Friday, March 20, 2015

Lonoke's Goforth to play football at Lyon College

Lonoke football player Dylan Goforth signed with Lyon College during a ceremony this week at the Gina Cox Center. (Photo courtesy of the Goforth family)


By Mark Buffalo
Staff Writer
lonokecountysports@gmail.com

LONOKE — Lonoke Jackrabbits football player Dylan Goforth is taking his game to the collegiate level.
Goforth signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Lyon College Scots during a ceremony this week in the foyer of the Gina Cox Center.  Lyon will play their first season this fall in more than 63 years.
"Lyon always felt very welcoming every time I visited the campus," Goforth said. "The coaches and some of the teachers I spoke with always had great attitudes and welcomed me with open arms."
Goforth said he was recruited by some schools outside of Arkansas.
"But none of the recruiters were nearly as aggressive and consistent as the Lyon coaches," Goforth said. 
Goforth started playing football when he was in the fourth grade. He signed with Lyon as an athlete. 
"But I made the all-state team (as a junior) at defensive end and they have mentioned both defensive end and linebacker," Goforth said. "I have spent my entire life working towards my goal of playing college football. My hard work and determination has paid off but my grind won't stop here. It has only just begun."
Lonoke coach Doug Bost said Goforth always took direction well. 
"He always had a great attitude and took coaching well when either on the field or the weight room," Bost said. "He always works his tail off. I think he's going to be a great football player at Lyon College."
Goforth said he wants to stay involved with athletics after college.
"I aspire to be a football coach while teaching history and PE," he said. "But I have also considered a career in the medical field or business administration."

Monday, March 9, 2015

Bison open baseball season with 3-0 win; Gordon strikes out 14

Bison pitcher Jacob Gordon, throwing against Palestine-Wheatley in last year's 2A-6 district tournament, struck out 14 Midland batters in the season opener. 


PLEASANT PLAINS — The Carlisle Bison baseball team opened the 2015 season under new coach Joey Nelson with a 3-0 win over Midland last week.
Carlisle senior hurler Jacob Gordon pitched a complete-game shutout. He gave up only one hit while striking out 14 Mustang batters.
The Bison scored once in the fifth and twice in the sixth to get the win. 

"Our defense was really good considering the fact that we haven't been able to be on the field for the last three weeks," Nelson said. "We also haven't had a full team practice because basketball has just recently ended and coincided with the bad and wet weather conditions."

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Lady Rabbits fall in regional tourney Feb. 26

Lonoke's Jarrelyn McCall (11) attempts a shot against Riverview in the semifinals of the 4A-2 district tournament last month. Also pictured for Lonoke is Eboni Willis. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)


TRUMANN — The Lonoke Lady Jackrabbits basketball season came to an end with a 56-45 loss to Pocahontas in the first round of the Class 4A East Region Tournament on Feb. 26.
The first half was close as Lonoke trailed 9-8 after one quarter and 20-19 at halftime. Eboni Willis scored 8 of Lonoke's 19 points in the first 16 minutes. Ashlyn Allen score 4. Kerasha Johnson hit a 3-pointer in the first quarter and Callie Whitfield and Jarrelyn McCall scored 2 each in the second quarter.
Pocahontas outscored Lonoke 14-9 in the third quarter and 22-17 in the fourth quarter to get the win.

Willis led Lonoke with 15 points. Whitfield, McCall, Johnson, Allen and Keiunna Walker had 6 points each.