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.