Bison rally to beat Lions in playoff opener

Carlisle Bison coach Caleb Shock talks to his team after the Bison beat England 50-38 in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs on Friday night. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

CARLISLE — For the first time since 2015, the Carlisle Bison and England Lions met on the football field, and it did not disappoint.

The Bison rallied from a 22-8 halftime deficit to beat the Lions 50-38 in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs Friday night at Fred C. Hardke Field. With the win, the Bison (8-3) advance to the second round to play Foreman while the Lions end their season at 5-6.

Carlisle freshman J.J. Sullivan [22] takes a handoff
from quarterback Will Carter. 

“I got some pretty good help and the pretty good help said to quit running this play and start running ‘belly,’” Carlisle coach Caleb Shock said, referring to halftime adjustments. “We started running belly and having a lot of success with it. It was really good to us. After that, we were able to build off our other stuff. The offensive line blocked it up really well. We scored on a run behind Kaleb Boyle. He’s a senior lineman for us. He’s worked really hard. We made a living on that side.”

On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Carlisle freshman J.J. Sullivan ran 67 yards for a touchdown and Dee Allen scored the two-point conversion to make the score 22-16. Sullivan finished with 191 yards rushing on 10 carries. 

“He’s pretty good,” Shock said of Sullivan. “I think he’s averaging 20 yards a carry so far for us. I think he’d be the first to tell you that it’s a big credit to his offensive line. Tonight, he had to work a little bit harder for it. I thin everybody saw some of his balance and vision. He’s got a natural knack for running the ball.”

England turned the ball over on downs on its next possession. That set the Bison up to drive 54 yards in seven plays with Allen scoring on an 8-yard run then adding the two-point conversion to give the Bison their first lead at 24-22 with 6:02 left in the third quarter.

England came right back to reclaim the lead at 30-24. Mason Brazeal scored on a 1-yard run with 2:43 left in the third quarter. He then threw to Tamarous Dodson for the two-point conversion. 

Carlisle tied it at 30-30 on its next possession. Will Carter scored on a 6-yard run with 1:28 left in the third quarter. 

The Lions reclaimed the lead at 38-30 on the first play of the fourth quarter. Darren McClinton scored on a 32-yard run and Dodson aded the two-point conversion. 

The Bison tied it was 38-38 following a 65-yard, 7-play drive. Carter scored on a 39-yard run with 7:52 left. Collin Jinks added the two-point conversion. 

England turned the ball over on downs at its own 44 with 5:46 left. Carlisle drove 44 yards in six plays with Allen scored on a 2-yard run with 2:42 left. The two-point conversion was no good, leaving the Bison up 44-38.

England did not go away. The Lions, behind the passing of Brazeal, moved the ball to the Carlisle 4. On third-and-goal with 7 seconds left, Brazeal rolled to his left and tried to throw into the end zone. Jinks intercepted the pass and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown on the game’s final play. 

“It’s a big, big win,” Shock said. “We push these guys hard. They work hard. We expect a lot out of them. It validates us for those guys having success. I’m glad that they had the success that they had tonight. It springs us into the next round of the playoffs.”

In addition to Sullivan’s 191 yards rushing. Allen had 124 yards on 19 carries. Carter had 61 yards on 9 carries. 

Brazeal completed 7 of 11 passes for 132 yards. 

Ian Seidenschwarz led the Bison with 10 tackles. Carter had 5 tackles and an interception in the first quarter. Sullivan had 4 tackles. Lynn Mills had 3 tackles. 

Jackrabbits beat Stuttgart, playoff picture not clear

Lonoke's M.J. White catches a touchdown pass against Stuttgart on Friday. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits broke a three-game losing streak Friday night but the playoff picture got a little more muddy.

Diego Contreras kicks an extra point out
of the hold of Riley Miller.

Lonoke held off winless Stuttgart for a 35-28 win in the final home game. However, Heber Springs beat conference leader Riverview to force a four-way tie for third place with Lonoke, Mills and Central Arkansas Christian. 

Lonoke beat Heber Springs but lost to Mills and CAC. The tiebreaker scenario is way too long to figure out. 

Lonoke travels to Riveview on Thursday for the regular-season finale. 

Against Stuttgart, the Jackrabbits took a 7-0 lead when Dayton Smith returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown with 8:36 left in the first quarter. Diego Contreras kicked the first of five extra points.

The Jackrabbits added to their lead when Spencer Pepper scored on a 37-yard run with 57.1 seconds left.

Stuttgart scored the next three touchdowns to take a 21-14 lead with 5:21 left in the third quarter. 

The Jackrabbits tied the game at 21-21 with 1:46 left in the third quarter when Anthony Parks scored on a 1-yard run. 

Stuttgart reclaimed the lead at 28-21 with 11:48 left in the game. 

The Jackrabbits tied it at 28-28 with 8:08 left when Pepper threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to M.J. White. After Lonoke forced a punt, Parks had a long return and set up the Jackrabbits to win the game.

Pepper threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to White with 1:07 left.

Stuttgart’s final gasp came to an end when White intercepted his second pass of the game.

Pepper led the Jackrabbits with 128 yards rushing on 36 carries. He also completed 13 of 19 passes for 142 yards. On defense, Pepper intercepted a pass.

