Bison fall to 0-2 with loss to 4A DeWitt

Bison quarterback Ty Golleher pitches the ball to teammate Brent Bowlan during pregame warmups at England. Also pictured are assistant coach Shawn Woods and lineman Clay Parker [59]. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

DEWITT — The Carlisle Bison showed some offense during their game with the Class 4A DeWitt Dragons but ultimately fell to 0-2 on the season. 

DeWitt beat Carlisle 54-14 on Friday night in the final non-conference game for the Bison. 

DeWitt jumped out to a 28-0 lead after one quarter.

The Bison got on the board when Clay Parker recovered a fumble and scored on a touchdown with 9:53 left in the first half. Ty Golleher scored the two-point conversion.

Carlisle's other touchdown came on a 3-yard run by Garnell Harris with 1:28 left in the game.  

Golleher led the Bison with 61 yards rushing on 16 carries. Tyler Teel had 24 yards on 10 carries. Harris had 28 yards on three carries. Brynden Weems completed one pass for 41 yards.

The Bison open 2A-6 play in the home opener Friday night against the Augusta Red Devils at Fred C. Hardke Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Red Devils are 1-1. They lost to Marianna in the season opener then bounced back to beat Marvell in their conference opener last week. 

Jackrabbits run past Badgers for second win

Lonoke's Josh Coleman carries the ball against Maumelle. Coleman rushed for 168 yards in the Jackrabbits' win over Beebe on Friday. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

LONOKE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits continued to use big plays as they knocked off Class 5A Beebe 39-22 on Friday at James B. Abraham Stadium.

Lonoke (2-0) took a 7-0 lead on the first possession of the game. Quarterback Savonte Rountree scored on a 19-yard run with 9:55 left in the first quarter. Ethan Holland kicked the extra point. 

After a Beebe fumble, Lonoke pushed its lead to 13-0 when Justin Meadows scored on a 56-yard run in the first quarter. The extra point was no good, leaving the score at 13-0.

Beebe got on the board when JoVaughn Wyrick scored on a 16-yard run. Connor Patrom kicked the extra point to make the score 13-7.

Lonoke got that score back quickly as Meadows scored on a  37-yard run to push the lead to 19-7.

Beebe cut the deficit back to five at 19-14 when Trip Smith scored on a 2-yard run. Patrom kicked the extra point. 

Rountree scored his second touchdown of the game on a 5-yard run a bit later. The extra point was no good, leaving the score at 25-14.

Two plays later, Beebe took a big hit when Wyrick ran for 9 yards but suffered a severe leg injury on the play.

The Badgers got the ball to start the second half but a turnover led to Lonoke's Josh Coleman scoring on a 9-yard run. Meadows scored the two-point conversion to make the score 33-14. 

Beebe came back to cut the deficit to 33-22 when Smith scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter. Tyler Woodall scored the two-point conversion.

Lonoke put the game away when Logan Dozier scored on a 7-yard run late. 

Coleman led Lonoke with 168 yards rushing on 28 carries. Meadows had 113 yards on five carries. 

Rountree rushed for 65 yards on 12 carries. He also completed both of his passes for 33 yards. Juwaun Bryant and Holland each caught one pass.

Lonoke finished with 410 yards in total offense.

Holland led Lonoke with 13 tackles. Zack Murray and Ricky Nichols had nine each. Lance Dugger had seven while Michael Hodges, Xavier Hodge and Lucas McKenzie had six tackles each.

Lonoke will host Little Rock McClellan in the final non-conference game this Friday at James B. Abraham Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Jackrabbits knock off No. 3 Bulldogs behind Meadows' 6 TDs (UPDATED)

Lonoke assistant coach Taggart Moore talks to his players during their scrimmage game with Maumelle 2 weeks ago. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo
Staff Writer

STAR CITY — The Lonoke Jackrabbits broke a four-game losing streak to Star City by beating the Bulldogs 38-27 in the season opener Friday night. 

Lonoke, ranked 10th in Class 4A by Hooten's Arkansas Football, was its first win in a season opener since beating Star City 38-29 at Golden Lions Stadium in Pine Bluff in 2010. The Bulldogs were ranked third. 

Lonoke senior running back/defensive back Justin Meadows had one of the best games in recent memory as he was responsible for all six Jackrabbits touchdowns in the win Friday night.

Meadows ran for three, threw a touchdown pass, return a punt for a touchdown and returned a fumble for a touchdown. 

