Fordyce/Rison (Arkansas) renew storied, fierce rivalry with big stakes
By Kyle Sutherland | Photos by Jimmy Jones
FORDYCE, Ark. - One of Arkansas’ most intense rivalries features the highest stakes in over a decade at Paul “Bear” Bryant Stadium on Friday night. In the series’ 71st meeting, Rison will make the 18-mile drive southwest down Highway 79 hoping to snap a three-game losing streak to Fordyce, as well as take the top spot in the 3A-6. It will be the first time since 2011 that the two programs are competing in the same conference.
“When you play Rison, it is always going to be important,” Fordyce head coach Tim Rodgers said. “Both of us are undefeated in conference and just like it was before when we played them in the conference, you are always going to play for first.”
Fordyce has played for the Class 2A state championship the past three seasons, winning the first two.
Rodgers, who won back-to-back 2A state championships with Fordyce in 2020-21, has been the head coach of the Redbugs since 2010 and his team holds a 38-27-5 advantage over the Wildcats in the series.
Rison head coach Clay Totty is very familiar with this series having led the Wildcats since 1998, but he also experienced the rivalry well before then - only it was on the other sideline.
Totty, a Fordyce native, played for the Redbugs from 1986-88 and returned to be an assistant after graduating from Ouachita Baptist University.
“If you live here, there is no explanation that is necessary,” Totty said, referring to the rivalry. “It is a way of life and a big deal. All of the interconnections, the ties back and forth, the history of it. A lot of the same names played on both sides and some crossover. If you are not from here, there is really no explanation that is satisfactory.”
Rison head coach Clay Totty played at Fordyce and served as an assistant coach for the Red Bugs before becoming Rison's head coach in 1998.
Another crossover example was the legendary Jimmy “Red” Parker, a Rison native. Parker, who coached for over six decades in both the high school and collegiate ranks, played on the first ever conference championship team for the Wildcats. He began his career as head coach at Fordyce from 1953-60, where he coached Totty’s father, Gerald, and won 37-straight games from 1957-60, before venturing into the college ranks. Some of his stops included The Citadel, Clemson, Vanderbilt, and Ole Miss.
Parker returned to Arkansas high school football in 1993, taking the job at his alma mater and won the Class A state championship in 1995 when the Wildcats defeated Bauxite 41-21. He eventually made his way back to Fordyce for one more stint between 2003-05.
“The towns are so close, and you have a little of that crossover stuff that adds a little fuel and excitement to it,” Totty added.
Hall of Famer Jim Cox, who Totty played for and later served under, coached Fordyce from 1986-96 and won the program’s first two state titles going back-to-back in 1990-91.
“If Fordyce was going to play at Rison you knew those stands would be packed, and the hedges would have people all over them,” Cox said. “We (always) knew we were in for a good game, and we certainly had some good games. It did not matter what town we played in, there were not many people left in either place because they were going to be at those football games. It was a good, clean rivalry and was what high school football is all about.”
Fordyce head coach Tim Rodgers has led the Red Bugs since 2010.
In most cases, animosity is one of the first words you think of particularly in crosstown rivalries. Though it has since changed in recent years, the towns were supportive of each other for 364 days, but would put all of that aside for the one night that game was played.
"When I was growing up Rison and Fordyce rooted for each other,” Totty said. “After the game you would gather around and shake hands talking back and forth. It was very similar cultures, both blue-collar, hard-working people. I can remember me and my daddy driving to watch Rison play in championship games after Fordyce was out. It was really a clean rivalry.”
The two may have been friendly foes at one point, but in the past decade or so there has been no love lost between some within the towns. News broke last week of a social media threat via YouTube of violent activity occurring during the game which prompted the Fordyce School District to take extra measures.
Both schools want to ensure that safety is the No. 1 priority in the matter, for anyone in attendance.
“Law enforcement has relayed to us that it will be the safest place in Arkansas,” Totty, who is also Rison’s athletic director, said.
Along with Totty’s reassurance, Fordyce athletic director Anthony Socia reiterated that they are not taking any chances.
“Ultimately, it is about the safety of our kids and fans,” Socia said. “We may be going above and beyond, but when it comes to the safety of our students, that is what we have to do. Better safe than sorry.”
Fordyce (5-2, 3-0) is currently a half game behind Rison (5-0, 2-0) in the conference standings. Coverage for the game, along with the SBLive Halftime Show, can be heard on 103.7 The Buzz beginning at 6:45.
Series Notes:
-Rison won the first contest 37-7 in 1952.
-Fordyce owns the longest winning streak winning thirteen-straight from 1956-68.
-Fordyce won 41-0 in 1997, the largest margin of victory of any meetings between the schools.
-The two programs have never met in the postseason.
