Blytheville, Gosnell to play -- finally

One of Blytheville's most anticipated games may not be a game at all.

It's believed other than the occasional 7 on 7, Blytheville and Gosnell have never played one another in a high school football game.

Fans will get an opportunity to see the schools clash next month.

Gosnell visits Haley Field Tuesday, Aug. 23 for a preseason scrimmage.

In previous years, Gosnell played Marion in the preseason, while Blytheville squared off against a variety of opponents, from Jonesboro to Little Rock Fair and most recently, Marianna.

Blytheville head coach Maurice Moody anticipates a good crowd for this year's Arkansas Activities Association benefit game.

"There's going to be a lot of folks here," Moody said Monday, during Blytheville's annual Media Day.

The second-year Chickasaw coach said the scrimmage will allow his team to evaluate where it is, along with providing an electric atmosphere.

"That's going to be like a real ball game," Moody said. "It will be great."

Gosnell head coach Brian Sims has a different take.

"It's a scrimmage that is close; we don't have to travel," said Sims, who once assisted at Blytheville under former coach Doug Quinn. "We are treating it as just as scrimmage and not the Super Bowl. Hopefully we can set up a game in the future and this one goes well."

Moody doesn't foresee a problem motivating his club for any game this year. Coming off a 4-6 season, Blytheville opens at county rival Osceola, then plays at longtime rival West Memphis.

"We're going to play West Memphis every year," Moody said. "I told Coach (Lanny) Dauksch: I know you guys are a top- notch program. I've seen it, I've been there, I've worked with you guys. I know you are a top-notch program and in order for me to judge where I need to be, where I'm trying to go and for my kids to see a top-notch program I need you guys on the schedule. He said, Coach we enjoy it. The older cats in the community, they enjoy it. They remember how West Memphis and Blytheville played back in the day."

After West Memphis, Blytheville hosts Helena-West Helena Central in its home opener, followed by the 5A-East opener at Wynne.

The Chicks will try to avenge last season's tough loss to the Yellowjackets.

Blytheville then hosts Nettleton on homecoming, before trying to requite last year's 13-8 loss to Greene County Tech, which appeared to benefit from some controversial calls, including Blytheville's last second touchdown taken off the board because of a penalty.

After hosting Tech, the Chicks travel to Beebe. The Chicks lost to the Badgers last year despite scoring one more touchdown than they did.

Conference favorite Batesville visits in Week 8, and the Chicks wrap up the regular season at Paragould and at home against Forrest City, which kept Blytheville out of the playoffs last year.

"Every game is going to mean something," Moody said. "Every ball game is special...It's going to be a good season. I really think we've got the talent to make the playoffs and make some noise in the playoffs."

He said he is "extremely excited about this year."

"First of all we've gotten stronger," said Moody, who returns eight starters on offense and eight on defense off last year's club. "The speed has always been there, and I think we've got a bunch of kids with experience. They know what it felt like losing those close ball games. They know what it felt like after a loss, coming in with your head down and they've got to listen to me talk. They want to be on the other end of the stick."

Moody expects to have around 50 on the roster this year, noting 38 participated in camps this summer and close to 50 practiced during spring ball. Fall practice begins Monday morning.

"I have a good group of kids," Moody said. "I think I've got some of the best doggone kids in the school on the football team. And I demand that of them: yes sir, no sir. The atmosphere has totally changed. Yeah, kids are going to be kids, but they're only going to get away with what you allow them to get away with."

Moody hopes for that "staple win" that could be the turning point for the program. Likely a staple win would have to come against either West Memphis or Batesville.

Moody said he is ready for the season to kick off.

mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com

Staff writer Aaron FitzPatrick contributed to this report.