Junior Chicks fall to Osceola in opener

OSCEOLA -- The Blytheville Junior Chickasaws opened the 2011 football season by dropping a 16-6 decision at the hands of the Osceola Seminoles Thursday night at Seminole Stadium.

Blytheville (0-1) had the ball for just 2:27 and ran just six plays in the first half as Osceola (1-0) built up its lead.

Osceola jumped out to a quick lead on its first possession. On a third-and-13 play, Alexander Boyce broke a couple of tackles and ran 58 yards to pay dirt as the Seminoles took an 8-0 lead after the successful two-point conversion with 5:49 left to play in the first quarter.

Blytheville fumbled the ball back to the Seminoles on its second play from scrimmage giving Osceola the ball at the Blytheville 46 with 4:59 left in the first quarter. Six plays later, on a fourth and one from the Blytheville six yard line, Taylan Thomas ran a QB sneak across the goal line as Osceola increased their lead to 16-0 after the two-point conversion with 52 seconds left in the first period.

Blytheville immediately responded with their only score of the night. Keveon Lewis returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the house as Blytheville got on the scoreboard and back into the game. Lewis had 110 total yards on the night for the Chicks. A missed two-point conversion left the score, 16-6 with 32 seconds remaining in the first.

Osceola appeared to put six more points on the board as Miller hit Mark Thomas on what looked like a sure 40-yard touchdown pass but Jalen Sorrells tackled Thomas from behind and fumbled the ball to the back of the end zone resulting in a turnover of possession and the Chicks getting the ball at the 20 yard line with 2:00 left in the half.

Blytheville opened the second half with a strong drive as Wesley Wamble (62 rushing yards) had runs of 16 and 35 yards. DeMadre Clark ran the ball in from about 25 yards for a touchdown that was called back because of a holding penalty. The Chicks drove inside the Seminole 10 yard line before Terry Northern's pass was picked off in the end zone by Kalen Thomas.

The Chicks had one more scoring opportunity midway through the fourth period after recovering an Osceola fumble at the Seminole 26 with 2:46 remaining in the game. Three plays later, Blytheville fumbled the ball back to Osceola at their own 35 and putting the game away.

Blytheville plays at home next week against West Memphis East at Haley Field

afitzpatrick@blythevillecourier.com