JV Rams hold off Manila, 20-10
September 10, 2007

By David Grim
NEARsports.com

PARAGOULD -  The Manila Lions finally got on the field after canceled games at Trumann and Marked Tree, only to fall 20-10 to Paragould's junior varsity Rams on Monday night.

After a scoreless first half, Manila (0-1) got on the scoreboard first. Frankie Cowgill made a 21-yard field goal with 7:31 left in the third quarter.

Blake Wheeler (11) hands off to an unidentified Manila running back. The Lions lost to the JV Paragould Rams 20-10. Photo by Tony Rose, Timeless Photography. 09/10/07

Paragould (1-0) scored all of its points in the final period. Tyson Underwood got his first of three touchdowns on a 3-yard run with 8:02 remaining. Steven Vericker found Jake Ford for a two-point conversion to make it 8-3.

The Lions countered on the ensuing kickoff. Hunter Bryan's kickoff return for a touchdown matched his jersey number, an 82-yard sprint. Cowgill kicked the score to 10-8.

Underwood scored the next two touchdowns for the Rams on runs of 13 and 41 yards respectively, the latter icing the game with 1:24 left on the clock.

Manila quarterback Blake Wheeler (11) rolls out to pass while Matt Canales (26) pursues. The JV Rams defeated the Lions 20-10. Photo by Tony Rose, Timeless Photography. 09/10/07

"This is why we play on Monday nights," said Paragould head coach Brian Carter. "These kids know that they are just a snap away from playing on Friday nights, so it's good that we play these games to see how they look."

"I think Coach Doke has done a great job with his team," continued Carter. "They are just getting that program started and those guys look well coached."

Manila head coach Toby Doke was pleased with his team's effort. "They battled pretty well in a hard fought game with a 5A team," said Doke. "Except for a scrimmage a few weeks ago and a couple possessions at Marked Tree, this is the first time our guys have gotten to play a real game. We made some mistakes that we'll have to correct, but overall I am happy with how well they performed."

Manila's next test will be at Nettleton when the Lions face the JV Raiders next Monday night.

Manila Lions return to gridiron after a three decade absence
August 20, 2007

By David Grim
NEARsports.com

MANILA - The Manila Lions will put a senior high football team on the field tonight for the first time in 32 years. The Lions travel to Wilson for a jamboree with the Rivercrest Colts and the Marked Tree Indians. Kickoff is at 7:30pm.

The Lions, playing a junior varsity schedule this year before launching its varsity squad next season, have not played football at the high school level since 1975.

The complete Manila JV schedule can be found at NEARsports.com. Look for the decals on the Lions' helmets that were donated to the program by NEARsports.

The Lions won't play on their home field until the final four games of the season, beginning with a game against the Colts on October 8. NEARsports Radio will broadcast at least one of the four Manila home games if technically possible.

Manila voters considering football again in upcoming school board election
September 13, 2005

By David Grim
NEARsports.com

MANILA - School board elections are being held statewide on September 20. In Manila, the election seems to be hinging on one issue again: Will the winner support the re-establishment of a football program?

"Every candidate that has run in the last five years has been asked that question," said Bobby Bell, a Manila voter who played for the last Lion football team in 1975. "When they come out and say that they are, without a doubt, for football, then I vote for them."

Bell's sentiments are shared by Louise Hawkins, another voter in Manila. "I vote for those that support our kids," said Hawkins. "Anyone that doesn't, I don't want."

"New sports would have a great impact on the kids," continued Hawkins. "Then they'll have a choice besides basketball. I have a 13 year old daughter that would love to play volleyball. I have six grandsons and three nephews coming up that would all benefit from a football program."

NEARsports.com took the opportunity to interview the candidates, incumbent board member Jackie Hill, and his opponent, Benny Murray, in order to clarify their level of support for football in the Manila Public Schools.

Hill has made no bones about his position. "I am definitely for all kinds of sports," said Hill. "Football, tennis or whatever we can do to give our kids something to do instead of running the streets with nothing to do. We could start volleyball right now. We have a facility, all we need is a ball and a net,"

"This is my fifth year on the board," continued Hill. "I have been a football supporter every year. I have had kids come up and tell me that they can't play basketball, but they could play football if we had it. If it'll save one kid from running the streets, I'm all for it as long as academic standards are met."

Murray's views on the issue were financially driven. "If the district can afford it, I will support it," said Murray. "I played football for Manila from 1966 to 1969. We won one game. We got killed all the time."

When asked if he was familiar with the school district's budget, Murray replied, "I don't have any access to any school financial papers. I am sure I could get access since they are public records, but I haven't checked into it."

Bell wasn't convinced by Murray's response. "They always say that when they are against football," said Bell. "Then they change the subject. If they are for it, then they say that they are and that they will support it in every possible way. I don't know much about Murray. He may be a good candidate. I don't know. But you're either for something or against something and we want to know. Just be honest and come out and say it."

Bell has done his own investigative research. "I looked at the petition that Murray had signed to become a candidate," said Bell. "All the signatures on it are the people who have always been against football. It's blatantly obvious to me that they are trying to tilt the scales back to their side."

