Late TD lifts Jackrabbits past Badgers

Lonoke receiver Justin Meadows heads toward the end zone for a touchdown in the first quarter
of the Jackrabbits win over the Beebe Badgers on Friday night. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

BEEBE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits showed all kinds of heart as things looked bleak after turning the ball over on downs with 9:27 left in their game with the Beebe Badgers on Friday at Bro Erwin Stadium.

However, Lonoke was the recipient of a fourth Beebe turnover at its own 10 then drove 90 yards in about 2 minutes to beat the Badgers 30-26. 

Logan Dozier threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Chandler Elmore with 23 seconds left out of the wildcat formation. 

"I was proud of the offense, going about 90 yards," Lonoke coach Doug Bost said. "We threw some passes, caught it, made plays. I'm real proud of them being able to drive the field in less than three minutes."

Lonoke quarterback Savonte Rountree engineered the game-winning drive as he completed a 27-yard pass to Caleb Bailey and a 13-yard pass to Logan Dozier, moving the ball to the 50-yard line. After a penalty, Rountree threw a 17-yard pass to Justin Meadows. Two plays later, Rountree threw  a 21-yard pass to Elmore to the Beebe 12-yard line. 

Rountree was sacked back to the 15-yard line but Beebe was called for a defensive holding penalty, moving the ball to the Beebe 5. Two plays later, Elmore scored the go-ahead touchdown. 

Rountree then threw to Meadows for the two-point conversion.

Bost said his team tried to run the ball in from the Beebe 2 before going for the wildcat play with Dozier. Bost said the Badger defense was plugging up the holes. 

"We shot Chandler out of the backfield and he made a play," He said. "It was close. He [Elmore] said he caught it. We'll take that rascal."

Beebe had a final chance but fumbled the ball after a long pass play. The fumble was Beebe's fifth of the game.

"They turned the ball over and you've got to convert after that," Bost said. "We were able to do that a few times."

Lonoke took a 6-0 lead on a 74-yard pass from Rountree to Meadows with 5:25 left in the first quarter.

Beebe took a 7-6 lead when Xavier Jones scored on a 1-yard run with 10:05 left in the first half. Tyler Jones kicked the extra point.

Lonoke reclaimed the lead on a 38-yard pass from Rountree to Meadows with 27.8 seconds left in the first half. Dozier threw to Stephon Carthron for the two-point conversion and a 14-7 lead.

However, Beebe drove 64 yards in five plays with Aaron Nunez scored on a 1-yard run with 3 seconds left. Jovaughn Wyrick had a 41-yard run on the drive. 

A bad snap on the extra point left Lonoke ahead 14-13.

Beebe took a 19-14 lead on a 27-yard run by Jones with 8:09 left in the third quarter. Lonoke reclaimed the lead at 22-19 on a 5-yard run by Rountree with 5:45 left in the third quarter. Dozier scored the two-point conversion. 

Beebe took a 26-22 lead with 44.7 seconds left in the third quarter on a 1-yard run by Jones.

Rountree completed 9 of 16 passes for 255 yards. He rushed for 72 yards on 16 carries. Bailey rushed for 65 yards on 10 carries. 

Meadows caught 5 passes for 175 yards. Elmore caught three passes for 47 yards.

Lonoke will attempt to improve to 2-1 when they travel to Little Rock to take on the McClellan Lions on Friday, Sept. 19. Game time is 7 p.m.

Lonoke's Chandler Elmore tackles Beebe's Jesse Crisco in the first half (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

Lonoke's Stephon Carthron catches a pass for a 2-point conversion
(Photo by Mark Buffalo)