Parks rushed for 73 yards on 15 carries.

Chris Lucas caught 6 passes for 89 yards. White caught 5 passes for 67 yards.

Smith and John Lawson led Lonoke with 10 tackles each. Brayden Coble and Lucas hd six each. Anderson Fletcher had five. 

Jackrabbits fall to CAC in 2OT

Lonoke's Anthony Parks goes around CAC's Nathan Velek en route to a touchdown (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits battled back from a two-touchdown deficit to force overtime against Central Arkansas Christian on Friday night. However, the Mustangs would have the final say.

CAC beat Lonoke 28-21 in double overtime at James B. Abraham Stadium. With the loss, Lonoke falls to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in 4A-2 play. The loss was Lonoke’s third consecutive.

CAC led 21-7 following a 61-yard touchdown pass from Palmer Gilbrech to Aiden Hughes with 

Lonoke's Chris Lucas defends against CAC's Ethan Demarco.

2:21 left in the first half. 

The Jackrabbits pulled to within 21-14 with 37 seconds left in the first half. Spencer Pepper scored on a 6-yard run. Diego Contreras kicked the extra point. The play was set up by a long pass on fourth down from Pepper to Chris Lucas.

Lonoke tied the score at 21-21 on the first possession of the second half. Pepper scored on a 25-yard run with 8:17 left in the third quarter.

The score remained the same the remainder of regulation. CAC had a chance to win it in regulation but Eli Jenkins missed a 30-yard field goal attempt with 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

CAC had the ball first in the first overtime. The Jackrabbits defense pushed the Mustangs back to the Lonoke 33. On fourth down, Gilbrech threw an incomplete pass.

Lonoke had a chance to win the game in the first overtime. On third-and-goal from the 10, Pepper ran 9 yards to the CAC 1. Lonoke coach Harry Wright sent Contreras out for an 18-yard field goal attempt that he barely missed, sending the game into a second overtime.

Lonoke got the ball to start the second extra period. On the third down, CAC’s Gentry Miller intercepted a Pepper pass.

Miller then ran three times, including two yards for the game-winning touchdown on third down. Jenkins kicked the extra point to set the final score.

CAC took a 7-0 lead on the first play of the game. Gilbrech threw a 64-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Morse. The Mustangs added to their lead on a 73-yard pass from Gilbrech to Miller, making the score 14-0.

Lonoke got the board when Pepper threw a screen pass to Anthony Parks, who worked his away across the field and down the sideline to make the score 14-7.

The Jackrabbits, CAC, Heber Springs and Bald Knob are all Atied for fourth place with a 2-3 record. Lonoke’s two conference victories are over Heber Springs and Bald Knob.

Lonoke hosts Stuttgart in the final home game this Friday at James B. Abraham Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Jackrabbits hold off Bald Knob for 3rd straight win

Lonoke's Anthony Parks carries the ball against Bald Knob on Friday night. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits had to play all 48 minutes to come away with a 38-36 win over the Bald Knob Bulldogs on Friday night at James B. Abraham Stadium. 

Bald Knob quarterback Johnson Capps’ pass into the end zone was batted away on the final play as Lonoke won it’s third consecutive game after starting the season 0-2. The Jackrabbits are 3-2 overall and 2-0 in 4A-2 conference play.

“Any win is a good win … I’ll take every one of them,” first-year Lonoke coach Harry Wright said. “They [Bulldogs] are a good football  team. They saw something on film and took advantage of it in the first half for sure. We came out and made adjustments.”

Lonoke led 24-20 at halftime following a 31-yard field by Diego Contreras on the final play of the second quarter. 

Brayden Coble blocks for Spencer Pepper. 

Bald Knob took a 28-24 lead early in the second half. Lonoke responded with another touchdown. Anthony Parkers scored on a 2-yard run with 6:56 left in the third quarter. Contreras’ extra point gave the Jackrabbits a 31-28 lead. 

Bald Knob fumbled the ball back to Lonoke with Da’Lynn Waits recovering the ball at the Lonoke 31. Six plays later, Lonoke quarterback Spencer Pepper threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Shawn Lake with 7 seconds left in the third quarter to make the score 38-28.

Bald Knob cut the deficit to 38-36 on a 51-yard touchdown pass from Capps to Tyrese Dinwiddie with 6:54 left in the game.

Lonoke had a chance to put the game away but pass into the end zone was incomplete on fourth down at the Bald Knob 19 with 36.7 seconds left in the game. 

Bald Knob’s Leason Pierce lined up at quarterback and pitched to Capps, who threw a 53-yard pass to Josh Clark down to the Lonoke 28 with 27.4 seconds left.

After an incomplete pass, Capps was tackled after a 6-yard gain. The Bulldogs tried to kill the clock but Capps spiked the ball after taking a snap from the shotgun. Bald Knob was called for intentional grounding. That set up one last play from the Lonoke 28.

Capps final pass into the end zone was incomplete, giving Lonoke the victory. 

Pepper finished with 146 yards rushing on 17 carries. He completed 12 of 20 passes for 115 yards. 

Anthony Parks rushed for 84 yards on 19 carries. Lake had 22 yards on two carries. 

Chris Lucas caught four passes for 82 yards, 45 of which came off a lateral from Parks on the first play of the game.  Parks caught five passes for 10 yards. Lake caught three passes for 22 yards. 