Hawkins' views echoed Hill's. "I had two kids that were not involved in sports," said Hawkins, "and they didn't do as well in school as my son that was involved in sports from fourth grade until he graduated. Believe me, it makes a difference."

Despite whatever other issues may be evident in this year's school board election, it is clear that football will play a part in the voters' decisions on September 20.

Manila patrons speak out on football issue
October 15, 2004

By Christie Benham
Blytheville Courier News

MANILA - The Manila School Board conducted a special meeting Thursday evening in the Manila High School Auditorium to gather public opinion about starting a football program in the district and other student activities.

The meeting was called to order by school board president Johnny McCain who welcomed everyone to the meeting. After giving a few guidelines that the discussion would follow, the board allowed the public to voice their opinions. David Grim of NEARsports.com was the first to speak.

"Don't let anybody tell you the cost for football will be too much," Grim said. "A football program can almost pay for itself. The initial cost will be considerable but with donations and ticket sales you can make that back. I would like to be the first tonight to donate. HighSchoolMiniHelmet.com, one of our sponsors, said they would donate all the helmet decals for free. You can design them anyway you want. It has been three decades since Manila has had football and the time is now for it to come back."

Grim also said that NEARsports.com endorsed Tony Crowell for school board because they knew he wanted to bring football back to Manila. Grim went on to suggest that with Crowell on the board the vote for football would be four members for it and three against.

Later in the meeting Crowell expressed his displeasure with Grim's comment about the prospective 4-3 vote. He told the audience his first and foremost concern is making sure the students of Manila get the best possible education.

"It is just a shame that everyone gets caught up in this 4-3 idea," Crowell said. "If you want to know where I stand ask me, and I will tell you. I'm a football supporter, but there's several avenues we can take here. With all your input tonight it seems like we need to have this same type of meeting to talk about education. I want to do what is best for our kids."

McCain reminded the crowd that the meeting was being held to determine the community's interest in reinstating a football program, and the discussion was just the beginning of the decision-making process.

Rick Sparks of Manila said the Manila Elementary School football program was not supported by the district, but by the city. He said adding football would hurt the basketball program.

"There are many more objectives than football," Sparks said. "Number one should be education. To me there are a lot more less expensive sports that we can get into."

Angie Gibson, a 1991 graduate of Manila and a faculty member of the Manila school district, said she hated to see the town divided over the issue. Gibson said she loves sports and the Manila schools, and she hopes that one day Manila will be in the position to have a football team, but right now she feels there are other issues, such as the Benchmark scores, that need to be focused on.

Kenneth Hargrave, a Manila faculty member and student council sponsor, was asked to speak on behalf of the students and teachers. Hargrave said that teachers have voiced some concern. He said the board should consider talking to teachers before they make a decision because they can offer a unique perspective on what the students need. Hargrave also said that as the student council sponsor several students have written to him saying they want to have a football program.

"They believe they are ready for football," Hargrave said. "There is a large population of kids that feel disenfranchised. We need to find a way to re-engage them so that they feel that they are a part of something."

Manila citizen Tommy Wagner said he isn't for or against having football. He said the main objective of the board and community should be the youth of the community.

A concerned mother said she has two boys in Manila schools, and they don't want to play basketball, but would like to play football. She said hundreds of youth in Manila want the same thing. The mother said the No. 1 concern should be education, but said students who play football are required to keep their grades up.

Others said they didn't care if Manila reinstated the football program or not, but they want the district to offer something other than basketball. One community member suggested that football could provide other options for students, such as a marching band, more cheerleaders and a flag corp. One mom said she is moving her son out of the district at the first of the year just because he wants to play football and he can't at Manila. Several citizens told the board they go out of town every Friday night to watch other schools play football.

Others brought up the district's need for updated buildings, after-school tutoring and new computers.

Johnny McCain shared with the audience information he gathered from other schools about their football programs. He said the Valley View school district started its football program 18 months ago, and officials say it has done nothing but improve their school. He said 42 students play football at Valley View, and there are 20 on the dance team, 15 cheerleaders and 57 in the marching band.

McCain said although he is a big supporter of sports, his main priority is education. However, he said the district needs to move forward, and whether it's football or not, the youth of Manila need extracurricular activities. He urged the community to come together and support the children of Manila.

"There is not a school board member here that doesn't want the best for the students," board member Robert Veach said. "Every student needs to feel included, feel connected. We have a whole school full of kids that we are looking out for."

Manila superintendent Pam Castor shared with attendees some of the issues the board will be facing in the coming months. She said the district will be receiving a report from the state on its facilities, and the district may have to pay for improvements depending on the findings. She also said there is a lot of concern about test scores. Castor said there are other uncertainties, and every day more legislation from the state comes out.

McCain thanked everyone for expressing their opinions and said the board would be looking into everything mentioned, including after-school tutoring and sports other than football.

"Everybody won tonight," McCain said. "We came here to get information from the community, and that is what we got, and it is appreciated."