Blue Devils look to spark offense against Sheridan

West Memphis still looking for second win of 2021 season

WM School District The first seven weeks have brought mostly frustration and disappointment to the West Memphis Blue Devils.

But as is often the case in sports, redemption could be right around the corner.

Welcome to Hamilton-Shultz Field, Sheridan.

There are three 0-4 teams

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Photo by Billy Woods BLUE DEVILS (cont.)

in the 6A-East and two of them play at Hamilton-Shultz on Friday at 7 p.m.

The other winless team in the conference is Pine Bluff, which plays at Marion.

West Memphis (1-6 overall, 0-4 in the conference) will need two wins in its final three games in order to qualify as one of the six playoff teams from the East.

The next two weeks will define the season for the Blue Devils.

But first, Sheridan, and only Sheridan, according to West Memphis head coach Robert Hooks.

“First off, we gotta take care of business this week,” said Hooks. “If we can win Friday night then we put ourselves in position to be in the playoffs.”

For a team that has held exactly one lead for just over three minutes in the last six weeks, the current opportunity is beyond generous.

The Blue Devils are fresh off a 40-0 thrashing at Jonesboro last week. And still, memories of last year’s 27-21 overtime loss at Sheridan linger.

“None of us has forgotten that game a year ago,” said Hooks.

And for good reason.

First off, the Blue Devils were short two coaches due to Covid quarantines.

Hooks and defensive coordinator Butch Gray were forced to sit out the Sheridan game, and the head coach said it was frustrating watching the live stream and having only limited contact with his coaches and none with his players.

“We were on the phone watching it online together,” Hooks stated. “It was miserable watching it, and Coach (Grafton) Moore said it was even worse watching it in person.

“Anytime you lose one you know you should have won it always hurts and you want to get it back. We’re here now, and this is our opportunity.”

The whole evening was encapsulated by Sheridan’s Payton Edwards, who rushed for 383 yards and four touchdowns.

Sheridan (2-5, 0-4) has wins over Jacksonville (426) and Hot Springs Lakeside (24-7). The Jackets’ closest conference encounter this season was a 28-6 loss to Sylvan Hills.

“They’re a gutsy group and they’re going to play hard until the final whistle,” Hooks said of Sheridan.

“They’re going to be where they’re supposed to be and they have a very physical style of running game on offense.”