WARREN, Ark. – Battling an on-and-off-again-rain Friday night the Warren Lumberjacks ground out a dogged win against Blytheville in the opening round of the 4A Arkansas State High School Football Playoffs at Jim Hurley, Jr. Stadium in Warren by the final of 41-20.
Welcoming the fifth seed Blytheville Chickasaws from the 3-4A in northern Arkansas, Warren came into the ballgame Friday night, November 11 having clinched another 8-4A Conference title the week prior in the final game of the regular season. Facing the fifth-seeded Chickasaws would be no easy task, as Coach Hembree stated during this week’s Johnny’s Radiator Shop Bo Show. For a team that went 5-5 on the year and 3-4 in their own conference, the Chickasaws presented a unique challenge to the Jacks with an array of skilled talent in both the offensive backfield and defensive side of the ball.
Top photo: Ervin Rivera bolts downfield after making a catch vs. Blytheville in Warren’s 41-20 win in the first round of the 4A State Playoffs. Photo by Robert Camp.
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After the pre-game coin toss, Warren would kick off to the Chickasaws. A sky kick from Jose Jacinto was placed beautifully just wide of the hash. The Blytheville receiver muffed the kick and Warren recovered at the Chickasaw 40. It was exactly the type of start Coach Hembree and his staff would want.
Just three minutes into the game Warren struck pay dirt first. Senior quarterback Maddox Lassiter set up in the customary shotgun from the two-yard-line. The senior bulldozed his way into the end zone to get the orange and black on the board early. Jacinto’s extra point was good to make it 7-0 Jacks.
Blytheville found some success on their first offensive possession. The visitors pushed into the red zone to the Lumberjack 10-yard-line. However, the drive was shut down by a stout effort from Warren’s defense. Marcus Green and Lassiter made a big stop on fourth down to get the ball back for the Jacks with 4:26 remaining in the first.
Nothing materialized on the following Warren possession and the Jacks were forced to punt.
Warren’s defense came back onto the field and once more turned away the Blytheville attack. Antonio Jordan made a terrific fourth down stop from his safety position, breaking on a pass and swatting it away to win the ball back for the Jacks.
Another punt was forced on the next Warren offensive possession after a false start penalty on third down and short.
Blytheville capitalized on the mistake with their subsequent drive which continued into the second quarter. The Chickasaws scored on a 28-yard touchdown run with 9:35 left in the second quarter. Warren looked to have the run bottled up for about a four-yard gain, but a broken tackle or two sent the tailback into the secondary level of Warren’s defense. In the open space, the Jacks couldn’t make the stop. Blytheville would go for the two-point conversion and make it to take an 8-7 lead.
The Lumberjacks struck back two minutes later through the air. Lassiter hit Neon’dre Thomas over the top for a 25-yard touchdown, delivering the throw under pressure. After an offside penalty on the Chickasaws, Coach Hembree decided to go for two. The Jacks found the end zone to make it 15-8 Warren.
That lead was extended to 21-8 with just over three minutes to go before halftime. Lassiter delivered a beauty of a pass to Ervin Rivera over the middle. The junior receiver hauled it in for six points. The point after try looked to have been blocked or mishit.
Blytheville didn’t go quietly into the break, however. They rushed downfield on the ensuing drive and scored on a stunning pass play over the middle with just 12 seconds left. They failed on the two-point try and carried a 21-14 deficit into the break.
The biggest and closest Chickasaw threat of the night came four minutes into the third quarter. Blytheville completed a seven-yard touchdown pass. The two-point try was again no good. Warren’s lead remained intact, although very small at 21-20.
From that point on Warren took over. The Jack offense added another three scores. The first came courtesy of another quarterback keeper from Lassiter from six yards out. That play was set up by an earlier fourth and four conversion from Lassiter to Rivera to keep the drive alive.
Warren’s next score came with just under two minutes to go in the third. Set up again by a huge play earlier in the drive as Lassiter connected with Neon’dre Thomas for a big gain, Lassiter blasted home his third touchdown run of the ballgame. The two-point conversion put Warren up 35-20.
The Lumberjack defense, complimented by some big licks from Jalin Lee and company, won the ball back on downs.
They scored once more less than a minute into the fourth quarter. Immediately after the turnover, in true-Bo Hembree fashion, the Lumberjacks went for the quick kill. Lassiter hit Antonio Jordan for a 43-yard-touchdown pass to seal the deal and put Blytheville to the axe. Warren won by the final of 41-20.
The Jacks put up 305 total yards offensively. 161 of those yards came on the ground, while 144 came through the air. Maddox Lassiter led Warren in rushing with 14 carries for 55 yards and three touchdowns. Treylon Jackson returned from a knock earlier in the season. The senior tailback ran the ball nine times for 46 yards.
Lassiter went eight of 18 passing. He threw for 144 yards and three touchdowns.
The Lumberjacks move to 10-1 on the season. They will host the Stuttgart Ricebirds of the 2-4A next Friday, November 18, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. in round two of the 4A State Playoffs. The Ricebirds are coming off a 48-21 win over Crossett in round one. Next week’s game is a chance for some revenge in Warren’s eyes. The Jacks and Stuttgart faced off in a non-conference battle week zero earlier this year. Warren came up just short in that ballgame by the final of 31-28.
Editor’s note: Our defensive stat sheet was ruined by rain. We apologize for the lack of defensive stats.
