DeWITT, Ark. – In a highly anticipated showdown between the two undefeated leaders in the 8-4A Conference, the Warren Lumberjacks clashed with the DeWitt Dragons in the Arkansas Delta in a football game that will undoubtedly carry ramifications through to the State Playoffs in a few weeks. The thrilling encounter unfolded at DeWitt’s home turf, and it lived up to the hype in every way, as the Lumberjacks managed to secure a hard-fought 39-23 victory over the Dragons.
Top photo: Warren tailback Treylon Jackson(1) scores a late touchdown to help secure a Lumberjack victory over DeWitt.
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First Quarter Action
The game kicked off with the Jacks receiving the opening kickoff and setting the stage for an electrifying contest. Starting from their 31-yard line, the Lumberjacks wasted no time. Quarterback Jackson Denton connected with the dynamic Antonio Jordan for a spectacular 21-yard touchdown pass over the middle inside two minutes of the start. The Alann Juarez extra point was good, putting Warren ahead 7-0.
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DeWitt responded with a spirited drive of their own, but Warren’s defense, led by Jordyn Ingram, managed a sack on the Dragons’ quarterback. Despite the setback, DeWitt’s kicker managed to nail a 28-yard field goal, putting them on the board at 7-3.
With 4:03 left in the quarter, Warren put the ball on the ground in Dragon territory. The fumble was recovered by the DeWitt. They couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity however and were forced to punt just a minute later.
Second Quarter Battle
As the second quarter commenced, Warren, starting from their own 17-yard line, was determined to extend their lead. They capped off an impressive 83 yard drive with 5:11 left in the quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run courtesy of Antonio Jordan. The extra point was blocked, leaving the score at 13-3 in Warren’s favor.
DeWitt, unwilling to be outdone, embarked on a remarkable drive that culminated in a 7-yard touchdown run, bringing them back into the game at 13-10. This drive was massive for the Dragons, especially since they would receive the ball at the start of the second half.
Warren made DeWitt sweat in the waning moments of the first half. A late score seemed inevitable, but a flag for offensive pass interference negated the touchdown, and to add to the drama, the Dragons intercepted a pass in the end zone to close out the quarter. Warren led at halftime 13-10.
Third Quarter Drama
The third quarter unveiled an unexpected twist on DeWitt’s opening drive of the half. A peculiar incident occurred when a flag was thrown due to an encounter between the Warren sideline line judge and someone on the Warren sidelines, most likely being someone bumped the official by accident during live play. That resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Warren. Due to a previous sideline infraction, the officiating crew ejected Warren Coach Bo Hembree. As of the time of this article’s original publication, we are still not 100% clear as to the reason for the ejection, but it appeared to be due to a sideline infraction. It was an extremely odd call that is hardly ever seen on the high school level, and one that seemed to be a bit extreme for the nature of the penalty. This turn of events seemed to invigorate the Lumberjacks, who were forced to play the remainder of the game without their head coach. Just moments after the ejection, Warren’s Neon’dre Thomas intercepted a DeWitt pass in the end zone for a touchback.
Warren used this newfound momentum, with a substantial run by Treylon Jackson that flipped the field, taking them to the DeWitt 32-yard line. At the 7:24 mark of the third quarter, Tramond Miller executed a fantastic 15-yard touchdown run, diving into the end zone for the score. The extra point that followed was blocked, but Warren extended their lead to 19-10.
The Dragons were undeterred and responded with a vengeance. Dragon running back Korri Graham unleashed a 64-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 19-17 with 5:57 to go in the period.
Momentum swung once again on the next Warren drive. DeWitt’s defense seized the opportunity when a cornerback undercut a Denton pass for a 51-yard pick-six, earning the Dragons their first lead of the game at 23-19.
Antonio Jordan, who became a driving force for Warren, made a significant impact by returning the ensuing kickoff to the DeWitt 40-yard line, setting the stage for another thrilling touchdown. Jordan dashed 2 yards into the end zone, regaining the lead for the Lumberjacks at 25-23 with 3:07 left in the quarter.
Fourth Quarter Closeout
Warren took control of the game in the fourth. At the 9:05 mark, Jackson Denton made a brilliant 18-yard connection through the air to Neon’dre Thomas in the corner of the end zone, widening the gap to 32-23.
Jordyn Ingram, a standout on the Warren defense, continued to make a significant impact with another pivotal sack on the next DeWitt drive, pushing the Dragons deep into their own territory. A pass interference penalty on a 4th and long gave DeWitt a glimmer of hope, but they were unable to capitalize.
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The Warren Lumberjacks were determined to put the game beyond reach, and with 1:15 remaining, Treylon Jackson powered through the middle for a 20-yard touchdown run, sealing the deal at 39-23.
With this thrilling victory, Warren extended their undefeated streak to 7-0 and now looks ahead to host their rivals, Monticello, in the Union Bank and Trust Saline River Shootout next Friday night.
DeWitt suffered their first loss of the season, moving to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the 8-4A Conference. They have a bye week ahead but will be back in action on October 27 when they host McGehee.
Statistical Highlights
Warren Lumberjacks:
Rushing:
- Treylon Jackson: 19 carries, 221 yards, 1 touchdown
- Antonio Jordan: 4 carries, 14 yards, 2 touchdowns
Passing:
- Jackson Denton: 16 of 19, 265 yards, 2 touchdowns
Receiving:
- Neon’dre Thomas: 6 catches, 114 yards, 1 touchdown
- Antonio Jordan: 6 catches, 123 yards, 1 touchdown
- Tramond Miller: 1 touchdown
Team Totals:
- Rushing yards: 262
- Passing yards: 265
- Total Offensive Yards: 527
Stats provided by David King.
