Tag Archives: Osceola

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Walnut Ridge vs. Osceola

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Bobcats leap over Seminoles, 32-22

Delta Digital News Service

Friday, Oct. 20, 2023

Brayden Morse | Sports Editor

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. – An offensive backfield duo helped the Walnut Ridge Bobcats to a 32-22 victory over the Osceola Seminoles on Friday night at Sexton Field. 

Running back Enrique Perez and running back Robbie Tate each had two rushing touchdowns, combining for all four of the Bobcats’ touchdowns. 

Walnut Ridge head coach Jeffery Blake gave his thoughts on Perez’s performance. 

“We have to have a lot of production out of him. We have to have him keep our offense moving,” Blake said. 

Another Bobcat player who stood out was quarterback Jersie Cunningham. Not only did he manage the offense, but he also had two interceptions on defense to give his team excellent field position. 

“Jersie has grown throughout the year. He is a heck of a player and has been this whole time here. He is just a sophomore, so we have got two more years left with him. We expect big plays out of him, and that is what he does each and every week,” Blake said. 

“Jersie has grown throughout the year. He is a heck of a player and has been this whole time here. He is just a sophomore, so we have got two more years left with him. We expect big plays out of him, and that is what he does each and every week,”

Walnut Ridge head coach Jeffery Blake

Osceola’s first drive of the game ended with a touchdown thanks to utilizing the NFL Philadelphia Eagles’ trending play, the ‘tush push’ to convert on a third and fourth down. 

That drive helped the Seminoles knock off five minutes on the clock.

The Bobcats responded with Perez scoring his first touchdown from 20 yards, as well as converting on the two-point conversion to take an 8-6 lead late in the first quarter. 

Walnut Ridge would eventually get the ball back from a Cunningham interception, but then Cunningham threw an interception with Osceola recovering. 

The Seminoles’ next drive was stalled to a punt, when the punt was blocked and recovered by the Bobcats in excellent field position. 

Tate would go on to score his first rushing touchdown to increase the lead, 16-6 before halftime.

After multiple flags on Osceola’s first drive of the second half, they would go on to score a red zone touchdown and convert a two-point conversion to minimize Walnut Ridge’s lead. 

Walnut Ridge found a way to drive down the field with Tate scoring his second rushing touchdown in a goal-line situation, leading 24-14 midway through the third quarter. 

The Seminoles were not going down without a fight, when having a methodical drive to score a touchdown with one second left in the third quarter. 

Osceola’s hopes of a victory were closed when Perez scored a 69-yard rushing touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter.

The Seminoles drove down the field in a red zone opportunity but could not complete a comeback when Cunningham snagged his second interception of the night.

Walnut Ridge was able to run out the clock and seal a victory, giving them a 6-2 record on the season. 

Coach Blake gave his overall takeaways from the game. 

“Just a great football game, great atmosphere. Osceola is a heck of a team, and they were very athletic and fast. I was proud of our guys for sticking together down the stretch and kept it going,” Blake said. 

The Bobcats will travel to play Manila in a conference matchup next Friday. 

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Brayden Morse

Brayden Morse is a multimedia journalism major in the School of Media and Journalism at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. He can be reached at brayden.morse@smail.astate.edu.

NOTE: Feature photo by Dave Adamson on Unsplash

High School Bands perform during A-State Band Day

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By Krishnan Collins
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO – High schools from across the Delta traveled to Arkansas State University on Sept. 21 for A-State Band Day. 

 The event provided an opportunity for high school bands to get a taste of what the next level of band is truly like. For some band members, the experience transcended their everyday high school routine. 

 “I think it’s a wonderful experience,” Margaret Teeling, band director of St. Joseph School in Conway, said. “We don’t have a football team. So, we just do basketball. That means my students get to come out here and experience what it’s like to play with a huge band.”

Since Band St. Joseph Band members do not have the opportunity to participate in a marching band, participating in A-State Band Day presents a new challenges the students.

   “Well, our high school band is a lot smaller than the college band,” Teeling said. “This is a different experience for them. College band has a lot more freedom than high school band does and I think it’s great for them to have that experience.”

   That opportunity to march means everything to St. Joseph students. Sid Davenport, a ninth grade percussion student from St. Joseph, attended his second Band Day at A-State. He last came to Jonesboro for the event as a seventh grader.

   “I look forward to the opportunity to march,” Davenport said. “Our school is so small that we don’t really get a chance to march. My first time was difficult.”

   A-State Band Day’s annual event brings students into a fast-paced afternoon of rehearsing, playing and enjoying a college game day.  

   Members of The Sound of the Natural State, the university’s band, coached the high school students and gave pointers on how to perform on a football field. The intense rehearsal prepped everyone in attendance for the halftime show. 

   Steven Riley, director of athletic bands and assistant director of bands at A-State, explained the importance of the fast-paced rehearsal. 

   “At halftime, they will all be on the field with us,” Riley said. “That’s why we got to get this rehearsal in beforehand. It’s a lot of extra people.” 

   Riley noted this was not everyone’s first band day appearance. Whether returning A-State band members or returning high school band students, some people knew ahead of time what the day entailed. 

   Dalton Austin, band director at Osceola High School, returned to his alma mater in a different role. Austin experienced band day as a member of the A-State band; now the 22-year-old teacher decided to give his students a valuable experience in his first year of teaching.

   “I’d love for my students to get involved in band after high school,” Austin said. “I want them to know they do have a place in music after high school. I think this is a great event for that.”

   Austin knows he cannot teach his students everything there is to know about band. 

   “I hope they learn that they can perform after high school,” he said. “I hope they learn things that they might not have learned from me. In high school you’re usually competing against area bands. In college it is more of an entertainment thing. I think it’s a lot more fun.” 

   Gregory Brown, one of Austin’s students, attended his second band day. Brown liked the social aspect of the event. Brown plans to be in band wherever he attends college. 

   “Band day could help me know what it’s like to march on the field in front of everybody and calm my nerves,” Brown said. “I would fight for band.”

   The Osceola student specializes in trombone but also plays some other instruments on the side. Band day gave students an opportunity to meet new people from all over the state. 

   “I look forward to meeting new people,” Brown said. “Last year was really fun and collaborative.”

   After rehearsal, both The Sound and high school students took a well deserved break. Visiting schools received black Band Day themed shirts to match the color pattern planned for Centennial Bank Stadium at the A-State Red Wolves’ football game.

   The high school band members watched The Sound perform pregame before watching the football game itself. The halftime performance wrapped up the visiting bands’ performance for Band Day and brought the event to a close.

   “There’s nothing like a college game day,” Riley said. “Especially from the perspective of a marching band member. Getting to be on the field performing for thousands and thousands of people is unlike anything else. The camaraderie and the spirit is unparalleled. Giving high school bands that opportunity is something we cherish.”