Southerners rally late past Jackrabbits

Lonoke quarterback Savonte Rountree looks to call a play against Newport. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

SOUTHSIDE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits let a two-possession lead slip away as they lost to Southside Batesville 34-28 on Friday night.

The loss is Lonoke's fourth consecutive after starting the season 2-0 and being ranked No. 4 in Class 4A. 

The Jackrabbits led 28-19 with 5:30 left in the game following a 63-yard touchdown run by Justin Meadows. Savonte Rountree scored the two-point conversion. 

Southside pulled to within two at 28-26 when Southside quarterback Josh Millikin threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Terran Harper with with 3:05 left. 

The Southerners then recovered an onside kick at the Lonoke 40. Southside's Levi Ervin ran 30 yards to the Lonoke 10. On the next play, Dallas Hill scored a  touchdown to give the Southerners the lead. Mason Anderson scored the two-point conversion to make the score 34-28.

Lonoke got the ball at its own 33. Rountree then completed two passes two Josh Coleman, which gained 25 yards. 

After an incomplete pass, Rountree ran 3 yards to the Lonoke 48. Two incomplete passes gave the ball back to the Southerners, who ran out the clock to get the win. 

Lonoke took a 6-0 lead late in the first quarter on a 5-yard run by Coleman. 

Southside took a 7-6 lead with 8 seconds left in the first half. Millikin threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Gavin Chambers. Jesus Salas kicked the extra point. 

Southside pushed its lead to 13-6 on a 6-yard run by Anderson early in the third quarter. Lonoke pulled to within one at 13-12 on a 37-yard run by Rountree. 

The Jackrabbits led 20-13 early in the fourth quarter on a 26-yard run by Gabe Rooney. Meadows scored the two-point conversion. 

Southside cut the lead to 20-19 on a 13-yard run by Hill. 

Xavier Hodge led Lonoke with 123 yards rushing on 17 carries. Rountree had 89 yards on 10 carries. Meadows had 82 yards on 5 carries. 

Ethan Holland led Lonoke with 11 tackles. Rooney had 10. Ricky Nichols had 5. 

Lonoke will attempt to break its four-game skid when it travels to West Helena to take on the Helena-West Helena Central Cougars on Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.