Devils shut out by North Little Rock

West Memphis and Marion on collision course in Hometown Showdown

By BILLY WOODS

WM School District

NORTH LITTLE ROCK — The West Memphis Blue Devils didn’t guarantee victory this week with the No. 3 team in state in North Little Rock staring them in the face.

Nor did they guarantee any statistical victory against the Charging Wildcats.

But the visiting Blue Devils gave North Little Rock all they could handle for a half on Friday night before bowing 35-0.

Two weeks after having only 11 offensive snaps in the first half of a 39-6 loss to Wynne, which had 41 itself in the first two quarters, the Blue Devils were intent on turning the tables in that particular area. And they did it, resoundingly.

The visitors trailed 14-0 at intermission, but they had 40 offensive plays to North Little Rock’s 22.

It was a sign of encouragement to head coach Robert Hooks.

“All we asked of these guys is to go out and compete, and that’s what they did tonight,” said Hooks, whose squad now stands 1-2 on the season. “We wanted to shorten the game and limit (North Little Rock’s) possessions.”

The Blue Devils’ first-half ambush fell short of ever owning a lead, but it was enough to get the Charging Wildcats’ attention from their coach at halftime.

“It was loud in our locker room at halftime, let’s just say that,” said North Little Rock head coach J.R. Eldridge. “West Memphis had a great game plan and they came in here and took it to us in the first half. We actually stayed in the locker room longer than we were supposed to because we were pretty upset.”

The Blue Devils’ first three offensive series saw movement, but all three ended up as stalled drives. They ended up at the North Little Rock 33, the 41 and the 17 before all three drives crashed after going for it on fourth down.

“We talk all the time about finishing plays,” said Hooks. “And we talk all the time about finishing series.We’re still making the mistakes that champions are supposed to avoid. We gotta make a play, we gotta put the ball into the end zone. We didn’t do that tonight, but it’s going to get better.”

The Blue Devil defense turned North Little Rock over once in the first half as dazzling junior Tamerius Bell intercepted a Kareame Cotton pass and returned it to the North Little Rock 46 before that particular drive stalled at the 17.

Although down by a pair of touchdowns in the first half, West Memphis outgained the ‘Cats in total yards, 145-142.

“I like where this team is headed,” Hooks added.

West Memphis’ first possession in the second half was much like the first half as it trampled onto North Little Rock territory thanks to a pass interference call on the hosts, putting the ball at the ‘Cats’ 34. But once again the Blue Devils ran out of downs.

One of the bigger gains, individually, for West Memphis was the play of junior quarterback Bryson Jenkins, whose passing numbers were quite deceiving. He completed 8 of 20 passes for 83 yards.

However, he had six dropped throws, which drew the ire of the head coach.

“Oh my goodness, dropping the football …,” Hooks said, his voice trailing. “That right there will get you beat. Huge momentum shift right there.”

North Little Rock (4-0) put it away with two touchdowns in the third quarter and another in the fourth quarter.

With the non-conference now in the rear-view mirror, the Blue Devils now turn their attention to the 6A-East Conference portion of their schedule, and awaiting them right off the bat are the Marion Patriots, who were idle Friday night after losing their first three games of the season.

The game is set for Patriot Stadium.

Ticket information for the game includes West Memphis players getting an allotment for family and friends, which will leave a limited amount of tickets for the remainder of Blue Devil Nation.

Those tickets will be on sale beginning Wednesday at the West Memphis School District Administrative office on South Avalon. There will likely be no tickets sold at the box office in Marion on game night.

West Memphis’ Tamerius Bell (5) had a big game at North Little Rock.

Photo by Billy Woods