Get hyped for the Hometown Showdown

Blue Devils vs. Patriots game gets even bigger in 2019 with pregame festivities

ralphhardin@gmail.com Hamilton-Shultz Field will be rocking this Friday night with an array of red, white and blue as the Blue Devils welcome the Patriots for a friendly game of football.

OK, “welcome” and “friendly” might be pushing it a bit. In reality, the week’s game between Marion and West Memphis is going to be a hard-hitting affair with more than just bragging rights on the line.

Both teams have underperformed in the early going this season, with the Patriots and Blue Devils both sporting 1-2 records in the non-conference portion of their 2019 schedules. Incidentally, both teams beat Blytheville and both teams lost to Wynne. So, with the all-important opening of the 6A East conference schedule starting for both teams, the Devils and Pats are eager to get a win under their belts.

Is it really a rivalry if one team has never won?

Yes, yes it is. Just ask any of the thousands of West Memphis and Marion fans that will fill up the Hamilton- Shultz bleachers Friday night, with Blue Devils backers hoping to continue their domination of the recod books while Patriots pundits hold on to the belief that “wait until next year” is finally this year.

And this year’s West Memphis-Marion football game will be even more special than it has been in the past, with the pre-game activities ramped up even more than what fans have seen over the last several years.

With the help of several local businesses, the Blue Devil-Patriot “Hometown Showdown” will have extra flavor this season in the Fred Leonard State Farm Hometown Showdown.

Leonard’s State Farm is the Title and Presenting sponsor.

“The idea for this came from my days in Jonesboro, where no school district was playing each other in football,” said Leonard. “Back then we partnered with the Chamber of Commerce and my fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi. We created a showcase game where each of the schools in and around Jonesboro came to play a big jamboree at Arkansas State University.”

Leonard wanted to take the tailgating that had already been established in West Memphis and Marion and make it bigger.

“This really isn’t my idea, it’s just building on what’s already been happening in West Memphis and Marion,” Leonard added.

The added attraction this year is nationally renowned musical group The PC Band playing at pre-game festivities. Also, DJ Big Rawd will be a featured performer.

Leonard said there will be games for children and plenty of food for fans. The proceeds from the event will go toward the West Memphis School District, the Marion School District, ASU Mid-South and the Chickasaw Council Twin Banks District of the Boy Scouts of America.

Other businesses donating to the event include JR& K Printing, Fidelity Bank, Service Master, Arkansas Greyhound Kennel Association and the West Memphis Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

And it’s not just a good time, there’s also a good cause. As part of the leadup to the 2019 Hometown Showdown, both school districts have been involved in a fundraiser for St. Jude. Leonard and Hometown Showdown organizers set a goal of $10,000, and as of Tuesday morning, that goal had already met met and exceeded, with $11,662 raised.

Friday’s fun begins at 4:30 p.m. and goes right up until game time. Free food, live music, cornhole, inflatables, a photo booth and more.

“It should be a great time for fans of both teams,” said Leonard.

“It’s all about community.

That’s why we’re doing this. We’re proud of both football programs and both communities.”