Bison rally again, beat Lions on homecoming

Carlisle's Jasean Harper heads toward the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Bison's 35-34 win over Clarendon on Friday night. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

CARLISLE — For the second week in a row, the Carlisle Bison had to rally from a double-digit deficit to get a conference victory.

The Bison, now 6-3 overall and 5-2 in 2A-6 play, trailed 28-14 at halftime to Clarendon but rallied for a 35-34 homecoming victory Friday night at Fred C. Hardke Field. The win is Carlisle’s fifth in a row. Last week, Carlisle trailed Brinkley 30-6 before rallying for a 40-36 win over the Tigers. 

Carlisle pulled to within seven at 28-21 with 3:43 left in the third quarter. Devon Kendrick scored on a 1-yard run then kicked the extra point. This was the culmination of a 79-yard, 9-play drive. Jasean Harper had a 39-yard run on the drive. 

The Bison took a 29-28 lead when Tristan Seidenschwarz intercepted a Clarendon pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown with 1:38 left in the third quarter. Kendrick added the two-point conversion. Carlisle's Gray Amaden forced the  Clarendon quarterback into a bad pass that led to the score.

The Bison added to their lead following an interception by Braiden Jenkins. Carlisle drove 81 yards in four plays with Harper scoring on a 25-yard run with 6:20 left. The 2-point conversion was no good and the Bison led 35-28. 

The big play of the drive was a 33-yard run by Ian Seidenschwarz, who appeared to be stopped near midfield but kept his feet after rolling off a Clarendon defender and ran the ball to the Lions 25. 

Clarendon would not go away. 

The Lions pulled to within one at 35-34 when Jama Cross scored on a 1-yard run with 3:45 left in the game. He attempted a pass on the 2-point conversion try but Harper intercepted the pass to preserve the Bison’s one-point lead.

Carlisle took to be in control of the game after a 12-yard run by kendrick down to the Clarendon 42 following an onside kick attempt. But the Bison were penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, backing them up 15 yards. The Bison then fumbled the ball back to Clarendon with 3:29 left.

Clarendon’s Marvin Horns then ran the ball 30 yards to the Bison 14. They gained only yard before facing fourth-and-nine at the Bison 13. A bad snap on the play led to the Bison getting a tackle behind the line of scrimmage. They took over at their own 18.

Kendrick then ran 6 yards. Then Harper was horse-collared tackled on the next play. After an automatic first down, the Bison kneeled out the clock to get the win. 

Harper led the Bison with 119 yards rushing on 11 carries. Kendrick had 117 yards rushing on 24 carries. Ian Seidenschwarz had 54 yards on four carries. 

Carson Cunningham completed 1 of 2 passes for 26 yards. Houston Garrich caught the pass.

Carlisle got off to a quick start, leading 7-0 with 9:14 left in the first quarter. Kendrick scored on a 9-yard run. He also kicked the extra point.

Clarendon scored the game’s next 14 points to lead 14-7. The Bison tied it at 14-14 when Harper scored on a 15-yard run with 11:07 left in the first half. Kendrick kicked the extra point. 

Clarendon scored two second-quarter touchdowns to lead 28-14 at halftime. 

Carlisle has already clinched a spot in the Class 2A state playoffs, which start in two weeks. 

The Bison can get the second seed from the 2A-6 with a  win over defending state champion McCrory on Thursday at home. If the Bison lose, they would be the third seed if Palestine-Wheatley loses to Hazen. If the Patriots beat Hazen and McCrory beats Carlisle, the Bison will be the fourth seed. Second- and third-place teams will host first-round playoff games.
Kickoff Thursday night is set for 7 o’clock.

Carlisle's Houston Garrich [40] battles Clarendon's Jaquan Bones for a pass in the first quarter. 

Jackrabbits can't keep up with Cougar

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits dropped their second consecutive game with a 47-19 loss to Helena-West Helena Central on Friday night at James B. Abraham Stadium.

With the loss, Lonoke is now 2-5 overall and 1-3 in 4A-2 play.

West Helena returned the opening kickoff 74 yards and a touchdown to lead 7-0. The Cougars added to their lead later in the first quarter, leading 14-0.

Lonoke, running the ball out of the double wing offense, cut the deficit in half at 14-7 in the second quarter when Dylan Smith scored on a 23-yard run. Mario Reyes kicked the extra point.

West Helena started pulling away and led 33-7 at halftime. 

The Cougars then scored another touchdown to lead 39-7. 

Lonoke scored twice in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 39-19. 

After a bad snap on a punt gave Lonoke the ball at the West Helena 1, quarterback Will Miller scored on a sneak to make the score 39-13. 

Lonoke’s other touchdown came on a scoop-and-score by Isaac Toney. 

West Helena tried a lateral and Toney got the ball at the Cougars 35 and returned for the score.

