Bison to host Class 4A DeWitt on Friday

The Carlisle Bison enter the field prior to their game with England last week. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

The Carlisle Bison will take on a "new" opponent this Friday. 

For the first time during the modern era of high school football, the Carlisle Bison will play the DeWitt Dragons. DeWitt is coming off a 34-13 loss to Little Rock Episcopal on Sept. 2. The Bison lost to England 54-22 on Friday night.

DeWitt is ranked 34th in Class 4A by Hooten's Arkansas Football. The Bison are ranked 22nd in Class 2A. 

The Dragons are favored by 10 points over the Bison.

Kickoff at Fred C. Hardke Field is set for 7 p.m.

Lonoke travels to Beebe on Friday night

The Jackrabbits defense make a stop against Star City. (Photo by Scott Ward, KOESPORTS.com)

The Lonoke Jackrabbits will face a familiar opponent when they play the Beebe Badgers on Friday night at Beebe's Bro Erwin Stadium.

The Badgers and Jackrabbits have been rivals for many years, having played against each other in the second week of the season for a while now. A year ago, Lonoke beat Beebe 41-14 at James B. Abraham Stadium.

Lonoke, ranked 10th in Class 4A by Hooten's Arkansas Football, is coming off a 31-18 loss to Star City in the season opener last week. Beebe, ranked ninth in Class 5A, is coming off a 48-29 loss to Greenbrier on Sept. 2 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

Lonoke is a 4-point favorite over Beebe, according to Hooten's Arkansas Football.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. 

Jackrabbits come up short against Star City in opener

Lonoke's Trey Bevis [28] and Chandler Elmore make a tackle against Star City. (Photo by Scott Ward, KOESPORTS.COM)

By Mark Buffalo 

and Larry Cash

Staff Writers

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

LONOKE — In a seesaw affair, Lonoke wasn't able to pull off a victory as the Star City Bulldogs beat the Jackrabbits 31-18 in the season opener Friday night at James B. Abraham Stadium.

Star City led 3-0 on a 26-yard field goal by Eric Estavon with 6:43 left in the first quarter.

Star City pushed its lead to 9-0 on a 50-yard touchdown pass from Blake Brown to Blake Wynn with 4:55 left in the first quarter.

Lonoke got on the board when Savonte Rountree threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Chandler Elmore with 2:16 left in the first quarter. The extra point was no good, leaving the score at 9-6.

The Jackrabbits took a 12-9 lead with 8:59 left in the first half on a 4-yard run by Rountree. The extra point was no good. 

Lonoke got the ball back after an Ethan Holland interception but could not score.

Star City took a 16-12 lead on a 4-yard run by Darren Chaney with 35.8 seconds left in the first half.

Lonoke reclaimed the lead when Justin Meadows returned the second half kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was no good, leaving the score at 18-16.

Star City took a 24-18 lead when the Bulldogs recovered a Lonoke fumble and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown with 6:25 left in the third quarter. 

The Bulldogs added to their lead with a 7-yard touchdown run by Duwan Harris with 1:25 left in the third quarter.

Rountree completed 4 of 13 passes for 79 yards. He rushed 13 times for 97 yards.

Josh Coleman had 29 yards on seven carries. 

Elmore caught 2 passes for 38 yards. 

Lonoke had 224 yards in total offense.

Star City had 368 yards in total offense. The Bulldogs had 201 yards passing and 167 yards rushing.

Holland led Lonoke with 10 tackles. He also had an interception and a fumble recovery.

Elmore had nine tackles. Caleb Bailey had eight. Braylon Bryant and Lance Dugger had six tackles each.

Lonoke will travel to Beebe to take on the Badgers this Friday at Bro. Erwin Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Badgers are coming off a 48-29 loss to Greenbrier in the season opener last week at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. 

Josh Coleman takes a handoff from quarterback Savonte Rountree (Photo by Scott Ward, KOESPORTS.COM)

Bison can't keep up with Lions in season opener

Bison head coach Jack Keith (with hat) and assistant Lonnie Roberson talk to their team during Friday's season opener against England. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

CARLISLE — It was not a good opening night for the Carlisle Bison football team.

The England Lions jumped out to a 21-0 en route to a 54-22 win over Carlisle in the season opener Friday night at Fred C. Hardke Field. 

England's win was its first over the Bison since 2005.

England's first touchdown came on a 15-yard run by Braden Brazeal. After a Carlisle punt, Brazeal threw a 91-yard touchdown pass to Tyrik Harris. After forcing another Carlisle punt, Harris returned the kick 48 yards for a touchdown with 3:49 left in the first half.

The Bison got on the board late in the first half, driving 61 yards in seven plays with Jacob Cagle scoring on a 6-yard run with 47 seconds left in the half. Clinton Hampton scored the two-point conversion to make the score 21-8. 

The big play of the drive was a 30-yard pass play from Chase Brazeal to Nick Schafer down to the England 10. Cagle scored three plays later.

