 conference win over Cave City this past Friday at RMC Stadium in Trumann. The loss snaps the Wildcats’ nine year state playoffs streak. The Cavemen got the ball first and had to punt the ball away with 10:29 left as the Wildcats took over at their own 40-yard line with 10:20 left. ...

Marked Tree (6-3, 4-2) is coming off a 40-28 loss to Cross County as EPC (6-3, 5-1) comes off a 36-30 win over Des Arc. EPC is now in the drivers’ seat in the 2A-2 conference as Marked Tree is still in the hunt for one of the four playoff spots. EPC beat Marked Tree 38-32 in overtime last year...

Trumann and Cave City are both out of the playoff as they meet this coming Friday at RMC Stadium for each’s final game of the season. The Cavemen beat the Wildcats 20-13 in their last meeting in 2021. The Wildcats are looking to stop a five game losing streak and will look for their running game to control the clock. ...

Harrisburg (27-2) fell 3-1 (20-25, 25-22, 23-25, 23-25) to Central Arkansas Christian to end their season this past Thursday at the 3A state volleyball tournament in Paris. This past Wednesday, Harrisburg rallied and won the final three sets to eliminate Mansfield 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 25-18, 26-24) in the Class 3A state volleyball quarterfinals. ...

Marked Tree (6-3, 4-2) traveled to Cross County (6-3, 4-2) this past Friday night and was handed a 40-28 loss by Cross County in 2A-2 football action. The Indians set in fourth place in the conference with one game left as they host EPC this coming Thursday...

The Trumann Junior Wildcats had trouble stopping the Southside offense as the Junior Wildcats lost their season finale 46-16 at RMC Stadium. The Junior Southerners got the ball first and moved into Trumann territory before fumbling the ball with Cooper Hatley recovering for Trumann as the Wildcats’ 23-yard line with 7:19 left. ...

Hunters headed to deer camp to get things ready for opening weekend of modern gun deer season may want to make a quick pitstop to fuel up at their local Hardee’s restaurant. All participating Hardee’s restaurants in Arkansas will give a free sausage biscuit to anyone who shows their valid hunting license to the cashier during normal breakfast hours Nov. 6...

Trumann (2-6, 1-4) lost to Blytheville (3-4, 3-2) in 4A-3 conference action on Homecoming Night this past Friday at RMC Stadium in Trumann. The Wildcats started their first drive at the Blytheville 20-yard line after a nice return by Brandon Dohm with a horse-collar penalty added on. ...

Junior Hornets beat Hoxie for conference victory By COSMO COSSEY, Sports Connection Team Harrisburg (3-6, 2-4) picked up their second conference with a 30-8 win over Hoxie this past Thursday night at Jordans Stadium in Harrisburg. Hoxie got the ball first and moved the ball to their 40-yard line before they were forced to punt. ...

The Harrisburg Hornets (1-7, 1-4) lost to Hoxie 33-14 this past Friday in 3A-3 football action in Hoxie. Jayvin Thompson led the Hornets with three carries for 52 yards and a touchdown while catching four passes for 24 yards. Thompson also had seven tackles on defense. ...

The Trumann Wildcats (2-5, 1-3) will host the Blytheville Chickasaws (2-4, 2-2) in a key 4A-3 conference match-up. Both teams are fighting to make the top five to secure a spot in the Class 4A state playoffs. The Chickasaws beat the Wildcats 30-24 last season. Trumann is coming off a 44-22 loss to Pocahontas and Blytheville is coming off a 44-20 loss to Highland...

T.J. Hodges rushed for 250 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries as Marked Tree (5-2, 3-1) beat McCrory 38-30 this past Friday in 2A-2 football action. Ken Carter completed 12 of 19 yards pass with two touchdowns as Dawon Smith caught three passes for 80 yard and two touchdowns. Jonah Walker led the Indians’ defense with 19 tackles as Tate Swink finished with 12 tackles, forced fumble and a fumble recovery...

Trumann was outscored 14-0 in the second half as Pocahontas downed the Junior Wildcats 22-14 in junior high conference action at RMC Stadium in Trumann. The Junior Redskins got the ball to start the game and moved the ball to midfield before the Trumann defense forced a punt with 4:37 left. ...

EPC’s Dee Buchanan rushed for over 200 yards and scored three touchdowns in leading the Warriors (4-3, 3-1) to a 36-26 win over Earle (2-5, 1-3) in 2A-2 conference action this past Friday in Earle. The Bulldogs recovered EPC’s onside kick to start game taking possession of the ball at midfield. ...

Local youth football teams were in action this past Saturday in the NEA YFL playoffs.

The EPC Junior High Warriors defense came up big when it needed to as they forced a turnover on downs in their own territory with 23 seconds left in the game to secure an 18-12 win over Cross County in junior high football action this past Thursday in Cherry Valley...

EPC (3-3, 2-1) couldn’t find a way to stop the Cross County (4-2, 2-1) ground game as the Warriors lost 36-28 in 2A-2 conference play this past Friday at Warrior Field. The Thunderbirds got the ball first and put together a 61-yard touchdown drive to take an early 6-0 lead. ...

