Woods has 327 yards, 5 TDs in loss to FC

In his final football game in a Chickasaw uniform, senior standout running back Jermel Woods was determined to break the 2,000-yard rushing mark.

Entering the final game of the season, Woods needed 329 yards to reach the milestone.

Unofficially, Woods carried 38 times for 327 yards and four touchdowns and caught a TD pass against the visiting Forrest City Mustangs, but the Chicks fell 54-42 in a chippy shootout with the 5A-East rival on a cold Senior Night at Haley Field.

The Blytheville defender makes the tackle against Forrest City.

Woods had touchdown runs of 64 yards, 5 yards, 37, and 16 yards.

He also caught a 64-yard touchdown from quarterback Jeremiah Northern.

Forrest City’s Kadarius Akins also had a huge night, rushing 32 times for 255 yards and four touchdowns.

Woods had 195 yards rushing at halftime as Blytheville trailed 30-26 at the break after leading much of the first two quarters.

The Chicks rallied after being down by 20 late in the third quarter, getting within four points again early in the fourth quarter.

Northern hit Willie Bell on a 51-yard touchdown connection, and Woods ran in the two-point conversion with 1:07 left in the third, slicing the Forrest City lead to 46-34.

On the ensuing possession, the Chicks forced an Akins’ fumble and pounced on it at the BHS 34.

Four Woods’ runs later, Blytheville found paydirt as the star running back scored with 10:10 to play. Northern ran in the two-point conversion to get Blytheville within 46-42. The Chickasaw defense then forced a turnover on downs to give it to the offense at the Blytheville 19 with 7:56 to play.

The Chicks would punt, and it was tipped, as Forrest City took over at the Blytheville 41.

Six plays later, Akins found paydirt from seven yards out and ran in the two-point conversion to bring the lead to 54-42 with 2:25 left.

Blytheville’s final drive stalled when fumbling a hook and ladder with 30 seconds left, and Forrest City ran out the clock.

Blytheville scored just seconds into the game as Woods darted 64 yards to the end zone on the second offensive snap.

The two-point try was unsuccessful, keeping it 6-0 Blytheville with 11:14 left in the first quarter.

Forrest City answered with a 19-yard touchdown toss from Kendall Akins to Quinton Cottrell at the 9:04 mark, tying the game at 6-6.

Blytheville answered with a five-yard Woods’ touchdown run to go back up, 12-6, with 6:39 left in the quarter.

Woods, who piled up 171 yards on 11 carries in the first quarter, scored again on the Chicks’ next possession, racing 37 yards to the end zone and giving Blytheville an 18-6 advantage with 3:56 left in the opening frame.

Forrest City trimmed it to 18-14 on the ensuing drive, as Kendall Akins found Devontay Buford for a six-yard score with 11 seconds left in the first quarter. The two-point conversion was good.

Blytheville answered again when Northern fired to Woods for a 64-yard touchdown with 10:03 left in the half, increasing the lead to 26-14. However, the Mustangs scored 16 unanswered to end the half as Kendall Akins kept it on a one-yard run and Kadarius Akins added the two-point conversion with 5:18 showing. Then, Kadarius Akins raced for a 29-yard touchdown with 2:29 left in the half. The two-point conversion put Forrest City on top, 30-26. The Mustangs scored on the opening drive of the second half on a 34-yard touchdown toss from Kendall Akins to Jaterrion Brown to go up 38-26.

The score went to 46-26 on a five-yard Kendall Akins’ run with 2:22 left in the third. After the play, a skirmish led to two Blytheville players being ejected.

Blytheville finishes the season 3-7 overall and 3-4 in 5A-East play. Forrest City improves to 8-2 overall and 6-1 in the 5A-East, taking the league’s second seed into the playoffs.