FORREST CITY -- Gosnell knew one of the keys to beating Forrest City in their season opening game on Friday was to put pressure -- a lot of it --on Mustang senior quarterback Ethan Adams and make sure senior wide receiver Joseph Tripp was covered.
Try as they did all game to separate the two returning All-State players from a year ago, Adams and Tripp still found a way to hook up through the air -- three times for scores -- as Forrest City was able to hold off the Pirates 27-14 at Sam Smith Stadium.
Adams found Tripp for touchdown passes of 85, 36 and 12 yards for most of the offensive damage.
Bryan Allen, who had three fumbles in last week's preseason scrimmage game against Watson Chapel, bounced back nicely to help the Mustangs, breaking free for a five-yard touchdown run.
Gosnell's Marcus Mullins accounted for both Pirate touchdowns.
The first Adams to Tripp scoring pass came on the Mustangs' first possession with 6:16 in the first quarter and following the point after kick by Keaton Sandage, Forrest City led 7-0.
Gosnell tied the game at 7-7 on a six-yard touchdown run by Mullins with 41 seconds to play in the first quarter and Ricky Gable's point after kick.
Forrest City's 32-yard scoring run by Allen with 9:54 left in the second quarter was called back when the Mustangs were called for holding. An intentional grounding call against Adams further complicated the Mustangs possession, before Allen finally found the end zone from five yards away with 7:58 left in the first half. Sandage's point after kick put the Mustangs in front 14-7, which held through the half.
Taking the kickoff to begin the second half, the Mustangs struck quickly when Adams found Tripp for a 36-yard strike and Sandage tacked on the kick to make it a 21-7 Forrest City lead.
AJ Jones' kickoff return put the Pirates in business at their own 25 and the Pirates keep the ball on the ground, capping the drive with another Mullins touchdown run. Gable's PAT cut Forrest City's lead to 21-14 which held up at the end of three quarters.
After stopping Gosnell on the opening drive of the fourth quarter, the Mustangs were forced to punt after being hit with four penalties on their first possession of the quarter setting Gosnell up at their own 10.
A fumble by Mullins was covered by Forrest City and on the next play Adams found Tripp for a third time and resulting 27-14 lead.
Forrest City linebacker Dennis Scott intercepted Gosnell on the Pirates' final possession and the Mustangs were able to run out the clock.