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.