Fordyce/Rison (Arkansas) renew storied, fierce rivalry with big stakes

By Kyle Sutherland | Images by Jimmy Jones 

FORDYCE, Ark. – One among Arkansas’ most intense rivalries options the very best stakes in over a decade at Paul “Bear” Bryant Stadium on Friday evening. Within the collection’ seventieth assembly, Rison will make the 18-mile drive southwest down Freeway 79 hoping to snap a three-game dropping streak to Fordyce, in addition to take the highest spot within the 3A-6. It will likely be the primary time since 2011 that the 2 packages are competing in the identical convention.

“Whenever you play Rison, it’s at all times going to be essential,” Fordyce head coach Tim Rodgers mentioned. “Each of us are undefeated in convention and identical to it was earlier than once we performed them within the convention, you might be at all times going to play for first.”

Rodgers, who received back-to-back 2A state championships with Fordyce in 2020-21, has been the top coach of the Redbugs since 2010 and his staff holds a 38-27-5 benefit over the Wildcats within the collection. 

Rison head coach Clay Totty may be very aware of this collection having led the Wildcats since 1998, however he additionally skilled the rivalry nicely earlier than then – solely it was on the opposite sideline.

Totty, a Fordyce native, performed for the Redbugs from 1986-88 and returned to be an assistant after graduating from Ouachita Baptist College.

“For those who reside right here, there is no such thing as a clarification that’s vital,” Totty mentioned, referring to the rivalry. “It’s a lifestyle and a giant deal. The entire interconnections, the ties backwards and forwards, the historical past of it. Lots of the identical names performed on either side and a few crossover. If you’re not from right here, there’s actually no clarification that’s passable.”

One other crossover instance was the legendary Jimmy “Pink” Parker, a Rison native. Parker, who coached for over six many years in each the highschool and collegiate ranks, performed on the primary ever convention championship staff for the Wildcats. He started his profession as head coach at Fordyce from 1953-60, the place he coached Totty’s father, Gerald, and received 37-straight video games from 1957-60, earlier than venturing into the faculty ranks. A few of his stops included The Citadel, Clemson, Vanderbilt, and Ole Miss.

Parker returned to Arkansas highschool soccer in 1993, taking the job at his alma mater and received the Class A state championship in 1995 when the Wildcats defeated Bauxite 41-21. He ultimately made his approach again to Fordyce for another stint between 2003-05.

“The cities are so shut, and you’ve got a bit of that crossover stuff that provides a bit gasoline and pleasure to it,” Totty added.

Corridor of Famer Jim Cox, who Totty performed for and later served underneath, coached Fordyce from 1986-96 and received this system’s first two state titles going back-to-back in 1990-91.

“If Fordyce was going to play at Rison you knew these stands can be packed, and the hedges would have folks throughout them,” Cox mentioned. “We (at all times) knew we had been in for a very good recreation, and we actually had some good video games. It didn’t matter what city we performed in, there weren’t many individuals left in both place as a result of they had been going to be at these soccer video games. It was a very good, clear rivalry and was what highschool soccer is all about.”

Generally, animosity is among the first phrases you consider significantly in crosstown rivalries. Although it has since modified lately, the cities had been supportive of one another for 364 days, however would put all of that apart for the one evening that recreation was performed.

“After I was rising up Rison and Fordyce rooted for one another,” Totty mentioned. “After the sport you’ll collect round and shake fingers speaking backwards and forwards. It was very comparable cultures, each blue-collar, hard-working folks. I can bear in mind me and my daddy driving to observe Rison play in championship video games after Fordyce was out. It was actually a clear rivalry.”

The 2 could have been pleasant foes at one level, however prior to now decade or so there was no love misplaced between some throughout the cities. Information broke final week of a social media menace by way of YouTube of violent exercise occurring in the course of the recreation which prompted the Fordyce Faculty District to take further measures.

Each faculties wish to be sure that security is the No. 1 precedence within the matter, for anybody in attendance.

“Legislation enforcement has relayed to us that will probably be the most secure place in Arkansas,” Totty, who can be Rison’s athletic director, mentioned.

Together with Totty’s reassurance, Fordyce athletic director Anthony Socia reiterated that they aren’t taking any possibilities.

“In the end, it’s concerning the security of our youngsters and followers,” Socia mentioned. “We could also be going above and past, however with regards to the protection of our college students, that’s what we’ve got to do. Higher protected than sorry.”

Fordyce (5-2, 3-0) is at present a half recreation behind Rison (5-0, 2-0) within the convention standings. Protection for the sport, together with the SBLive Halftime Present, will be heard on 103.7 The Buzz starting at 6:45.

Sequence Notes:

-Rison received the primary contest 37-7 in 1952.

-Fordyce owns the longest successful streak successful thirteen-straight from 1956-68.

-Fordyce received 41-0 in 1997, the most important margin of victory of any conferences between the colleges.

-The 2 packages have by no means met within the postseason.