West Helena scored a final touchdown to account for the scoring.

Xavier Hodge led Lonoke with 125 yards rushing on 23 carries. Logan Dozier had 58 yards on 19 carries. 

Kameron Cole, Dylan Smith and Toney had six tackles each to lead the Jackrabbits. 

Lonoke will travel to North Little Rock to take on Central Arkansas Christian this Friday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Mustang Mountain. 

Bison rout undefeated Patriots, 38-12

Carlisle's Ian Seidenschwarz scores a Bison TD against Palestine-Wheatley. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

CARLISLE — For the first time in three seasons, the Carlisle Bison have won three games in a row and have a winning record at any point during the season.

The Bison improved to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in 2A-6 play with an impressive 38-12 win over previously unbeaten Palestine-Wheatley on Friday night at Fred C. Hardke Field. 

The Patriots entered the game at 6-0 and 5-0 in league play. 

“They are all big from now on,” Bison coach Mark Uhiren said. “We feel like we messed up big time at Augusta. I’m not saying they are a lesser team or anything like that but I think we’re much better than we put on that night.”

Against Augusta, the Bison fell behind 36-0 before rallying to within 10 at 42-32 before losing 50-32. 

“We did put on a show and scored 32 points but they just got up on us,” Uhiren said. “It was one of those things that kept getting away from us. The Des Arc game could have gone either way. We had it. We just should have clinched it.

“We feel like we messed up twice. So, we’ve got to make amends for that. That’s the way we’re approaching it — a game at a time. If we can stay focused a game at a time, we’ll be okay.”

The Bison got the ball to start the game then drove 65 yards in 12 plays with Devon Kendrick scoring on a 9-yard run with 6:38 left in the first quarter. The extra point was no good, leaving the score at 6-0.

The next three plays were some of the strangest anyone will ever see. Carlisle’s Carson Cunningham intercepted a Palestine-Wheatley pass. The Bison then fumbled the ball back to the Patriots. Kendrick then recovered a Palestine-Wheatley fumble at the Patriots 30.

Six plays later, freshman Ian Seidenschwarz scored on a 4-yard run with 2:10 left in the first quarter. Kendrick added the two-point conversion to give the Bison a 14-0 lead.

The Patriots got on the board when Garrett Wilson ran 57 yards for a touchdown with 4 seconds left in the first quarter, making the score 14-6.

After the teams traded punts, the Bison drove 75 yards in seven plays with Kendrick scoring on a 23-yard run with 4:14 left in the first half. Ty Golleher added the two-point conversion to give the Bison a 22-6 lead.

The Bison got the ball back after Tristan Seidenschwarz recovered a Patriots fumble at the Bison 43 with 3:03 left in the first half. 

A key play in the game happened on this drive. Facing fourth down, the Bison went for it on fourth-and-nine from their own 44. Carlisle’s Jasean Harper was able to drag defenders for a 16-yard gain and a first down. Four plays later, Harper broke away from the defenders and scored a touchdown on a 30-yard run on the final play of the first half. Golleher added the two-point conversion to give the Bison a 30-6 halftime lead.

The Patriots scored their second touchdown with 6:49 left in the third quarter. Carter Milton threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Jarod Ferguson. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the score at 30-12.

The Bison capped the scoring when Kendrick scored on an 11-yard run with 4:43 left in the game. Cunningham then threw to Zach Caviness for the two-point conversion to make the score 38-12.

Golleher led the Bison with 149 yards rushing on 28 carries. Kendrick had 122 yards on 13 carries. Harper had 55 yards on five carries.

The Bison are currently in fourth place in the 2A-6 conference behind Des Arc and Palestine-Wheatley. They are a half game behind McCrory, which is 4-2 in league play.

Carlisle travels to Brinkley this Friday before hosting Clarendon and McCrory to end the season. 

Bison coach Mark Uhiren talks to linemen Tyler Sanders and Houston Garrich. 

Bison swat Hornets for third win

Carlisle's Brent Bowlan runs behind the blocking of teammate Gray Amaden during the Bison's 36-8 win over Hazen on Friday night. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

HAZEN — Twos are wild.

For the first time this season, the Carlisle Bison have won two consecutive games and ended a two-game losing streak to the Hazen Hornets.

The Bison jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead then cruised to a 36-8 win over Hazen on Friday at Hornet Field. Carlisle is now 3-3 overall and 2-2 in 2A-6 play.

“That’s a big thing right there,” Carlisle coach Mark Uhiren said of winning a rivalry game. “I think the seniors wanted this one pretty badly. You like to see them win more than anything. They know that this is the last time they will play Hazen. It’s a big deal for them.”

The Bison started conference play at 0-2. After falling behind 36-0 to Augusta, they made a game of it before falling 50-32. Against Des Arc, the Bison led late in the game before the Eagles scored a touchdown late to win. 