Capps completed 7 of 20 passes for 193 yards. 

Lonoke took a 7-0 lead with 11:12 left in the first quarter. Pepper scored on a 2-yard run. The play was set up by a hook and lateral play. Pepper threw to Parks who laterally the ball to Lucas, who took it 50 yards.

Bald Knob cut the deficit to 7-6 on a 30-yard run by Capps with 6:02 left in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs took a 14-7 lead on a 9-yard run by Pierce. They scored the two-point conversion. 

Parks returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 14-14. 

Bald Knob reclaimed the lead at 20-14 on a 6-yard run by Pierce with 12.5 seconds left in the first quarter.

Lonoke took a 21-20 lead on a 41-yard run by Pepper with 1:44 left in the first half. 

Lonoke will travel to Southside Batesville this Friday. The Southerners are 3-2 overall and 1-1 in 4A-2 play following a 35-7 loss to Riverview on Friday night.

Jackrabbits start conference 1-0 for first time since 2013

Lonoke kicker Diego Contreras attempts an extra point against Newport. Contreras kicked a 32-yard field goal against Heber Springs on Friday night. Holding for the kick is Riley Miller (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

HEBER SPRINGS — For the first time since 2013, the Lonoke Jackrabbits are 1-0 in conference play.

The Jackrabbits routed the Heber Springs Panthers 32-12 on Friday night to improve to 2-2 on the season and start 4A-2 play at 1-0. The last time Lonoke beat Heber Springs, which was also the conference opener was 2013. The Jackrabbits beat the Panthers 63-34 on Sept. 27, 2013.

In Friday’s win, Lonoke jumped out to an 11-0 lead. 

Lonoke kicker Diego Contreras kicked a 32-yard field goal in the first quarter. Lonoke then pushed the lead to 11-0 on a 14-yard run by Anthony Parks. Chris Lucas caught a pass from Spencer Pepper for the two-point conversion.

Hebei Springs scored a touchdown in the second quarter to make the score 11-6. Lonoke followed up with a 35-yard pass from Pepper to Parks. Contreras kicked the extra point to make the score 18-6. 

Each team scored a touchdown in the third quarter. Pepper scored on a 25-yard run. Contreras kicked the extra point. The Panthers also scored on a pass to make the score 25-12.

Lonoke’s final score came in the fourth quarter. Lucas caught a 23-yard pass from Pepper, and Contreras kicked the extra point to account for the final score. 

Pepper completed 10 of 16 passes for 131 yards. he also rushed for 130 yards on 22 carries. Parks had 75 yards on 16 carries. He caught 5 passes for 79 yards. Lucas and MJ White each caught two passes. 

Dayton Smith led Lonoke with 15 tackles. Brayden Coble and Lucas had 9 tackles each. Daylynn Waits had 8. 

John Lawson had two sacks for the Jackrabbits. Riley Miller had an interception.

Lonoke will host Bald Knob on Friday night at James B. Abraham Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Bison fall to Hornets in conference opener

Carlisle's Devarius Allen pulls away from a Hazen defender for a third-quarter touchdown Friday night. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

HAZEN — For the first time this season, the Hazen Hornets had to play four quarters. However, for Carlisle Bison fans, it was not the outcome they wanted.

Hazen jumped out to a 20-0 lead en route to a 32-14 win over the Bison. It was Carlisle’s third consecutive loss to the Hornets but the first one in that run to not end with a mercy rule.

The Bison are now 3-2 overall and 0-1 in 2A-6 play. Hazen is 4-0 and 1-0 in league play. 

The first half was a defensive struggle with the Hornets leading 8-0 at halftime. 

Carlisle’s second possession started at its own 4 following a muffed punt. 

A few plays later, Carlisle fumbled with Hazen recovering at the Bison 1. On the next play, Hazen’s Ayjon Green scored on a 1-yard run with 3:30 left in the first quarter. Terrell Penn added the two-point conversion. 

The score remained the same until the Hornets took the second half kickoff and drove 55 yards in five plays with Penn scoring on a 2-yard run with 9:42 left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion was no good, making the score 14-0. 

After a Bison punt, Green scored on a 50-yard run to make the score 20-0 with 7:21 left in the third quarter. 

The Bison showed some life on their next possession. They drove 66 yards in five plays with Devarius Allen scoring on a 25-yard run with 4:11 left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the score at 20-6. 

Hazen responded with a 56-yard, 10-play scoring drive with Green scoring on a 1-yard run with 11:29 left in the game. 

Carlisle wasted no time answering as Bison quarterback Eli Moody found receiver Will Carter with a pass and he tightroped the sidelines for a 64-yard touchdown pass with 10:28 left. Carter scored the two-point conversion on a pass from Moody to make the score 26-14. 

Hazen averted disaster on its next possession. Penn fumbled the ball into the end zone and it laid there for a a second before Blayne Toll pounced on the loose ball for a Hornets touchdown with 7:50 left to make the score 32-14.

The Bison will host Des Arc for homecoming this week. The Eagles are 2-2 overall and 1-0 in 2A-6 play following a win over Marvell on Friday. 

