Jackrabbits defense plays well but Lonoke comes up short against Cougars

Lonoke's Lucas McKenzie grabs a Helena-West Helena Central player during a 4A-2 conference game Friday. (Photo by Scott Ward/KOESPORTS.com)

LONOKE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits turned in one of their best defensive performances of the season but could not score enough points in a 14-12 loss to Helena-West Helena Central on Friday at James B. Abraham Stadium. 

The Cougars has only 221 yards in total offense, including 173 yards rushing and 48 yards passing. 

Trey Bevis led Lonoke with 18 tackles and an interception. Ricky Nichols had nine tackles. Ethan Holland had eight. Dylan Goforth, Justin Meadows and Deandre Joyner had six tackles each. 

After a scoreless first quarter, West Helena took an 8-0 lead with 6:39 left in the first half. Keon Dempes scored on a 13-yard run. 

Lonoke (2-5, 1-4 4A-2 conference) cut the deficit to 8-6 when Savonte Rountree threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Meadows with 2:05 left in the first quarter. The two-point conversion failed.

West Helena pushed their lead to 14-6 on a 4-yard run by Keith Hayes. The two-point conversion failed. 

Lonoke pulled to within two at 14-12 on a 25-yard pass from Rountree to Logan Dozier with 3:35 left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion failed. 

The Jackrabbits forced a punt on West Helena's next possession, taking over the Cougars' 36. Lonoke picked up one first down at the West Helena 24 but a quarterback sack forced Lonoke into a fourth-and-long at the West Helena 36. The Jackrabbits turned the ball over on downs there. That was the only time that Lonoke got the ball inside West Helena territory the remainder of the game.

The Jackrabbits finished with 112 yards in total offense. Rountree completed 6 of 14 passes for 57 yards. Meadows caught four passes for 28 yards. Josh Coleman led Lonoke with 29 yards rushing on 17 carries. 

Lonoke travels to Mustang Mountain to take on Central Arkansas Christian on Friday night. Game time is 7 p.m.