It's the final game of the regular season and as usual, there are still two playoff spots open for the taking between five teams in the 5A-East.
Forrest City and Beebe both post 3-3 records while Nettleton, Paragould and Blytheville head into the final week of the regular season with 2-4 marks.
Blytheville needs to beat Forrest City and hope for losses from Beebe and from almost out of no where, Paragould.
The Rams, who haven't seen action past the first Friday in November in quite some time, may actually have the easiest road to the playoffs as they hold tiebreakers against both Beebe and the Chicks after their 28-12 win over Blytheville last week at Haley Field.
Blytheville (3-6, 2-4 5A-East)
at Forrest City (5-4, 3-3 5A-East)
For the third straight year, this game may determine who gets in the playoffs and who goes home.
Blytheville is coming off their first loss to Paragould in a long time. The loss has put the Chicks' season in jeopardy as they will now have to beat the Mustangs and hope for losses from Beebe and Paragould if they want to play next week. The Chicks have lost three in a row and are once again struggling to get their offense going because of multiple injuries in the backfield. Blytheville's league low 115 points scored is 53 points less than the next lowest team, Beebe, with 168. Forrest City has had a roller-coaster type season. They looked like they were going to fly into the playoffs before being upset two weeks ago to Nettleton. The Mustangs need a win to guarantee the third spot in the 5A state playoffs. A loss, combined with a Nettleton win and Beebe loss, and the Mustangs' season in over.
Beebe (3-6, 3-3 5A-East)
at Batesville (6-3, 5-1 5A-East)
Beebe has made one of the most unpredictable turnarounds in the middle of the season as any team I can think of.
At 0-6, the Badgers were left for dead before winning their next three games and now they find themselves in the mix for a playoff spot. A win over the Pioneers will automatically put them in. A loss, and they'll need some help. One month ago, they needed a lot more help, so no matter how this turns out, it's been quite a ride for the Badgers.
Batesville has the two-seed locked up. So, this game may come down to just how much Batesville wants to win and how much they want to rest their starters before the playoffs.
Paragould (3-6, 2-4 5A-East)
at Greene County Tech (2-7, 1-5 5A-East)
At the beginning of the season, if you told me that one team could have a chance at making the playoffs by winning the game, I'd say that team would've been Tech. Wrong. Paragould's upset road win over the Chicks last week provided the Rams with a lifeline to the playoffs. Paragould holds the tiebreakers against Blytheville and Beebe, so they just might sneak in to the playoffs for the first time in a long time.
Tech is finishing a disappointing season that began with playoff hopes. Now, they're playing for pride on their final home game of the year against their biggest rival.
Wynne (9-0, 6-0 5A-East)
at Nettleton (4-5, 2-4 5A-East)
Nettleton looked all but finished until their 41-40 win over Forrest City two weeks ago.
Now, they are playing for a playoff spot.
Their chances are slim since Blytheville and Beebe both hold tie breakers, not to mention they are playing an undefeated powerhouse in Wynne this week in Jonesboro.
Wynne has wrapped up the conference championship and now, like Batesville, must decide how much winning their final game of the year means to them.
Especially against a team that is fighting for their playoff lives.
afitzpatrick@blythevillecourier.com