Jackrabbits rally, beat Newport for season's first win

Lonoke's Romel Rankin, from left, Brayden Coble and Anthony Parks celebrate after Parks scored a touchdown on a fumble return to make the score 49-40 against Newport on Friday. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits finally got over the hump.

After dropping the first two games of the season, including a 45-44 overtime loss to Beebe last week, the Jackrabbits rallied from a  two touchdown deficit to beat Newport 49-40 on Friday at James B. Abraham Stadium. The win was the first for new Lonoke coach Harry Wright. 

“That is, by far, the best team we’ve played, just athletically and what they can do in space,” Wright said. “They are really well coached. It was a big win. I’m excited for them.”

Lonoke's Riley Miller makes a tackle against Newport.

Lonoke trailed 34-21 with 9:34 left in the third quarter following a 62-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Monquell Cox. 

Lonoke scored the next two touchdowns. Spencer Pepper threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Chris Lucas and a 91-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Parks, the second coming with 3:43 left in the third quarter. Diego Contreras kicked both extra points to give the Jackrabbits a 34-34 lead.

The Jackrabbits pushed their lead to 42-34 on the final play of the third quarter when Parks scored on a 1-yard run. 

Newport cut the deficit to 42-40 on a 4-yard run by Cox with 10:31 left in the game.

Lonoke’s final touchdown came on a scoop and score when Parks forced a fumble by the Newport quarterback then picked up the loose ball and returned in about 20 yards for a touchdown to make the score 49-40.

Newport had a chance to get closer but Lonoke’s Riley Miller intercepted a pass at the Lonoke 1 with 3:09 left.

The Jackrabbits were forced to punt but only got off an 11-yard punt, giving the Greyhounds the ball at the Lonoke 13. However, the Jackrabbits forced Newport to turn the ball over on downs a the 15 yard line. 

Lonoke took a knee to end the game. 

The Jackrabbits finished with 402 yards in total offense. 

Pepper completed 11 of 20 passes for 326 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also rushed for 48 yards on 17 carries. 

Parks caught 4 passes for 146 yards. He rushed for 73 yards on 12 carries. 

Shawn Lake caught 4 passes for 96 yards. Lucas caught 2 passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns. 

Defensively, Romel Rankin and M.J. White each had an interception.

Newport finished with 421 yards in total offense. 

The Jackrabbits will travel to Heber Springs to take on the Panthers in the 4A-2 opener next Friday. 

“These first three games are like preseason,” Wright said. “They count and they matter. Every game matters but what you do in the conference is important. If you can go out and get better every week, that’s all we’re worried about.”

Jackrabbits play better but fall to Badgers in OT

Lonoke quarterback Spencer Pepper follows the blocking of teammate Ayden Rowton during the first quarter against Beebe. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — it wasn’t the outcome that Lonoke Jackrabbits fans wanted Friday night but it was a step in the right direction.

Lonoke rallied from a two-score deficit to force overtime against Beebe but the Badgers scored a two-point conversion to win the game 45-44 in the home opener at James B. Abraham Stadium.

The loss comes two weeks after the Jackrabbits lost at Class 2A Carlisle 38-13 in the season opener. 

In the game with Class 5A Beebe, sophomore quarterback Spencer Pepper accounted for 323 of Lonoke’s 331 total yards. Pepper completed 13 of 22 passes for 203 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 120 yards on 22 carries and scored one touchdown. He also scored a two-point conversion off a pass from MJ White to tie the game at 37-37 with 6:01 left in the third quarter.

Lonoke's Riley Miller [7] and Chaston Dockery
celebrate a touchdown

After a scoreless fourth quarter, the game went into overtime with each team getting to possess the ball first-and-goal from the 10-yard line. 

Lonoke got the ball to start overtime. On third down, Pepper threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to White. Diego Contreras  kicked the extra point to give the Jackrabbits a 44-37 lead.

Beebe scored a touchdown on second down as quarterback Cade Longing scored on a 7-yard run. After a timeout, Beebe decided to go for the win. Longing threw a screen pass to Seth Howard, who barreled his way into the end zone for the two-point conversion and the victory. 

Lonoke led 7-0 following a 29-yard run by Pepper with 8:01 left in the first quarter. After a Beebe score tied it at 7-7, Lonoke reclaimed the lead on a 33-yard pass from Pepper to Chris Lucas. 

Beebe scored 14 consecutive points to lead 21-14. The Jackrabbits broke the streak when Beebe punter Steven Hemmert had the snap sail over his head and threw the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety, making the score 21-16. 

Beebe led 28-16 at halftime.

Lonoke cut the deficit to 28-23 early in the second half on a 12-yard pass from Pepper to Riley Miller. Beebe pushed its lead to 34-23 before Lonoke scored again to cut it to 34-29. Pepper connected with Miller for a 57-yard scoring strike.

Beebe kicker Jaime Rodriguez kicked a 24-yard field goal to make the score 37-29. Lonoke’s Shawn Lake returned the ensuing kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown. Lonoke scored the two-point conversion to tie the game at 37-37. 

Miller caught 6 passes for 119 yards. Lake caught 3 passes for 27 yards. Lucas caught 2 passes for 38 yards. Also catching passes were White and Chaston Dockery.

