Corning preview

Quarterback Jon Perkins (4) watches as Alek Samples (15) picks up yardage in last Friday's win over Manila. Samples' backfield partners are pictured blocking, including Spencer Coomer (1) and Luke Yount (22). Both Samples and Yount had over 100 yards rushing in the 40-35 Piggott win.

Okay, I'll be the first to admit that it's an off year for football in Clay County. The three high school teams in the county have a combined record of 3-24 with the Piggott Mohawks accounting for two of those wins.

Meanwhile, the Rector Cougars stand at 1-8 with a 22-20 win Sept. 25 over Palestine-Wheatley, and the Corning Bobcats are at 0-9 and are looking at winless season..something many feel was un-heard of based on recent history of the program.

So, one would think that tonight's contest between the Mohawks and the Bobcats at Parker Field would have little or no meaning..I disagree.

Any time the Mohawks and the Bobcats get together it's a big game for those involved, and the records of the two teams doesn't really matter.

So, for bragging rights the two teams will meet again tonight and my money is on the Tribe. (anyone surprised?)

Coming off a big win over the Manila Lions, the Mohawks should easily handle their cross-county rivals. But don't look for Piggott to run the score up too much, there's still too much respect between the coaching staffs of the two schools for that to happen.

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of arguably the biggest game ever played between the two teams.

On Friday, Nov. 14 the Mohawks faced the Bobcats with a clear-cut conference championship on the line and pulled out the win by a final of 28-0.

Rick Rodery scored the first Mohawk touchdown on a Jimmy Johnson pass reception, and the half ended at 7-0 after Kenny Payne fell on a Bobcat fumble at the Piggott five yard line late in the second quarter.

In the second half Johnson hit Richard Robinson for the Tribe's second TD. Rodery got his second touchdown set-up after punter Bob Gallegley was roughed. Late in the game Johnson picked-off a Corning pass to end another Bobcat drive.

The final Piggott touchdown was set-up by a long pass from Johnson to fullback Marvin Harris, as Rodery got his third score.

Tim Huffman was a perfect four-for-four on PAT attempts and the Mohawks took the conference crown.

The victory would earn the Tribe a first round game against Augusta at ASU's Kays Stadium on Nov. 21.

Tonight's Piggott-Corning game may not have the implications that the contest of 1969 bore, but it's still the Mohawks and the Bobcats and there's no better way to spend an evening in November.

I hope to see a big crowd at Parker Field tonight for the finale, and I predict that the Marching Mohawk band will be performing "Our Boys " several times. For the un-informed that's the fight song played after each score.