"The start of the game for him was a great start," Lonoke coach Doug Bost said. "He was just on the other night. He showed up in all three phases. I couldn't be more pleased for him. He's a huge part of our success."

Lonoke got on the board when Meadows scored on a 73-yard run with 10:46 left in the first quarter. The extra point was no good, leaving the score at 6-0.

Meadows struck again about a minute later returning a fumble 52 yards for a touchdown. The extra point failed, leaving the score at 12-0.

Star City got on the board when quarterback Tye Brown scored on a draw play from 17 yards out. Andy Magana kicked the extra point to make the score 12-7. 

The Jackrabbits pushed its lead to 20-7 when Meadows threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Casey Martin with 4:45 left in the first half. Meadows scored the two-point conversion.

A few minutes later, Meadows returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was no good, leaving the score at 26-7.

Star City then started its comeback in the second half. Eric Briggs scored on a 7-yard run with 4:42 left in the third quarter. Hayden Jacks scored on an 8-yard run with 12 seconds left, making the score 26-21.

Lonoke responded with another Meadows touchdown. He scored on a 33-yard run with 8:15 left in the game to make the score 32-21. 

Star City puled to within five at 32-27 on a 3-yard run by Jacks with 6:08 left in the game.

The Jackrabbits and Bulldogs traded possessions before Meadows scored on a 20-yard run late in the game to set the final score at 38-27.

Meadow finished with 175 yards rushing on 8 carries. Logan Dozier had 64 yards on 5 carries. Josh Coleman had 45 yards on 11 carries. 

Ethan Holland led Lonoke with 12 tackles. Meadows and Michael Hodges had 7 tackles each. Lance Dugger and Zack Murray had 6 tackles each.

"I thought our kids hustle and determination was excellent in all three phases," Bost said. "We kicked off several times and had kids but their tails getting down there making tackles."

Lonoke will host the Beebe Badgers this Friday at 7 p.m. at James B. Abraham Stadium. The Badgers are coming off a 41-27 win over the Greenbrier Panthers last week. 

"They are big and huge with two great running backs," Bost said, referring to Trip Smith and JoVaughn Wyrick. "They are a typical Beebe team. They are going to run straight at you with the big linemen. They are always tough, no doubt about it."

Lonoke's Justin Meadows carries the ball against Carlisle in a  recent scrimmage. Meadows was responsible for all six Lonoke touchdowns in a win over Star City on Friday. 

Bison drop opener to Lions

Carlisle's Ben Wilson (44) leads the Bison onto the field prior to their game with the England Lions at Gaylon Gibbs Field on Friday. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

ENGLAND — It was not a good opener for the Carlisle Bison football team.

The Bison had several chances to score in the first half but trailed 34-0 at halftime in a 41-0 loss to the England Lions on Friday at Gaylon Gibbs Field. With the win, England retains the "Battle of the Beast" 

Carlisle got the ball to start the game and moved it from its 25 to the 44 but was forced to punt. After a long return, England drove only 38 yards in three plays. Zach Montgomery scored on a 4-yard run with 9:03 left in the first quarter. Brock Miller kicked the extra point to make the score 7-0. 

The Bison then got the ball at their own 31. After a 6-yard loss on a bad pitch, Bison quarterback Ty Golleher gained 12 yards before Devon Kendrick ran for 7 yards and a first down. However, the Bison turned the ball over on downs.

Four plays later, England quarterback Brayden Brazeal threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Iverson with 4:50 left in the first quarter. Miller's PAT made the score 14-0. 

Carlisle had its best possession of the first half the next time it had the ball. Golleher had a long kickoff return, giving the Bison the ball at the England 42. 

The Bison then drove to the England 14. They eventually turned the ball over on downs at the England 20. 

Carlisle forced the Lions to turn the ball over on downs on their next possession. The Bison then drove to the England 19 but a penalty led to Golleher thrown an interception in the end zone with 6:26 left in the first half.

The Lions then scored three more touchdowns in the first half to lead 34-0 at halftime. Iverson scored on a 21-yard run with 5:54 left. Brazeal threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to B.J. Thompson with 2:56 and Malik Coleman scored on a 5-yard run with 1:33 left. 

Carlisle appeared to get on the board in the third quarter when Tyler Teel broke away for a 31-yard touchdown run. The play was called back for an illegal shift penalty on the Bison. 

England's last touchdown came on a  31-yard fumble return with 6 seconds left in the game.

Kendrick led the Bison with 63 yards rushing on 10 carries. Golleher had 57 yards on 10 carries. Teel had 35 yards on 7 carries. 