Lonoke hosts the Newport Greyhounds in the final non-conference game this Friday at James B. Abraham Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Bison rout Johnson County Westside for 2-0 start

Carlisle's Lynn Mills catches a pass for a touchdown (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

CARLISLE — For the first time in six years, the Carlisle Bison are 2-0.

Carlisle beat Johnson County Westside 58-14 on Friday night to remain perfect on the season. The last time the Bison started a season 2-0 was 2013 when they finished 12-2 and falling to Junction City in the Class 2A state semifinals. 

Carlisle took an 8-0 lead on its first possession. Eli Moody threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Will Carter with 6:16 left in the first quarter. Kamryn Taylor added the two-point conversion. 

After a Westside punt, Taylor ran 76 yards for a touchdown with 5:40 left in the first. Gage Parker added the two-point conversion. 

Westside’s next possession ended with an interception by Carlisle’s Mikey Freeby with 5:25 left in the first quarter. Eight plays later, Taylor scored on a 2-yard run with 1:27 left to make the score 22-0. 

The Bison pushed their lead to 28-0 on a 65-yard run by Taylor with 6:49 left in the first half. 

Westside got on the board on a 4-yard run with 6:39 left.

The Bison got that score back when Moody threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to Lynn Mills with 6:19 left. Parker added the two-point conversion to make the score 36-6.

The Bison’s final score of the first half came on a  62-yard run by Collin Jinks with 3:39 left to make the score 44-6, invoking the running clock in the second half. 

Carlisle scored two second-half touchdowns. Tyler Webb scored on a  14-yard run and Will Carter returned a kickoff 73 yards for a touchdown. Parker scored another two-point conversion. 

Moody completed 3 of 3 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. 

Taylor rushed for 143 yards on 4 carries. Jinks had 113 yards on 7 carries. Webb had 72 yards on 8 carries. 

Carter caught two passes for 85 yards. Mills caught one for 53 yards. 

Ian Seidenschwarz led the Bison with 7 tackles. Carter had 6. C.J. James had 5.

The Bison go on the road for the first of six away games this Friday at DeWitt. The Dragons are 2-0 with wins over Stuttgart and Riverview.

Bison pull away from Jackrabbits for 38-13 win

Carlisle's Kamryn Taylor [7] scores the Bison's first touchdown in their 38-13 win over the Lonoke Jackrabbits on Friday night at Fred C. Hardke Field. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

CARLISLE — The fourth time was the charm for the Bison.

Class 2A Carlisle rallied from a 13-8 halftime deficit to beat the Class 4A Lonoke Jackrabbits 38-13 in the Central Lonoke County Showdown at Fred C. Hardke Field on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

Lonoke and Carlisle had not played for 26 years before resuming the series in 2016 with the Jackrabbits winning the previous three matchups in convincing fashion.

“I told the kids this year that we were not going to have any excuses,” second-year Bison coach Caleb Shock said after the game. “We were going to try to be heavy hitters and swing big punched. I knew they were going to bring a lot of big punches. They are a good 4A football team. We knew we were going to have to come out swinging if we wanted to win.”

Carlisle won the opening toss and deferred to the second half. However, Carlisle’s Lynn Mills recovered an onside kick to start the game. That led to them taking an 8-0 lead following a 5-yard run by Kamryn Taylor with 8:32 left in the first quarter. Will Carter added the two-point conversion. 

“We knew we were going to try an onside kick and see if we could get it,” Shock said. “We did. I was proud of our guys. We kept slugging and slugging away.”

Lonoke dominated the second quarter, scoring two touchdowns to take a 13-8 halftime lead. 

Anthony Parks scored on a 3-yard pass with 4:30 left in the first half. After the play was over, Lonoke’s M.J. White was ejected after shoving a Carlisle player to the ground and throwing down his helmet in frustration. Lonoke attempted the two-point conversion but failed, leaving the Bison ahead at 8-6. 

On it’s next possession, the Jackrabbits drove 43 yards in six plays with Davonta Adams scoring on a 4-yard run with 11 seconds left in the first half. The big play of the drive was a 47-yard pass from Spencer Pepper to Anthony Parks down to the Bison 12. 

Lonoke’s Hunter Smith kicked the extra point. 

“Lonoke made a lot of big plays in the second quarter,” Shock said. “I was proud of our guys being able to rebound in the third quarter.”

The Bison took the second half kickoff and drove 55 yards in 14 plays. It was capped off by a 21-yard touchdown pass from Carter to Isaac Monroe with 5:50 left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion was no good, leaving the score at 14-13. 

Lonoke turned the ball over on its next possession when Parks was not able to catch a backwards pass from Pepper with the Bison recovering at the Lonoke 32. Six plays later, Carter scored on a 12-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter to make the score 22-13. 

The Bison added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Carter scored on a 29-yard run with 7:33 left and Taylor scored on a 41-yard run with 28 seconds left. Taylor scored three two-point conversions in the final 12 minutes. 

“Ball control was the game plan going in,” Shock said. “They are explosive. No. 11 [Parks] can go. Their quarterback [Pepper] can go. No. 6 [Adams] can go. We told our guys that we had to move the sticks and we’ve got to win time of possession and keep the clock rolling. 

“When their offense was on the field, our defense played awesome  tonight. We flew to the football. We’ve got guys that run all over the field. Coach [Wes] Rowland does an outstanding job of getting those guys prepared. It showed up.” 

