The Gosnell Pirates (5-4, 4-2) will be either the third or fourth seed in the 4A-3, and will try to keep Westside from claiming the conference title Friday night when they host the Warriors on Senior Night at J.W. Rea Stadium.
The final week of the regular season will determine a playoff seeding in the league as Rivercrest (8-1, 5-1), Westside (7-2, 5-1) and Trumann (6-3, 5-1) enter tied for first and Gosnell sits a game back in fourth.
The Pirates were defeated earlier in the season by both the Colts and the Wildcats to knock them to the three or four seed. The winner between GHS and WHS will travel to play the defending 4A state champion, the Arkadelphia Badgers.
“ We don’t know. Obviously, right now you’ve got a three-way tie for first place with Rivercrest, Trumann and Westside. Hopefully, we are able to beat Westside and hopefully it’ll work out for us. If that happens we’re the three seed. Westside would be the four. Rivercrest would be the one seed and Trumann would be the two seed even though they are co-champions,” Barbaree explained. “Of course a loss would mean we are the fourth seed and probably going to Elkins, Mena or Dardanell. In that area. But we are going to plan to prepare to win. We aren’t going to worry about what happens if we lose. We are going to prepare to win and hopefully it works out. The reward for the team who wins this game is they get to head to Arkadelphia to play the defending state champs, but we will take it anyway we can get it.”
The Warriors are hoping to have their first conference championship in school history. Barbaree said the Warriors have had a good year and play hard, and the Pirates have to match the Warriors intensity.
“Well, I mean it could be the chance for them to win their first conference championship ever. Yeah they’ve had a good year. No doubt. They play really hard. I’ve always said that. They’ve always played us well,” Barbaree said. “It’s just if we come out with the same intensity that they do because I know they are going to come out intense and looking to do something that’s never happened there before. We’ve got to match fire with fire.”
The Warriors are coached by Bobby Engle who has a 22-20 record at Westside. The Warriors rely on all-state runner David Fowler, running back Logan McPhearson and quarterback River Engle, who is Coach Engle’s son.
“Obviously, I’ve got a lot of respect for Coach [Bobby] Engle. They play extremely hard since he’s been there and it starts with David Fowler,” Barbaree explained. “He’s an all-state running-back, coming back. He ran for I can’t remember 130 or 140 against us last year. Heck of a runner. He’s a really strong and physical runner. Then you got Logan McPherson, who broke a big run on us last year in the fourth quarter that gave them the lead again with a minute left. They’ve got the Jones kid at fullback. I think he’s averaging nine or 10 yards a carry. So, I mean they’ve got some weapons. River Engle, the quarterback and the coach’s son, makes plays. They hit the big pass play against Rivercrest to win the game that puts them in the lead. So, they’ve got a bunch of weapons. It will be a matter if we can stop the main ones and match their intensity.”
The Pirates’ two losses have come after big turnovers throughout the game. Barbaree explained that his players just have to be focused and have a high intensity. The Pirates have relied on their running backs and have also been helped with crucial catches.
Barbaree said, “Well everything is about not turning the ball over in our offense. No matter if we are throwing or running. You know the games we’ve lost, we turned the ball over and the games we’ve won we have been able to hold onto the ball. I think just our kids’ focus and intensity. We’ve got three really good running backs and a fourth who can play too with Devin Burks, CaDarius and Jy (Young), and then Waylon Kuykendall. I think we still have a threat out with Mookie [Amarion Partee]. We haven’t thrown him the ball a lot but you know he can run and hopefully we are able to give him the ball some. Then Bailey Fields has made some good catches for us. I just think if we can hold onto the ball we give ourselves a chance. If you don’t turn it over then you got a shot.”
The Pirates have been guided by junior quarterback Brett Barbaree for most of the season and although he’s not a typical quarterback, Coach Barbaree said he’s consistent and does things right.
“Well thing is Brett is not a quarterback. There’s no doubt. I mean never planned on it. Never wanted him to be,” Barbaree explained. “He’s been our third string quarterback for many years but always seems to find away because he is consistent. He works hard. He does things right. Yes, he’s had his faults like everybody else but you know where I’d like to put him is anywhere on that line because he is also our best blocker but it just so happens that he’s the one that can get us in the right plays and can throw it some. It also allows Mookie to be a playmaker instead of having the ball solely in his hands. But Brett has done a great job. Hopefully he can make some plays with his arm this week to give us another shot. But like I said I’m proud of him. He gets more stuff from me than anybody but I mean I love him. He’s a tremendous kid and a tremendous person and I’m proud of the person he’s becoming.”
The Pirates will honor their seniors Friday night for Senior Night and Barbaree addressed what each has meant to the Pirates program throughout their careers.
“Fred has started every game except for one since I’ve been here. So, whatever that number is almost 40 games. Pretty impressive. Pretty impressive. He’s been a great kid. CaDarius, the same way. He’s been nicked up before but he always seems to make plays when we need him. Burks said he’s started all but one game in his career. He probably got close to 300 career tackles. So, he’s solid for us,” Barbaree explained. “Then Rielee Green he has two big picks this year and he stuck with the program even when he didn’t get to play and got the chance to play as a senior. Austin Middleton coming back as a senior after never playing. He’s started at fullback for us for several games. Chaz Talley came back to the program. He’s been nicked up all year and hopefully he gets the chance to play here in the next week or two. Weston Griggs, like I said guys that stuck with the program. He’s had a chance to impact the program in some form or another. He has made an impact. Bailey Fields has made some big plays for us at defensive end and wide receiver. They all have had the chance to make an impact and help our football team.”