McGEHEE, Ark. – The Warren Lumberjacks and McGehee Owls put through their paces in a pre-season clash Friday night in McGehee, with Warren emerging victorious, 28-13 over a scrimmage which featured a number of set series and one full live quarter. Both teams looked to fine-tune their game plans ahead of the start of the 2024 high school football season next week.
The game featured a six-play format early on, with McGehee starting on offense. The Owls struggled early, as Warren’s defense, led by outside linebacker AJ Jordan, stifled their efforts. Jordan’s fantastic tackle on the second play of McGehee’s opening series pinned the Owls back, forcing an early punt.
Top photo: Warren tailback Aaron Davis blasted through the middle for a Warren touchdown vs. McGehee. Photo by Saline River Chronicle.
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When it was Warren’s turn on offense, the Lumberjacks quickly found their rhythm. Quarterback Jackson Denton connected with AJ Jordan on a well-executed out route to begin the series. The highlight came on the final play when Tramond Miller hauled in a 60-yard catch, giving a glimpse into Warren’s predicted big-play capability.
A few series later, both teams held a planned series of offensive plays from inside the five-yard-line, with McGehee taking possession first. Warren’s Xymere Thomas delivered a crucial tackle, bursting through the McGehee offensive line to secure a safety, putting Warren ahead 2-0.
Warren’s second-team offense added to the score when Ren Reep’s key reception set up a 70-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Cam Burks to Tayshawn Edwards. This extended the Lumberjacks’ lead to 8-0.
McGehee responded in their next series, a planned offensive set from the 20-yard-line. Driving 18 yards in six plays, the Owls capped it off with a short field goal, narrowing the gap to 8-3.
The Lumberjacks answered back on their red-zone situational possession, finishing with an Aaron Davis 4-yard touchdown run up the middle, pushing Warren’s lead to 15-3. McGehee kept the game within reach, adding a rushing touchdown by Rashad Brown, making it 15-10 as the first half of set series closed.
In the early second half, Warren’s Colton Steen made a huge catch that set up a 16-yard touchdown reception for himself on the very next play, extending the Lumberjacks’ lead to 21-10.
The game transitioned into a live 12-minute fourth quarter, where both teams initially struggled offensively. However, with four minutes left, McGehee hit a deep pass over the top of Warren’s defense, setting up a late field goal by Jose Fabian to close the gap to 21-13 with just 1:37 remaining.
Warren’s offense had one last possession. Denton found Jordan for a first down, and with just a minute to play, he connected with Tramond Miller once again for a nearly 60-yard touchdown pass over the middle. Jacarlos Marquis added the extra point, finalizing the score at 28-13.
The Lumberjacks officially kick off their season next Friday, August 30, 2024, on the road against Greenbrier from the 5A West Conference, with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
McGehee will start their season on September 6, facing Hamburg at 7 p.m.