 The Bison finished with 316 yards in total offense. Taylor led the Bison with 139 yards rushing on 15 carries. Carter had 70 yards rushing on 9 carries. He also caught 4 passes for 54 yards and threw one pass for 21 yards. 

Devarius Allen had 49 yards rushing on 13 carries before leaving the game with an ankle injury. 

Eli Moody completed 4 of 12 passes for 54 yards. 

Lonoke finished with 155 yards in total offense. Adams had 45 yards rushing on 7 carries. Pepper had 43 yards 12 carries. He also completed 6 of 17 passes for 76 yards. 

Parks caught 3 passes for 46 yards. Shaw Lake caught 3 passes for 30 yards. 

The Bison had two interceptions. One each by Carter and Drew Sanders.

Carlisle will host Johnson County Westside next Friday while Lonoke has the week off before hosting Beebe on Sept. 14 at James B. Abraham Stadium. 

Mr. Brown, longtime CHS principal, dies

Mr. and Mrs. Brown 

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

An institution has died.

Raymond H. Brown, the former longtime principal of Carlisle High School, died at his home in Warren, June 21, 2019. Mr. Brown was 89. 

Mr. Brown served as CHS principal from the fall of 1966 until the spring of 1991 when he retired from education. He started his education career as a history teacher at Mablevale in Little Rock following his graduation from Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway, now the University of Central Arkansas. 

At the end of his tenure at Carlisle, the gymnasium was named in his honor.

After retiring from Carlisle, Mr. Brown and his wife Doris moved to Warren where his son Raymond H. Brown Jr. [Hal] was living with his family. 

“My dad wanted to help raise the grand kids,” said Lori Brown, Mr. Brown’s daughter. “He really enjoyed sports with his grandson Trey [Raymond H. Brown III].”

Mr. Brown is survived by his wife of 63 years, Doris; his son Hal and wife Pam; daughter Lori; grandson Trey; granddaughter Leanne Anthony; and great granddaughter Emmie Kate Brown. 

Mr. Brown was born Aug. 20, 1929 in Bryant. He was a great athlete and baseball was his game. After graduating from Bryant High School, Mr. Brown played baseball for three seasons at UCA and was a member of the 1949 Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference champions. Lori Brown noted that her nephew Trey also played baseball at UCA. 

Mr. Brown may not have been from Carlisle, but according to Lori, he loved his time there. 

“He loved Carlisle,” Lori said. “He told me in recent years that of all the places he’s ever lived, he liked Carlisle the best. He really liked the people of Carlisle. He really loved the kids in Carlisle. I think they responded well to him. I don’t think they always liked him. 

“I think in the years after they got out of school, they respected him. He was tough on the kids. He excited them to do right and I think they did.”

Mr. and Mrs. Brown were the first two selected as honorary alumni by the CHS Alumni Association in 2002. 

Harry Wright is new Jackrabbits football coach

New Lonoke Jackrabbits football coach Harry Wright visits with his new team following an initial meeting on Tuesday. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — Harry Wright, the defensive coordinator at Bentonville West High School, is the new Lonoke Jackrabbits head football coach.

Wright, 34, was hired by the Lonoke School Board during its regular meeting Monday night. He replaces Taggart Moore, who resigned to enter into private business.

Wright has been at Bentonville West for four seasons, following coach Bryan Pratt from McAlester, Okla., to Bentonville when Bentonville High School split into two schools. 

“My family and I are excited to be here,” Wright said. 

Wright is a graduate of Eufala High School in Oklahoma. He played four years of football at Bacone College, earning All-American Honors twice. 

Wright coached at several Oklahoma schools before making his way to Bentonville.

But Lonoke reminds him of Eufala, his hometown.

“This is opportunity came open, it reminds me a lot of where I went to high school,” Wright said. “I graduated from a 3A Oklahoma school. So it’s similar. 

“I have a 6-year-old son and I wanted him to grow up in the same environment that I grew up in. Football was a huge deal. The town shut down where I went to high school. I feel like Lonoke can be that type of situation and opportunity. It really enticed me for him to grow up in that type on environment, along with the tradition of success and athletes that they’ve had here.”

Wright said everyone he’s talked to about the Lonoke job said it was a good opportunity.

“This is a place where you can be successful at and the kids are going to work hard and take pride in it,” he said. 

Wright and his wife Lauren have one son, Evan. 

“It’s always been my dream when I got into coaching to be a head football coach,” Wright said. “I’ve kind of tried to set myself up throughout my career to learn from the best. I’ve worked for some really good head coaches. My head coach in high school, Kerry Roberts, was one of my mentors. I worked for him for three years.”

The Jackrabbits finished the 2018 season 6-6. They beat Prairie Grove in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs. They lost to Ozark in the second round.

Lonoke opens the 2019 season Aug. 30 at Carlisle. 

Bison rally to beat Pangburn, qualify for state tourney

The Carlisle Bison are headed to the Class 2A state tournament after beating Pangburn 6-3 on Friday. (Photo courtesy of Sara Seidenschwarz)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

CARLISLE — For the first time in five years and the eighth time in school history, the Carlisle Bison baseball team is headed to the state tournament.

