In the college football world, it's often said that a rivalry doesn't truly become a rivalry until there's a contested outcome in series history. If that's true, then the Marion-West Memphis football series officially joined the rivalry club last October. To recap, Marion never trailed on September 24, 2021, in a 33-3 victory at Hamilton-Shultz Field at West Memphis. The Patriots beat the Blue Devils for the first time by barring the West Memphians from the end zone and limiting the hosts to 192 total yards. On October 29, the Arkansas Activities Association ruled that Marion would be forced to forfeit the dominating decision due to an ineligible player. The ruling affected nothing on the field, as Marion defeated Sheridan on the night of the ruling before beating Jonesboro six days later in the regular-season finale, and storming to the semifinals for the second season in a row by routing Russellville and Benton in the playoffs. West Memphis finished sixth in the league, even with the forfeit, and exited in the first round of the playoffs. What it did affect, apparently, is the morale of both teams. At Tuesday's Fred Leonard State Farm Hometown Showdown official media day event, West Memphis star receiver Jarrell Shephard called the loss “traumatizing,” while Marion senior defensive stud Carter Waldo expressed regret about a happy outcome flipping on “unforeseen circumstances.” So the stage is set for the latest installment of the Marion-West Memphis football series at Premier Bank Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the contest will be broadcast live on MarionPatriots.com and on the Marion Patriots Activities Network mobile app. And what an installment it promises to be. These teams are tied for second place in the 6A East with identical 4-1 league marks. The winner remains alive in the conference title hunt, while Marion (4-2 overall, 4-1 6A East) could earn a share of the league title by winning out. When last seen, Marion was mercy ruling Searcy last Friday night at Lion Stadium as quarterback Ashton Gray, tailback Jalen Smith, left guard Carter Benton, and left tackle Carius Curne returned to the lineup as they recovered from injuries. The result was an offensive effort that amassed more than 500 yards and a season-high point total in a 57-28 conquest. “Our goal as a program is to be peaking and playing our very best every year at the end of October and into November,” said Marion coach Lance Clark. “I'm a tinkerer. I will tweak and see what works for our team and what doesn't until we find out. Last week was promising because I thought we started to see what this offense can be, and likewise on defense.” That Marion defense held Searcy below its season scoring average, with only 21 points coming before the Pats pulled their starters in the fourth quarter as the game finished under the mercy rule. West Memphis (5-1, 4-1) offers difficulties in a number of areas, the first being the rivalry itself. The high schools are separated by less than five miles, not even a 10-minute drive from virtually anywhere in Crittenden County. The emotion of playing your neighbor with a conference title on the line would rattle even the coolest of heads, right? “Our staff's message before any big game, and this is certainly that, is to simplify your life,” explained Clark. “Don't get too high early in the week or else you'll be burned out on Friday. Whatever your normal routine might be, do less. Go to bed earlier, absorb less social media, and don't play as many video games, or whatever you're into. Don't go overboard with football, either. When you leave practice, watch 30 minutes of film and go on with your night. As coaches, we don't really have to do anything to motivate guys for this game. The energy of the atmosphere will take care of that.” West Memphis has already eclipsed last season's win total, and the Blue Devils are off to their best start since 2018. West Memphis averages 31.5 points per game and surrenders only 22 points per outing. West Memphis beat Jacksonville 46-8 on September 9, while Marion downed Jacksonville 49-18 on September 16. The Patriots downed El Dorado 27-23 on September 9, while West Memphis beat the Wildcats 37-30 a week ago. West Memphis junior quarterback Keland Mills triggered the El Dorado victory last week by passing for 321 yards and four scores. “Mills is incredibly gamey and gutsy,” said Clark. “Their two outside receivers can run and catch and do all the things that you like, and they're very big up front. Defensively, their defensive line is as good as anybody we have faced, so that will be a challenge for us.” FRED LEONARD STATE FARM HOMETOWN SHOWDOWN INFORMATION The event will run from 4:30-6:45 p.m. Friday afternoon inside the gates of the Marion Athletic Complex. All attendees must have a ticket to the game to enter the tailgating area. There will be a concert prior to kickoff featuring the PC Band. PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Ashton Gray earned last week's Crittenden County Farm Bureau Player of the Week award after he racked up more than 370 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns at Searcy. Martavian Banks earned the team's Patriot Award. Carius Curne earned the team's Offensive Lineman of the Week award, while Carter Moore earned Special Teams Player of the Week. GETTING OFFENSIVE Marion's 511 yards and 57 points last week at Searcy both marked season-highs for the Pats, and it was the first time since last year's 59-37 quarterfinal conquest at Benton that MHS had reached those heights. FRESH FACE Emerging sophomore defensive back Kendrick Cauley made his first start last Friday night at Searcy, racking up six tackles, including one for loss. WELCOME BACK Gray wasn't the only Patriot to go off in his return from injury. Sophomore Jalen Smith rushed for 165 yards and two TDs after missing Marion's loss to Benton two weeks ago, while Curne earned the team's Offensive Lineman of the Week after earning the highest blocking grade at Searcy after missing the Benton game and most of the previous game against Greene County Tech. Waldo saw action for the first time since Marion's victory over El Dorado, and the four-year starter tackled ball-carriers five times in limited reps. WEEK 6 6A EAST RESULTS Marion 57, Searcy 28 Benton 58, Greene County Tech 0 Sylvan Hills 19, Jacksonville 14 LR Catholic 21, Sheridan 7 West Memphis 37, El Dorado 30 6A EAST STANDINGS TEAM CONF. RECORD TIEBREAKER POINTS LR Catholic 5-0 65 Benton 4-1 52 Marion 4-1 43 W. Memphis 4-1 40 El Dorado 2-3 26 Sheridan 2-3 17 Sylvan Hills 2-3 6 Greene County Tech 1-4 13 Searcy 1-4 6 Jacksonville 0-5 WEEK 7 6A EAST SCHEDULE West Memphis at Marion Sheridan at El Dorado Jacksonville at Benton Sylvan Hills at LR Catholic Searcy at Greene County Tech