Blue Devils, Patriots clash tonight in Hometown Showdown
Marion- West Memphis rivalry game a key 5A East match- up for both teams
WM School District Robert Hooks gets his indoctrination into the West Memphis-Marion football rivalry on Friday night, and he admits all that he's heard about it will not be able to explain the full scope.
Not even a world-wide pandemic will be able to stop Crittenden County's biggest sporting event this year. However, because of Covid-19, there will not be a full house at Patriot Stadium Friday for the 7 p.m. clash.
But emotions still expect to be high, despite social distancing in the stands and despite just one win between the two schools thus far.
Hooks said he got clued in on the rivalry the last three years while he was head coach at Osceola, whose assistant superintendent is Toriano Green, a former Blue Devil football player himself.
'Mr. Green told me a lot about the West Memphis-Marion game,' said Hooks. 'I go to church in Marion also, so I've been told a lot about this game.'
And Hooks said he doesn't want to be the first West Memphis coach to lose to Marion, which is zero and 16 lifetime versus the Blue Devils.
'Our kids look like they're really focused,' said Hooks. 'They don't want to be that team, the first to lose to Marion.'
After a series of blowout wins over the Patriots in 2013 (42-13) and 2014 (41-0) the Blue Devils have won some close calls over Marion, including a 41-40 overtime shocker last year
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File photo HOMETOWN SHOWDOWN (cont.)
that rewarded a gambling group of West Memphis coaches, who chose to go for two and the win in overtime and then saw all their chips cashed in as senior offensive tackle Chris Morris took a swing pass from Owens McConnell, who completed 16 of 32 passes for 300 yards, and rambled into the end zone for a two-point conversion, setting off a wild celebration at midfield.
The Patriots ride the strong right arm of Daedrick Cail, a three-year starter at quarterback and an Arkansas State University baseball commit. Cail is just as dangerous with his feet as he is with his arm.
'His arm is what really concerns me,' Hooks said of Cail. 'He can beat you both ways, but I think where he really excels is throwing the ball. He can throw it deep and he can hit the short routes, too.'
Marion has played a tough non-conference slate that includes No. 1-ranked Byrant (57-16 loss), No. 5 Joe T. Robinson (39-7) and a 35-19 loss to Wynne, the No. 4-ranked team in Class 5A.
'(Marion) is the best 0-3 football team that's out there,' Hooks said. 'Their offense is really good with some really good route runners for Cail to work with.
They'll provide us a real challenge. Defensively, they fly to the football and they do a lot of moving up front.'
The Blue Devils made some gains, despite a 35-0 loss last week at North Little Rock. They dominated the stat sheet at halftime, although they found themselves down 14-0 heading into the locker room. But the visitors dominated time of possession, with 40 snaps to North Little Rock's 22.
The concern, offensively, for West Memphis hasn't really been in the turnover department. For the season, the Blue Devils are only down 5-4 in that category.
The problem has been not being able to finish drives.
Last week the Blue Devils ran out of downs three times after penetrating once into the North Little Rock red zone and then two other times inside the 40.
Plus, Blue Devil receivers dropped seven Bryson Jenkins passes, which Hooks pointed out.
'We've brought our offense in at 6 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday of this week, just trying to fine-tune the base fundamentals,' Hooks commented. 'Blown assignments and penalties have also played a part in our offensive drives thus far. As far as the drops are concerned, if we catch those then, hey, we give ourselves a chance.'
Cail's cast on offense includes running back Cameron Anderson, who rushed for 60 yards in the loss to Robinson, which included a 31-yard touchdown, and receiver Donnie Cheers.