“I tell them to forget about it but I can’t help but keep thinking about Des Arc,” Uhiren said. “Can you imagine what that would feel like. 

“Right now, I’m trying to get across to them that we’re working towards the playoffs if that is possible. We’re keeping it in the back of our minds. Each game is a step. We’re still learning tons of things. We make fewer mistakes each game.”

Carlisle got the ball to start the game. The Bison then drove 53 yards in 10 plays with Brent Bowlan scoring on a 5-yard run with 6:55 left in the first quarter. Devon Kendrick kicked the extra point to give the Bison a 7-0 lead.

On the first play from scrimmage for Hazen, the Hornets fumbled the ball with Carlisle’s Ki Dearen recovering at the Hazen 27. Eight plays later, Ty Golleher scored on a 17-yard run with 2:35 left in the first quarter. The extra point was no good, leaving the score at 13-0.

The Bison then forced a Hazen punt and they took over at their own 17 early in the second quarter. They drove 83 yards in 13 plays with Golleher scoring on a 2-yard run with 3:45 left in the half. Bison quarterback Carson Cunningham then threw to Zach Caviness for the two-point conversion and a 21-0 lead.

Hazen got on the board to start the second half as the Hornets drove 53 yards in 10 plays. Quintin Bonds scored on a 4-yard run with 6:24 left in the third quarter. Boomsey Minor scored the two-point conversion.

The Bison put the game away with two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Kendrick scored all 15 points. He scored touchdowns on runs of 23 and and 8 yards. He scored a two-point conversion and kicked an extra point. 

Golleher finished with 221 yards rushing on 22 carries. Kendrick had 112 yards on 14 carries. Jasean Harper had 31 yards on 9 carries. Bowman had 25 yards on 10 carries.

The Bison finished with 402 yards in total offense, all on the ground.

Hazen had 59 yards of total offense.

The Bison now host the Palestine-Wheatley Patriots next week at Fred C. Hardke Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Patriots are 6-0 overall and 5-0 in 2A-6 play. They beat 39-6 on Friday night.

“The challenge is going to be there, that’s for sure,” Uhiren said of playing Palestine-Wheatley. “It is going to be a home game. That is going to help us a little bit. It seems like we’ve been all the road all year long. Fortunately in this league, all our games are close. 

“When you play at home, you like for people to come and support the kids. I just told them in the locker room that we’ve got to get a little better every week.”

Carlisle's Carson Cunningham returns an interception. 

Lady Bison state championship teams to be honored on opening night

The 2008 Carlisle Lady Bison basketball team after they won its second consecutive Class 2A state championship. 

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

CARLISLE — The Carlisle Lady Bison will open the season Nov. 8 at Bison Arena against the Class 5A Maumelle Lady Hornets. That night, former Lady Bison coach Toby Tevebaugh and his two-time state champion Lady Bison basketball teams will be honored prior to the senior girls game. 

It's been 10 years since the start of the 2006-07 season. That year, Carlisle ran roughshod over the competition on its way to its first-ever state championship. They lost only two games — against two Class 6A schools, Little Rock Parkview and Watson Chapel. 

The 2007 Lady Bison beat Jessieville to win the Class 2A state title at Summit Arena in Hot Springs.

The next season, expectations were high for the Lady Bison and they had a few stumbles along the way, including a loss to Augusta in the finals of the regional tournament. 

However, the Lady Bison avenged that loss by beating the Lady Red Devils in the 2008 Class 2A state title game, completing the back-to-back state title run. 

According to current Lady Bison coach Jonathan Buffalo, the state championship teams will be honored at approximately 6:30 p.m.

“We want as many of the former layers as possible to show up,” Buffalo said.

Tevebaugh, the current girls coach at his alma mater, Gentry High School, is excited about this opportunity to come back to Carlisle.

“I’m so excited about this,” he said. “I hope players from all my others teams can make it as well.”

Maumelle is coached by former Bison and Lady Bison head coach William Rountree, who still makes his home in Carlisle. 

Bison rout Mustangs for second win

The Bison defense tries to get past Marvell defenders. (Photo by David Sanders)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

CARLISLE — The Carlisle Bison broke a two-game skid with a 50-12 win over the Marvell Mustangs on Friday night at Fred C. Hardke Field. 

With the win, Carlisle is now 2-3 overall and 1-2 in 2A-6 play. 

The Bison led 8-0 with 9:42 left in the first quarter. Brent Bowlan scored on a 1-yard run. He also scored the two-point conversion.

The Bison added to their lead when Bowlan scored on a 3-yard run with 5:34 left in the first quarter. Devon Kendrick kicked the extra point to give the Bison a 15-0 lead.

Marvell got on the board with 11:18 left in the first half on an 11-yard scoring run. The PAT was no good, leaving the score at 15-6.

