The Blytheville Chickasaws (4-5,4-2) enter the regular season finale in a four-way tie for second in the 5A-East.
With a win at Forrest City Friday night, the Chicks would secure a spot in the Class 5A playoffs.
Blytheville is coming off a 41-21 win over Paragould, bouncing back from a loss at Batesville the previous week and learning it would have to forfeit a win over now league leader Nettleton.
“Obviously, we are pretty disappointed. We had a two-week stretch there that was rough for us, or a week and a half stretch,” Blytheville head coach Ben Fisher said. “But we came out last Friday and it took us a little bit to get going but we got going and just continuing to do that Friday. I feel like we travel pretty well. Well, we didn’t obviously travel very well to Batesville but for the most part I’ve always thought we traveled pretty well. Just we’ve got to win the football game. We want the best seed possible, some of that is out of our control. If we win and we are in the playoffs and that’s our goal. Right now is to win a game. Now if we are the one, the two, the three or the four who knows but we’ve just got to take care of business. Win the football game and then figure out how the sitting would go.”
Nettleton (8-1, 5-1) sits atop the conference standings, followed by Wynne (5-4, 4-2), Batesville (4-5, 4-2), Blytheville and Valley View (6-3, 4-2) who are all tied for second. Forrest City (4-5, 3-3) is currently sixth. The Mustangs are fast, according to Fisher. They also to look to load the box and will hope to stop opposing team’s run game.
“They scare the heck out of me, they’re fast, they’re physical and they are fast or faster than we are so we’ve got to be ready for that,” Fisher said. “They are going to put seven people in the box and try to stop the run. They are going to force us to throw it. They are going to play us in man coverage for the most part and we are going to try and take advantage of what they give us.”
The Chickasaw offense has been balanced all season and Fisher credits that to assistant coach Lance Stone and his players.
“Yeah, we’ve been really balance this year and that goes back to Coach [Lance] Stone for calling the offense, PWee and the receivers doing a good job of running routes and getting open and the O-Line too,” Fisher said. “Their pass pro has been pretty good this season. So, just got to continue to stay balanced and keep them on their toes. So, they don’t know if we are going to run or pass.”
Chickasaw junior running back Jermel Woods had 15 carries last week for 96 yards and Fisher said he has to continue to be able to run through defenders.
“[Jermel] was a grown man Friday night just running through people and we’ve just got to continue to do that. The O-Line just has to get a hat on a hat and move bodies and we’ll be alright if we can do that,”Fisher added.
FCHS relies on quarterback Randall Moore. Fisher explained that Moore is mobile and makes deep passes.
“Their wide receivers are pretty good. Their best two players on offense are their quarterback and their running back. Their quarterback is a tall kid. He’s mobile. He’s going to scramble around and get open,” Fisher explained. “They are going to throw the deep ball. They are going to want to throw the 15 to 20 yard routes and we’ve just got to keep pressure and stay in our lanes and not give him time to throw those deep balls.”
Nettleton 8-1 5-1
Wynne 5-4 4-2
Batesville 4-5 4-2
Blytheville 4-5 4-2
Valley  View 6-3 4-2
Forrest City 4-5 3-3
GCT 2-7 0-6
Paragould 0-9 0-6