Where will West Memphis Christian wind up?

Where will West Memphis Christian wind up?

Sports Editor

While a lot of people don’t think of football season as officially starting until early September, West Memphis Christian kicks their year off as early as mid August most years.

This year, the Black Knights have plenty to look forward to, like their new football stadium opening and another opportunity to make a playoff run.

They also have a nice team on paper, but what type of year should they be looking forward to? I’m so glad you asked. Right this way.

Friday, August 19, vs North Delta: Loss, 37-12 Alright, this game has already been played. I even covered it! I did think that the Green Waves would win, though I thought it would be a little closer.

The thing to remember about North Delta is that they’re in Batesville, Mississippi, home of the nationally-recognized high school football powerhouse that is South Panola High School. I wonder if that type of tradition is contagious. It can’t hurt, right?

Friday, August 27, at Fayette Academy: Loss, 40-0 Okay, this one was also played and I thought that Fayette would be tough for West Memphis Christian to beat as well.

An interesting side note is that through the season’s first two weeks, Fayette had not allowed a point scored, so I’m not saying that their defense is on par with the 1985 Chicago Bears, but I’m promising you that it is.

Friday, September 2, DeSoto School: Win, 20-14 Here’s the deal with West Memphis Christian: Their district games are always the most important outings of their season.

So, while the Black Knight Brigade (I made that up on the fly, not bad, right?) may be quaking a little bit after an 0-2 start, this win against the Thunderbirds gets West Memphis Christian right where they need to be.

In fact, this is one of my patented swing games for the Black Knights.

The reason is just a matter of simple math. See, if West Memphis Christian and DeSoto end up with the same record, the winner of this game would have the tiebreaker, and the inside track to a postseason berth.

Friday, September 9, at Oak Hill Academy: Loss, 37-17 This game is basically a straight-up no consequences game for West Memphis Christian.

Don’t get me wrong, anytime you lace up the pads, put on the jerseys and turn on the scoreboard is a big game, but a win or a loss won’t help the Black Knights in their quest for the postseason at all.

That means that West Memphis Christian can play this one a little differently than they would normally if they should choose.

Friday, September 16, Kirk Academy: Win, 27-24 I predict that this is the game where the Knights Field II mystique comes to life.

Week 3’s home win against DeSoto School was great, but I think this one is crazy, like the Black Knights scoring on the last drive of the game for a dramatic win or something like that.

Again, I’ve been wrong before and I’ll be wrong again, but keep an eye on this one.

Friday, September 23, at Lee Academy: Win 30-22 West Memphis Christian has dominated this series of late, but needed to go to overtime to win last year.

Crazy things can happen in Marianna, and I think this game is wild. Like, big plays, turnovers, maybe a trick play going for a score. I mean, weird.

However, this caps the biggest stretch for West Memphis Christian of 2016, and I think they come through.

Friday, September 30, Marshall Academy: Loss, 42-17 Here’s why the previous twogame stretch is big, because the Patriots are the perennial powerhouses in this district.

If West Memphis Christian is 2-0 in the league and 3-3 overall, then a loss here doesn’t sting nearly as much.

But if they are 1-1 in the league? And 1-5 overall? Difwww. ferent story.

The upside is that this game at Knights Field II could break the attendance record as people love to hate Marshall.

Friday, October 7, at Rossville Christian Academy: Loss, 3820 The reason this game is big for playoff positioning is that West Memphis Christian gets points for wins against schools in their classification, and even get points if they lose.

So playing a team like Rossville is big, for better or worse, though a win would be a shot in the arm, for obvious reasons.

Friday, October 14, at Tunica Academy: Loss, 28-27 If West Memphis Christian is 2-1 or 3-0 in the district entering this game, then this is the biggest football game for the Black Knights in recent memory.

I don’t believe that the Blue Devils are unbeatable at all, though it will be tougher on the road.

I think this one is tight throughout and comes down to the wire.

Friday, October 21, Tipton-Rosemark Academy: Loss, 3320 This is the other game that won’t affect West Memphis Christian’s postseason fate, though other games will be going on that will help or hurt them.

More likely, West Memphis Christian will know its fate by the time this game is played in late October.

So I have West Memphis Christian going 3-7 overall and 2-2 in the district.

I think that’s just enough for the Black Knights to creep into the playoffs as one of the lower seeds, which would snap a two-year postseason drought.

By Chuck Livingston