The Bison will travel to DeWitt to take on the Dragons this Friday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Carlisle's Cody Edge brings down England's Darius Clarkson. 

Carlisle quarterback Ty Golleher gains yards against England. 

Junior Bison open season with big win over McCrory

Teammates celebrate with Carlisle's Kamryn Taylor after he scored his third touchdown against McCrory in the Junior Bison's win Thursday night. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

CARLISLE — The Carlisle Junior Bison opened the 2015 season with a 26-8 win over 2A-6 conference foe McCrory at Fred C. Hardke Field on Thursday night.

The Junior Bison took a 6-0 lead with 1:06 left in the first quarter on a 53-yard run by Kamryn Taylor. The two-point conversion was no good.

McCrory took an 8-6 lead with 6:21 left in the first half. T.J. Alford scored on a 37-yard run then added the two-point conversion.

The Junior Bison reclaimed the lead on a 67-yard run by Taylor with 5:49 left in the first half. Kaden Bray added the two-point conversion to make the score 14-8 at halftime. 

Taylor scored his third touchdown of the game on a 14-yard run with 7:24 left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion was no good.

Carlisle's last touchdown was the defensive variety as Zac VanHouten returned a fumble 64 yards for the score with 3:45 left in the game.

The Junior Bison finished with 227 yards rushing. Turner had 124 yards on 4 carries. JaSean Harper had 68 yards on 5 carries. Bray had 29 yards on six carries. 

The Junior Bison will host Heber Springs next Thursday at Fred C. Hardke Field.

Carlisle's Kaden Bray tries to run through a tackle against McCrory. 

Bison ranked 27th in Class 2A

Carlisle's Tristan Seidenschwarz carries the ball against Lonoke in Monday's scrimmage game. (Photo by Mark Buffalo)

The Carlisle Bison football team is ranked 27th in the first Class 2A poll by Hooten's Arkansas Football magazine.

Junction City is the top ranked ranked team in Class 2A. Other 2A-6 schools include: 3. Hazen, 4. McCrory, 13. Brinkley, 17. Des Arc, 35. Palestine-Wheatley, 40. Clarendon, 42. Augusta and 46. Marvell. 

The Bison open the season Sept. 4 against No. 18. England. The Lions are a favored by 12 points over Carlisle in the game that will be played at Gaylon Gibbs Field in England. 

Jackrabbits make big plays in scrimmages

Lonoke's Casey Martin battles a Maumelle defender for a pass before securing the ball and racing for a touchdown against the Hornets. (Photos by Mark Buffalo)

By Mark Buffalo

Staff Writer

LONOKE — The Lonoke Jackrabbits split two scrimmages Monday night at James B. Abraham Stadium.

Lonoke played both Maumelle and Carlisle for a half game each. Maumelle outscored Lonoke 22-21 then Lonoke outscored Carlisle 15-7 in the final game of the evening. 

In the game with Maumelle, Lonoke jumped out to a 13-0 lead. Justin Meadows returned an interception 40 yards for touchdown with 10:19 left in the first quarter. Casey Martin kicked the extra point.

Meadows then scored on a 69-yard run with 5:35 left. The PAT was no good. 

Maumelle rallied to lead 14-13. Lonoke reclaimed the at 21-14 when Savonte Rountree threw a pass to Martin, who caught it between three defenders then raced for a 63-yard touchdown with 4:09 left in the scrimmage. Rountree scored the two-point conversion. 

Maumelle scored with 2:51 left to take the lead for good.

In the scrimmage with Carlisle, Lonoke's second-team offense, led by quarterback Will Miller, took an 8-0 lead. Miller scored on a quarterback sneak. Xavier Hodge scored the two-point conversion.

Lonoke's other score came on a 12-yard pass from Rountree to Martin. Martin also kicked the extra point.

"I thought this was very good competition," Lonoke coach Doug Bost said of the scrimmage games. "That is what we needed heading into Star City week."

The Jackrabbits open the season Sept. 4 at Star City.

"Offensive-wise, we put the ball on the ground five times," Bost said. "We had some penalties and it put is behind the chains. It's some things we've got to clean up."

Lonoke had two long touchdown passes called back by penalties against the Bison. 

Bost said he feels like he has six or seven players that can make big plays. 

"We've got one football and we'll spread it around the best we can," he said. "Be a team player and when you're number is called, make a play.

"I'm very proud of those guys. They did have some big plays."

Lonoke's Justin Meadows is congratulated by teammates after scoring a touchdown against Maumelle.