Carlisle (17-9) rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat Pangburn 6-3 in the first round of the central regional tournament at Rockefeller Park on Friday. With the win, Carlisle will play in the Class 2A state tournament next week in Mountain Home. 

“We haven’t really talked a whole lot about wins this season but we knew one of the goals was to make it to the state tournament,” said first-year Bison coach coach Steven Tew. “It feels good to accomplish that and we hope to keep it going from there.”

Pangburn, which beat the Bison 13-3 on April 17, scored two runs in the bottom of the second and the score remained the same until the top of the fifth.

Carlisle’s Cody Brown and Ben Orton both scored runs to tie the game at 2-2.

The Bison then plated four runs in the top of the sixth to take a 6-2 lead. Scoring were Noah Seidenschwarz, Brown, Orton and Blake White. 

Pangburn added a run in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 6-3. The Tigers had a change to score in the bottom of the seventh but left runners at first and second to end the game. 

White got the win, giving up three runs in six innings. He struck out seven while allowing nine hits and five walks. Brown pitched a scoreless seventh. 

“Blake really didn’t have his best stuff early on but he batted up there,” Tew said. “They got something going in the second but he did a good job limiting the damage and giving up only two runs that inning. 

“Around the fourth, something clicked for him and he started to command his pitches a little better. After that moment, we were able to start spotting fastballs and throwing curveballs and change ups for strikes. It helped keep Pangburn’s hitters off balance.”

The Bison had seven hits but also left 12 runners on base. Brown, Orton and Ian Seidenschwarz had two hits each. 

“Offensively, we felt like we had opportunities but couldn’t get a big hit to score any of them,” Tew said. “We just kept grinding and kept having good at bats until we got two across in the fifth and four more in the sixth. 

“I was proud of how they handled themselves during those tough innings. A good example of it was really Braiden Jenkins. He had a good at bat with two outs and runners on second and third. It ended in a strikeout but it also did two important things for us. It rolled the lineup over to the top for the next inning and it helped run the pitch count up for Pangburn’s guy, which led to them having to go to the bullpen. Braiden was a little down on himself after that one but he didn’t carry it over to the field.”

Jenkins dove for a fly ball in the gap on the first pitch of the next inning for an out.

“He made of the best plays we’ve had all year by diving to the gap,” Tew said of Jenkins. “It was a big moment and got us fired up.”

The Bison will play Conway St. Joseph on Sunday in the semifinals of the regional at Rockefeller Park. 

LHS football coach Moore leaving education field

Lonoke football coach Taggart Moore talks to his offensive line during the 2017 season. Moore is stepping down as Jackrabbits football coach, going into loan selling business. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — Taggart Moore had a career opportunity he could not pass up.

Moore, 32, the head football coach of the Lonoke Jackrabbits for 2 1/2 years, is stepping down to make a career move, getting out of education.

Moore is going to work as a loan officer at First Trust Home Loans, based in Sheridan but with a satellite office in Cabot. 

“It is something I don’t take lightly,” Moore said, referring to being the head coach of the Jackrabbits. “I didn’t think I’d ever get out of coaching and teaching. I thought I’d be doing this for the next 25 years. I love football and I love the game and I love coaching. 

“But this is an opportunity to do something different, an opportunity for me to do things for my family that I can’t do while I’m coaching. It just came down to that. It’s an opportunity for my family that I couldn’t pass up. I can now spend more time with my family.”

Moore said he will continue to teach and fulfill his contract, which expires June 30. 

Moore said his wife Anna will continue to teach at Lonoke High School. They have a young son, Mills. 

Moore was named interim coach of the Jackrabbits following the resignation of longtime coach Doug Bost following a  1-3 start in 2016. The Jackrabbits finished the season 2-4 under Moore. In the 2017, Lonoke went 3-7 but took a major step forward in 2018 as the Jacrkabbits went 6-6, including a home playoff victory over Prairie Grove. 

“I think differently it’s in a good spot,” Moore said of the Jackrabbits football program. “Talking to Dr. Tackett [Lonoke Superintendent John Tackett], we kind of discussed it and how it’s in a much better place than what I found it in. There are so many positive things doing on there right now.”

Tackett spoke highly of Moore.
"In the short time I've known him, he seems to be an educator of the highest character who puts students first," Tackett said. "He treats fellow coaches and colleagues with respect and is a great role model for students. From what I have seen, he models the skills, values and character traits most sought after in coaching and teaching.
"He will be greatly missed. We wish Coach Moore the very best and appreciate all he has done."

Tackett said the football coaching position will be posted on the school website and will including a physical education teaching assignment.
"Applications will be reviewed and candidates will be selected by a district-level team comprised of administrators and coaches," Tackett said.
Moore said he's leaving a great job.

“Whoever takes that job is going to be in a really good position to win a conference championship next year,” Moore said. “We’ve put in a lot of hard work, and I want the program to success. I feel like it’s going to.”

Jackrabbits win 5 in a row

Lonoke's Anderson Fletcher awaits a pitch during the Jackrabbits' sweep of EStem on Tuesday. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

LONOKE — After a getting off to a slow start, the Lonoke Jackrabbits have won five in a row, including four conference games, to improve to 6-7 on the season. 