England scored four times in the second half before the Bison were able to crack the scoreboard for a second time. Brazil threw a 13-yard scoring pass to Xavier Iverson. Malik Coleman scored on a 5-yard run. Monte Toney scored on a 5-yard run while Iverson threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Spencer Apel to give the Lions a 47-8 lead with 28 seconds left in the third quarter.

Carlisle broke the scoring drought when Cagle scored on a 37-yard run with 9:51 left in the game. The two-point conversion failed.

England's Zach Montgomery scored the Lions' final touchdown on a 63-yard run with 6:46 left. 

Carlisle's final touchdown came on a 6-yard pass from quarterback Cole Sheets to Schafer with 13 seconds left. Hampton added the two-point conversion.

The Bison finished with 173 yards in total offense. Cagle rushed for 111 yards on 21 carries. Chase Brazeal completed 2 of 4 passes for 32 yards. Schafer caught two passes for 36 yards.

England had 437 yards in total offense. Braden Brazeal completed 9 of 14 passes for 213 yards.

Carlisle will try to bounce back next week in the final non-conference game as it hosts the DeWitt Dragons at Fred C. Hardke Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Sept. 12. 

Bison tight end Nick Schafer catches a pass late in the first half.
(Photo by Mark Buffalo)

Carlisle running back Jacob Cagle, right, takes the ball from quarterback Chase Brazeal.
Cagle scored a touchdown on the play. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

Jr. Rabbits hold on to beat Beebe 8-6

Lonoke's Michael Hodges head to the end zone for a two-point conversion
in the Junior Rabbits' 8-6 win over Beebe
(Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

LONOKE — The Lonoke Junior Jackrabbits broke a scoreless tie in the fourth quarter then held out Beebe for a potential game-tying two-point conversion to beat the Junior Badgers 8-6 in the season opener Thursday night at James B. Abraham Stadium.

Lonoke recovered a Beebe fumble at the 50-yard line with 4:08 left in the game. From there, Lonoke's Michael Hodges carried the ball 10 straight times as he scored on a 1-yard run with 39.8 seconds left. He also scored the two-point conversion to make the score 8-0.

Beebe seemed to be dead in the water, facing third down with 8 seconds left. The Junior Badgers lined up in punt formation but it lead to a fake with Bailey Dillon racing 73 yards for a touchdown with no time remaining. Lonoke then stopped Beebe on the two-point conversion, giving the Junior Jackrabbits the win.

"We've tried to instill in these kids … to play a four-quarter ball game," second-year Lonoke coach Darrick Lowery said. "They showed a lot of heart. We knew it was going to be a tough game with Beebe. It always is because they are very physical. Our kids responded."

Lowery gave credit to the offensive line for the game-winning drive.

"They put the team on their back, and pounded it in, getting the touchdown and the two points, which proved to be the difference," Lowery said. 

Hodges rushed for 77 yards on 18  carries.

Lonoke will travel to Little Rock to play Little Rock Christian next week. 

"It was a real sloppy game," Lowery said of the season opener. "We've got a lot of mistakes we can correct. A lot of good things can come from watching the film. We will be ready to go for next week."

Lonoke's Myke Williams [5] tackles Beebe's Isaac Curry.
(Photo by Mark Buffalo)

Lonoke vs. Star City in season opener

The Lonoke Junior Jackrabbits make a tackle against Maumelle last week. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

For the fifth consecutive season, the Lonoke Jackrabbits and Star City Bulldogs will kick off the football season. Friday's game is at James B. Abraham Stadium with a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Star City has won the previous three meetings; Lonoke won the first matchup in 2010 in the Hootens Kickoff Classic at Golden Lion Stadium in Pine Bluff. 

Lonoke is coming off its best season since finishing as state runner-up in 2009. The Jackrabbits lost to Maumelle in the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs. Star City advanced to the third round, losing to Pine Bluff Dollarway. 

Lonoke is ranked fourth in Class 4A by Hooten's Arkansas Football; Star City is ranked sixth but the Bulldogs are favored by seven in the season opener.

Junior High Action

Lonoke will host Beebe in the season opener Thursday at James B. Abraham Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Bison vs. England in season opener

Carlisle's Jacob Cagle carries the ball during the Bison's scrimmage with Dumas last week at Fred C. Hardke Field. (Photo by Scott Ward, www.koesports.com)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

lonokecountysports@gmail.com

The Carlisle Bison will face a familiar foe Friday night when they open the 2014 football season.

Carlisle will play former conference member England in the "Battle of the Beasts," sponsored by the Bank of England and the Carlisle Banking Center at Fred C. Hardke Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

A year ago, the Bison beat England 30-12 in the regular-season finale. The Lions jumped out to a 12-0 lead before Carlisle rallied for the win.

Carlisle's season ended with a 38-28 loss to eventual state champion Junction City in the Class 2A state title game. England lost to Hector 56-14 in the second round of the state playoffs.

The Bison are ranked 13th in Class 2A by Hooten's Arkansas Football; England is ranked 16th. Carlisle is favored by 13 points in the Lonoke County matchup. 

Junior High Action

The Carlisle Junior Bison will play at McCrory in the regular-season opener Thursday night. Game time is 7 p.m.