The Bison scored 28 third-quarter points to lead 43-6 at halftime. 

Ty Golleher scored on a 13-yard run with 8:43 left. Kendrick scored on a 7-yard run and a 5-yard run. Golleher then scored on a 6-yard run with 42 seconds left. He added the two-point conversion. Carson Cunningham also threw a pass to Zach Caviness for a two-point conversion.

The Bison’s final touchdown came on a 1-yard run by Golleher in the third quarter. Kendrick kicked the extra point. 

Marvell’s final points came with 10:59 left in the game.

Golleher led the Bison with 137 yards rushing on 12 carries. Kendrick had 69 yards on 11 carries. Jasean Harper had 49 yards on six carries. Bowman had 23 yards on 5 carries.

The Bison will travel to Hazen on Friday night  to take on the rival Hornets. Hazen is 1-4 on the season. The Hornets beat Brinkley 24-20 for their first win of the season Friday night. 

Jackrabbits rout Eagles in Coach Moore's debut

Lonoke's Xavier Hodge runs over a Baptist Prep defender. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LITTLE ROCK — The Taggart Moore era of Lonoke Jackrabbits football got off to a rousing start Friday night at The Ranch.

Lonoke jumped out to a 26-0 halftime lead en route to a 33-7 win over Baptist Prep. Moore was named interim Lonoke football coach following the resignation of Doug Bost on Tuesday.

“I told them all week to bring the energy, we’re a family,” Moore said after the game. “They did more than I could ever wish for. They love each other. They love the coaching staff. The coaching staff loves them. We just wanted to do it for them tonight and I think we did.

“We’re back on track.”

Lonoke is now 2-3 overall and 1-1 in 4A-2 play. After beating Carlisle in the season opener, the Jackrabbits dropped three consecutive games by blowout before turning the tables on the Eagles. 

Lonoke got the ball to start the game. The Jackrabbits then drove 54 yards in 14 plays. Logan Dozier scrambled then threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Mulligan with 5:24 left in the first quarter. The extra point was blocked, leaving the score at 6-0. 

“That is what we’ve wanted to do,” Moore said. Lonoke ran the ball 10 times on the drive. 

“Coach [Jack] Keith put a great game plan in,” Moore said. “He called all the plays. He mixed it up with cadences. He mixed up the tempo. He slowed it down. He sped it up; threw it when he needed to; ran it when he needed to. 

“I cannot say enough about the job he did. I had confidence in him going into it. He’s the man on offense tonight.”

The Jackrabbits’ defense forced a punt on Baptist’s first possession. That led to a 12-0 lead as Lonoke drove 56 yards in six plays with Xavier Hodge scored on a 3-yard run with 1:16 left in the first quarter. Hodge also had a 40-yard run on the drive. 

The Jackrabbits scored two more first-half touchdowns. Hodge scored on a 13-yard run with 4:39 left in the first half. Mario Reyes kicked the extra point. Dozier scored on a 1-yard run with 25 seconds left. Reyes kicked another extra point.

On the ensuing kickoff, Baptist fumbled the ball and Lonoke recovered the ball at the Baptist 36.

On the final play of the half, it appeared Lonoke had scored another touchdown. Dozier threw a backwards pass to Isaac Toney, who then threw a perfect pass to a streaking Kameron Cole for a 38-yard touchdown. 

Lonoke was lined up to kick the extra point when the officials decided to huddle. After a few minutes, the official on the Baptist side of the field where Toney caught the lateral then threw his pass, threw his penalty flag. The referee said Dozier had thrown a forward pass. A team cannot throw two forward passes on the same play. 

Video confirmed that Toney caught the ball from Dozier two yards behind him. 

However, that play did not keep the Jackrabbits down as they took a 33-0 lead when Dozier threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to Cole with 4:51 left in the third quarter. Reyes kicked the extra point.

Baptist’s lone touchdown came with 10:09 left in the game. Logan Hogan scored on a 9-yard run. 

Lonoke’s defense played well all night. In fact, they allowed less than 30 yards in the first half.

“We told them this week that if they played disciplined, because that offense is tough to stop, that we would be just fine,” Moore said. “They didn’t try too much. They did their job — all 11 of them.”

Dozier completed 8 of 11 passes for 114 yards. Toney caught 3 passes for 18 yards. Hodge caught two balls for 1 yards. Also catching passes were Cole, Mulligan and Dylan Smith. 

Hodge led Lonoke with 118 yards rushing on 22 carries. Stephen Barrett had 26 yards on 4 carries. 

The Jackrabbits will try to make it two wins in a row when they host Southside Batesville for homecoming. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at James B. Abraham Stadium. 

Logan Dozier signals "touchdown."

Lonoke's Isaac Toney [6] tries to get away from a defender. Also pictured is Kameron Cole [1].