Junior Lady Hornets volleyball teams wins district title.

Marked Tree’s hopes of a win looked dim late in the game until an Earle turnover gave the Junior Indians a chance for a win with a touchdown and two-point conversion. The Earle defense stepped up with an interception before running the clock out for a 30-24 win this past Thursday at Don Lovell Memorial Field in Marked Tree...

East Poinsett County (EPC) (3-2, 2-0) will host Cross County (3-2, 1-1) in a 2A-3 conference clash this Friday at Warrior Field in Lepanto. The Warriors are coming off a 22-12 win over McCrory as the Thunderbirds are coming off a 46-6 win over ICC. EPC beat Cross County 36-8 last season at Cross County. The Warriors started the season 0-2 but have won three straight games...

Trumann (2-3, 1-1) couldn’t find a way to stop the passing game of Highland (4-0, 2-0) as the Rebels cruised to 46-16 win over the Wildcats this past Friday in 4A-3 conference action at RMC Stadium in Trumann. Highland got the ball first and wasted little time to drive the field and score on a pass play to take a 6-0 lead with 10:11 left. ...

Jayvin Thompson rushed for 148 yard and four touchdowns on nine carries to help Harrisburg (1-4, 1-1) win their first game of the season and snap a 23 game losing streak in a 33-6 win over Piggott this past Friday night. Remington Rapert finished with five carries for 56 yards as Hayden Anderson added a rushing touchdown. Evan Henley led the defense with 14 tackles, Anderson totaled 11 tackles, as Braden Brock, Andrew England, Trent Fitzgerald and Corbin all had 10 tackles each for the Hornets...

Trumann fell behind early and could not recover as the Junior Wildcats lost to Westside 35-20 in 4A-3 junior high conference action this past Saturday at RMC Stadium. Westside got the ball first and drove the field and scored on a touchdown run to make it 6-0. ...

The Trumann Wildcats (2-2, 1-0) will host the Highland Rebels (3-1, 1-0) in a 4A-3 conference football game this coming Friday. The Wildcats are coming off a 30-0 win over Westside and the Rebels are coming off a 43-13 win over Gosnell. The Rebels beat Trumann 13-0 last year at Rebel Memorial Field in Highland...

Harrisburg (0-4, 0-1) fell behind 40-0 at halftime to Rivercrest (3-1, 1-0) on a rainy night at Jordans Stadium on their way to a 40-14 loss in the 3A-3 conference opener for both teams this past Friday in Harrisburg. Rivercrest got the ball first and put together a 65 yard drive that resulted in a six yard touchdown run by Jayden Young to make it 6-0 Colts with 9:32 left. ...

The Trumann Lady Wildcats volleyball team took the court twice last week with a 3-0 win over Blytheville on Tuesday and a 0-3 loss to Brookland on Thursday. Against Blytheville, Trumann go 25-12, 25-8, 25-11 set wins as Olivia Matos led the Lady Wildcats with 12 assists. In the Brookland match, the Lady Wildcats lost all three sets, 11-25, 11-25, 9-25 as Keely Beavers finished with 10 digs. The Junior Lady Wildcats won 25-17, 25-17 on Tuesday but lost 9-25, 13-25 on Thursday...

The EPC Warriors (1-2) will travel to Brockewll this Friday to play the Izard County Cougars (0-3) in 2A-2 conference football action at Izard County Stadium. The Warriors are coming off a 32-13 win over Manila on the road this past Friday for their first win of the season. ICC returns to traditional football after playing eight-man football last season...

The Marked Tree Indians (2-1) will host the Lee Trojans (0-1) in a 2A-2 conference match-up at Don Lovell Memorial Field. Both teams are coming off bye weeks as Marked Tree beat Gurdon 43-6 in week three and Lee lost 22-6 to Baron in their season opener...

The Harrisburg Hornets (0-3) will host the Rivercrest Colts (3-0) in a 3A-3 conference match-up at Jordans Stadium in Harrisburg. Harrisburg is coming off a bye week and Rivercrest beat Forrest City 48-34 this past Friday. The Hornets will look to Max Tracy to guide the offense with Hayden Anderson and Andrew England leading the ground game. ...

The Trumann Wildcats (1-2) will travel to Jonesboro to take on the Westside Warriors (1-2) in the 4A-3 conference opener for both teams at Warrior Stadium. Trumann is coming off a bye week after getting a 36-14 win over Harrisburg in week three. The Warriors beat Riverview 34-19 this past Friday...

Cross County took the opening kick-off down in Marked Tree territory before coughing the ball up with Dewayne Pollion recovering the ball at the Indians’ 40-yard line with 5:49 left. Marked Tree gave the ball back a few players as they fumbled the ball with Cross County recovering at their own 42-yard line with 4:43 left in the opening quarter. ...

After a sluggish first half, EPC (1-2) came out and played well on both sides of the ball on their way to a 32-13 win over Manila (0-3) in non-conference football action this past Friday at Lion Stadium in Manila. The Warriors got the ball first and were forced to punt the ball away with 9:50 left as the ball was downed on the Lions’ 40-yard line. ...