Jonesboro ends Blue Devils’ playoff hopes

‘Canes make the postseason with win over West Memphis

By the Paxton Sports Bureau

Pzxton Media Group

WEST MEMPHIS — Jonesboro will participate in the state football playoffs for the 17th consecutive season and for the first time, the Arkansas high school football postseason will take place without the West Memphis Blue Devils..

The Hurricane solidified its place on the Class 6A bracket with a 42-28 victory over West Memphis in Friday night’s regular-season finale.

Jonesboro earned the No. 5 seed from the 6A-East confer-

See DEVILS, page A9

Photo courtesy of the Blue Devil News Crew Class 4A

From page A7

ence and a road game against Lake Hamilton, the 6A-West’s No. 4 seed, next Friday.

Junior running back T.J.

Brown rushed for 210 yards and four touchdowns on 33 carries. Jonesboro's defense also scored two touchdowns as the Hurricane (3-7, 3-4 6AEast) cruised past the Blue Devils (1-9, 1-6 conference) for its second victory in three games.

West Memphis recorded a safety to open the scoring.

Jonesboro moved in front later in the first quarter on Brown’s 3-yard touchdown run and the first of Marco Cisneros’ six extra points.

Brown scored on a 4-yard run in the second quarter to give Jonesboro a 14-2 lead. West Memphis’ Eric Sykes countered with a 7-yard touchdown run before Brown scored from 5 yards out to set the Hurricane’s 21-8 halftime lead.

Jonesboro moved in front 288 on Brown’s 16-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

The defense handled the remainder of the scoring, Markeice Stafford scoring on a 27-yard interception return for a 35-14 lead and Jaques Jordan returning a fumble 70 yards for a 42-20 advantage.

State playoffs First-round pairings:

Cabot at Springdale Springdale Har-Ber at Pulaski Academy Bentonville West at Little Rock Christian Little Rock Southwest at Rogers BYES: Bryant, Fayetteville, Bentonville, Conway

Class 6A

Jonesboro at Lake Hamilton Russellville at El Dorado Sheridan at Mountain Home Van Buren at Marion BYES: Greenwood, Little Rock Catholic, Benton, Shiloh Christian

Class 5A

Texarkana at Valley View Wynne at Little Rock Parkview Nettleton at Hot Springs Lakeside Camden Fairview at Harding Academy Searcy at Morrilton Greenbrier at Maumelle Vilonia at Robinson Beebe at Farmington Blytheville at Heber Springs Clinton at Gosnell Pocahontas at Nashville Harmony Grove at Southside Ashdown at Highland Prairie Grove at Lonoke Ozark at Arkadelphia Gentry at DeWitt Forrest City at Monticello Hamburg at Gravette Central Arkansas Christian at Warren Helena at Elkins Green Forest at Mena Pottsville at Malvern BYES: Dardanelle, Little Rock Mills

Class 3A

Centerpoint at Osceola Hoxie at Fordyce McGehee at Newport Fouke at Rivercrest Walnut Ridge at Rison Atkins at Perryville Melbourne at Charleston Palestine-Wheatley at Jessieville Magnet Cove at Booneville Lavaca at Mayflower Dumas at Ouachita Harmony Grove Paris at Mansfield West Fork at Salem Quitman at Prescott BYES: Bismarck, Glen Rose

Class 2A

Marked Tree at Murfreesboro Gurdon at East Poinsett County Cross County at Junction City Mineral Springs at Des Arc Mount Ida at Bearden Poyen at Bigelow Hazen at Conway Christian Hector at Carlisle

8-Man

Rector at Brinkley South Side Bee Branch at Strong Woodlawn at Cedar Ridge Marvell-Elaine at Midland