Jackrabbits rout Eagles for second victory

Lonoke running back Lexington Mays follows the blocking of teammate Hunter Clark during second-half action as the Jackrabbits beat Baptist Prep on Friday. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits were in desperate need of a victory. Luckily, Baptist Prep was next on the schedule.

Lonoke jumped out to a  21-7 halftime lead en route to a 49-14 win over the Eagles on Friday at James B. Abraham Stadium. With the win, Lonoke breaks a three-game skid and improves to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in 4A-2 conference play. 

“We needed a good win, especially a conference win,” Lonoke coach Taggart Moore said. “We came out and took care of business. I was very happy with the kids. We made some adjustments at halftime. They are very coachable They took those adjustments and took them back out to the field. 

“We had a great second half. We’ve got a lot to work on and a lot to build upon and get ready for Southside Batesville next week. 

The Jackrabbits took the second half kickoff and pushed the lead to 28-7 on a touchdown by Davonta Adams early in the third quarter. Nick Tate kicked the fourth of seven extra points in the win. 

Baptist fumbled on its first possession of the second half with Lonoke recovering at the Baptist 36. Two plays later, Lonoke’s Xavier Hodge scored on a 37-yard run with 9:37 left in the third quarter to make the score 35-7. 

The Jackrabbits forced the mercy rule a little bit later when quarterback Daniel Seigrist scored on a 6-yard run and Tate added the extra point to make the score 42-7 with 3:10 left in the third quarter.

Baptist got its second touchdown of the game on a 1-yard run by Jonathan Gilliam with 5:21 left in the game. Allie Mead kicked the extra point. 

Adams then returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to end the scoring. 

Lonoke finished with 424 yards in total offense, including 364 yards rushing. 

Adams led the Jackrabbits with 123 yards and two rushing TDs on seven carries. Hodge finished with 95 yards and two scores on five carries. Lexington Mays had 76 yards rushing on seven carries. 

Seigrist completed 1 of 2 passes for 60 yards and a touchdown, which was caught by Braidon Bryant. 

Michael Hodges led Lonoke with 10 total tackles. Tallon Swint had eight. Getting six tackles each were Jackson Ward and Colton Davidson.

Lonoke will travel to Batesville this Friday to take on the Southside Southerners. Southside is 5-0 on the season, it’s best start in school history.

Eagles edge Bison 20-12

Carlisle's Blake Sumner [16] and Mitch Lewis try to stop Des Arc's Jacob Moody during first-half action. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

CARLISLE — Any time Carlisle and Des Arc hook up on the gridiron, it’s an instant classic and Friday night’s game at Fred C. Hardke Field was no exception.

Des Arc took advantage of a Bison turnover in the fourth quarter then held off Carlisle for a 20-12 win in the 2A-6 opener for the Bison.

Carlisle is now 0-3 on the season while Des Arc is 2-2. 

Des Arc took a 6-0 lead with 3:44 left in the first quarter on a 10-yard run by Dillon Conway. The two-point conversion was no good.

The Bison wasted no time in tying the game as Will Carter returned the ensuing kickoff 71 yards for a touchdown with 3:32 left. The Bison were called for an unsportsmanlike conduct play on the touchdown and were penalized 15 yards on the kickoff.

That led to Des Arc taking over at the Bison 31. The Eagles then drove to the Carlisle 7 but turned it over on downs. 

Carlisle committed a turnover with Des Arc’s Sam Lloyd recovering a fumble at the Bison 30. Two plays later, Des Arc quarterback Garrett Goodman threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Conway with 9:58 left in the first half. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the score at 12-6. 

After trading possessions, the Bison took over at the Des Arc 42 with 5:47 left in the half. They drove 42 yards in seven plays with Davarius Allen scoring on a 1-yard run with 2:27 left in the half. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the score tied at 12-12. 

Neither team could get anything going in the third quarter. The Bison then turned the ball over with a fumble at their own 27 with 11:10 left in the game. Conway then scored on a 27-yard run on the next play. Jacob Moody added the two-point conversion to give the Eagles a 20-12 lead. 

The Bison had several chances to tie the game in the fourth quarter. They turned the ball over on downs at the Des Arc 13 with 5:47 left. 

After forcing a Des Arc punt, the Bison got the ball at the Eagles’ 40 with 3:06 left. The Bison turned the ball over on downs four plays later. 

From there, the Eagles ran out the clock for the victory. 

Jasean Harper led the Bison with 113 yards rushing on 11 carries. Allen had 68 yards on 18 carries. Kaden Bray had 42 yards on 16 carries. 

Moody led Des Arc with 73 yards rushing on six carries. Conway had 68 yards on 12 carries.

The Bison travel to Marvell to take on the winless Mustangs this Friday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. 

Carlisle's Davarius Allen scores a touchdown in the second quarter. 

Jackrabbits fall to Newport, 35-8

Lonoke's Tallon Swint grabs Newport running back Tariq Richardson. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits fell to 1-2 on the season with a 35-8 loss to Newport on Friday at James B. Abraham Stadium.

Lonoke got the ball to start the game but failed to pick up a first down. However, three plays after a punt, Lonoke’s Dalton Smith intercepted a pass attempt by Newport quarterback Cash Forrester. 

The Jackrabbits were forced to punt on their next possession and that set up the first score of the game.

The Greyhounds drove 97 yards in eight plays. The drive culminated with a 64-yard scoring strike from Forrester to Oshae Pruitt with 4:35 left in the first quarter. 19 kicked the extra point to make the score 7-0. 

