Jackrabbits can't keep up with Greyhounds

Lonoke running back Davonta Adams carries the ball during the Jackrabbits' win over Carlisle in the season opener Aug. 31. Adams rushed for 56 yards against Newport on Friday. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

NEWPORT — The Lonoke Jackrabbits looked good early against Newport but the Greyhounds ran away for a 35-14 win in the final non-conference game for both teams.

Lonoke is now 1-2 while Class 3A Newport is 2-1. 

Lonoke kicked off to start the game and recovered an onside kick at the Newport 43. Quarterback Braidon Bryant threw a 43-yard pass to Dalton Smith down to the Newport 3. On the next play, Davonta Adams scored on a  3-yard run. Nick Tate kicked the extra point to give the Jackrabbits a 7-0 lead. 

Newport tied it at 7-7 on a 9-yard run by Tharon Davis with 51.9 seconds left in the first quarter.

Newport scored two more first-half touchdowns to lead 21-7 at halftime. 

Lonoke cut it to 28-14 on an 8-yard run by Bryant with 6:48 left in the third quarter. That score would remain the same until Newport put the game away on a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Cash Forrester with 5:22 left in the game. 

Lonoke coach Taggart Moore gave credit to the Greyhounds for the victory.

“Give credit to Newport,” he said. “They will run a run for a state title this year. We had our chances but couldn’t take advantage of them.”

Adams led the Jackrabbits with 56 yards rushing on 13 carries. Bryant had 35 yards on 10 carries.

Bryant completed 6 of 15 passes for 108 yards. 

Smith caught two passes for 63 yards. Adams caught two passes for 25 yards. Nicholas Dixon caught 1 pass for 19 yards. Anthony Parks caught 1 pass for 25 yards. 

Forrester completed 10 of 20 passes for 185 yards. He had one interception. That was made by Lonoke’s Riley Miler. 

Dayton Smith led Lonoke with 10 tackles. Miller and John Lawson had 7 tackles each. Dalton Smith and six. Will McNeil had five. 

Lonoke opens 4A-2 conference play at home Friday against Heber Springs. The Panthers are 0-3 with losses to Clinton, Greenbrier and Harding Academy.

“It’s been a tough non-conference schedule the last two weeks to prepare us for conference,” Moore said.