Lonoke is now 5-3 in the 4A-5 conference. The Jackrabbits are tied for third with Mills but hold the tiebreaker over the Comets by virtue of their sweep. Joe T. Robinson is 6-0. Wynne is second at 5-1. 

“We’re sitting at 5-3 in the conference, which is a good spot for us right now,” Lonoke coach Nick Smith said. “We have a huge doubleheader at Wynne on Tuesday. That could really put us in a great position going forward.”

Before spring break, Lonoke beat Mills 9-1 and 11-4 on March 15. 

In the first game, Lonooke led 8-0 after four innings. 

Dalton Smith led Lonoke with four runs. Spencer Pepper had two. Also scoring were Julian Medina, Christian Cooper, and Anderson Fletcher. 

Noah Mulligan had three RBIs. Cooper, Smith, and Pepper had two hits each. 

Will Roark got the win. He struck out four in six innings of work. 

In the second game, Lonoke jumped out to a 8-0 lead after two innings. 

Cooper, Smith and Pepper each scored two runs. Also scoring were Logan Sharp, Ryan Cleveland, Grant Lingo, Mulligan and Riley Miller. 

Lonoke swept a doubleheader from EStem on Tuesday. The Jackrabbits won the first game 25-0 and the nightcap 12-0. 

Media, Smith and Roark each scored three runs. Scoring two runs were Cleveland, Miller and Pepper. Also scoring were Cooper, Will McNeil, Sharp, Fletcher, Mulligan and Daniel DeViney.

Mulligan hit a home run. 

In the second game, Lonoke scored five runs in the second and seven in the fourth. 

McNeil and Chase Rogers each scored two runs. Also scoring were Isaiah Thomas, Cooper, Smith, Roark, Sharp, Fletcher, Brayden Knox and DeViney.

Smith, Shapr and Mulligan competed on a no-hitter, striking out 11 EStem batters.

“Our pitching is really starting to settle in and pound the strike zone,” Coach Smith said. “At the plate, our guys are really seeing the ball well and squaring a lot of balls up. I’ve been please with the depth of this team. We’ve got a lot of good ball players on this team so we have a lot of options on doubleheaders on conference nights.

“Lastly, this team is starting to put all phases of the game together and it’s showing.”

Bison hold off Hornets, improve to 8-3

The Carlisle Bison rally up before an inning during their win over Hazen on Friday. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

@markbuffalo

Ian Seidenschwarz makes contact with a pitch
against Hazen. 

CARLISLE — The Carlisle Bison continued their early-season roll with a 9-5 win over the Hazen Hornets on Friday at Rockefeller Park.

The Bison aren now 8-3 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

Carlisle led 5-0 after three innings. Hazen scored twice in the top of the fourth to cut it to 5-2. The Bison plated a run in the bottom of the frame to lead 6-2. However, the Hornets would not go away, scoring once in the fifth and twice in the sixth to make the score 6-5.

The Bison scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth push the lead back to four at 9-5. 

“I wasn’t surprised at jumping out to a big lead,” first-year Carlisle coach Steven Tew said. “Yesterday at practice, it was probably the best we’ve swung the bat all year. That was really encouraging coming off the last two games where I thought we didn’t swing the bat that well. 

“We knew we were facing one of the top guys in our conference in Jacob Weems. He’s had great numbers. Everything that I heard is that he’s a two strikeout an inning pitcher. It was going to be hard for us.”

Ben Orton, Blake White and Kamryn Taylor each scored two runs. Also scoring were Coby Brown, Gauge Shaw and Jasean Harper.

Brown and White led Carlisle with three hits each. Orton and Eli Moody had two hits each. 

Also getting a  hit was Creed Carter. 

Paxton Hitchings pitched the first three innings. He allowed no hits but two runs while striking out give. White got a save, pitching the final 1 2/3 innings, He struck out three. Also pitching were Noah Seidenschwarz and Brown. 

“Paxton gave us three solid innings and I kinda pushed him for a fourth,” Tew said. “He got into a little bit of trouble. Noah came in and pitched really well. Coby struggled some. He didn’t have his best stuff but he got out there and competed. 

“Then we just got to Blake. We knew that if we had the lead and we were getting late in the game that we were going straight to Blake. He was able to come in and get five big outs for us.”

A year ago, the Bison were 12-11 but had turmoil because of a midseason coaching change, going from Phil Bernhardt to Ryan Johnson, son of former Arkansas Razorbacks pitching coach Wes Johnson. 

Carlisle made it to the regional under Johnson and was close to advancing to the state tournament. 

Tew is pleased with the progress his team is making in his first season as the head Bison. 

“Next week, we’re playing five out of the first six days,” he said. “We’ll get to see a lot of baseball and get a lot of at bats. We’re definitely happy with where we’re at right now. We just have to keep it going and finish.”

Carlisle also bet Abundant Life 12-10 last week. 

White and Carter each scored three runs. Orton scored twice. Also scoring runs were Ian Seidenschwarz, Hitchings, Taylor and Harper. 

The Bison beat Bigelow 6-3 in a conference game Monday. 

Bigelow led 2-0 after one inning. The Bison plated three runs in the both the third and fourth innings to lead 6-2. The Panthers scored once in the top of the seventh. 

Brown and Moody each scored one run. Also scoring were Carter and Taylor. 

White got the win, pitching six innings. He struck out 13.