Lonoke picked up a first down on its next possession but was forced to punt again. 

The score remained 7-0 until late in the first half. Lonoke had forced Newport into a third-and-long situation but the Greyhounds were able to pick that up near midfield. They eventually scored another touchdown to go up 14-0 on a 6-yard pass from Forrester to Pruitt with 21.5 seconds left in the first half. 

Newport was able to score 21 points in less than seven minutes in the second half to go up 35-0 with 10:47 left in the game. Forrester threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to 8. Body with 5:44 left in the third quarter. Monquell Cox scored on a 22-yard run with 11:53 left in the game. A minute later, Tydrell Friar returned an interception 60 yards for a score to invoke the running clock. 

Lonoke’s only score came on a 1-yard run by Davonta Adams with 5:47 left. The play was set up by a 27-yard pass completion from Daniel Seigrist to Ethan Mulligan down to the Newport 1. 

Michael Hodges scored the two-point conversion to set the final score. 

Seigrist completed 3 of 5 passes fore 38 yards. Adams rushed for 57 yards on 10 carries. Mulligan caught two passes for 34 yards. 

Forrester completed 6 of 14 passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns. Cox rushed for 151 yards on 23 carries. Tariq Richardson had 73 yards on 15 carries. 

Pruitt led Newport with 10 tackles. 

Lonoke opens 4A-2 conference play at Heber Springs this Friday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The Panthers are 1-2 on the season but are coming off a 35-14 win over Harding Academy. 

Badgers rally past Jackrabbits

Lonoke kicker Nick Tate kicks off against Carlisle in Week 1. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo 

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — For a half, the Lonoke Jackrabbits looked good against the Beebe Badgers. However, the second half was a different story.

Beebe rallied from a 7-0 halftime deficit to beat the Jackrabbits 35-13 at James B. Abraham Stadium on Friday night. Lonoke is now 1-1 on the season while Beebe is 2-0.

After a scoreless first quarter, Lonoke took a 7-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Davonte Adams scored on a 3-yard run after he ran 34 yards to set up the score. Nick Tate kicked the extra point

That stood up until the third quarter when the Badgers scored 21 third-quarter points, eventually leading 34-7.

Lonoke scored it’s final touchdown on a pass from quarterback Daniel Seigrist to Braidon Bryant. 

Seigrist completed 21 of 30 passes for 198 yards in the loss.  He also rushed for 50 yards on nine carries. 

Adams led Lonoke with 73 yards rushing on 11 carries. 

Bryant led Lonoke with eight receptions for 49 yards. Conner Linton caught five passes for 53 yards. De’Angelo Noid had four catches for 48 yards. Ethan Mulligan caught three passes for 48 yards. 

Michael Hoges led Lonoke with 13 tackles. Keyunta Hatton and 10. E’Shaun Brown had nine. Jackson had eight. Terry Moore had six. Tallon Swint and Linton had five tackles each.

Khalil Anthony led Beebe with 120 yards rushing on 19 carries. Taylor Boyce had 100 yards on seven carries. 

Lonoke hosts the Newport Greyhounds this Friday at James B. Abraham Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Newport is 2-0, having beat Gosnell 15-8 and Greene County Tech 47-15 in the first two weeks. 

Jackrabbits run past Bison, 42-6

Lonoke receiver Braidon Bryant hauls in a touchdown pass over Carlisle's Jasean Harper in the first quarter of the Jackrabbits' win over the Bison. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

CARLISLE — The official Taggart Moore era of Lonoke Jackrabbits football started off with a rousing opening act.

The Jackrabbits scored early and often in beating the Carlisle Bison 42-6 at Fred C. Hardke Field on Friday night.

Moore, who was 1-5 as the interim coach following the resignation of Doug Bost following Week 4 of the 2016 season, was hired earlier this spring to be the permanent replacement.

The Jackrabbits were ready for this showdown with their Highway 70 rival.

Carlisle won the opening coin toss but deferred to the second half. The Jackrabbits then drove 65 yards in seven plays with Daniel Seigrist throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Braidon Bryant on a fourth-down play with 9:12 left in the first quarter. Nick Tate kicked the first of six extra points.

Carlisle was forced to punt on its first possession. Lonoke’s Xavier Hodge then ran for 38 yards to the Bison 15. Two plays later, Hodge scored on a 5-yard run with 7:11 left. 

After another Bison punt, Lonoke pushed the lead to 21-0 on a 51-yard scoring strike from Seigrist to Bryant with 3:38 left in the first quarter. 

The Bison finally got something going on its next possession following a 10-yard run by Ian Seidenschwarz but the Bison turned the ball over on downs. That led to Hodge scoring on a 45-yard run with 7:10 left in the first half to make the score 28-0. 

Lonoke’s final score of the half came on a fade rout from Seigrist to De’Angelo Noid in the back right corner of the end zone with 7:10 left in the first half.

Seigrist got in the on the act, scoring on a 25-yard run with 6:42 left in the third quarter. 

Carlisle’s lone score came on a 1-yard run by Davarius Allen with 11:56 left in the game. 

Allen led the Bison with 42 yards rushing on 13 carries. Seidenschwarz had 33 yards on nine carries. 

Hodge led the Jackrabbits with 147 yards rushing on 12 carries. Seigrist completed 6 of 9 passes for 109 yards. Bryant caught three passes for 86 yards. 

Michael Hodges led Lonoke with eight tackles. 

Lonoke will host Beebe next Friday at James B. Abraham Stadium while Carlisle will travel to DeWitt.