LAKE VILLAGE, Ark. – The Star City Bulldogs continued their unbeaten streak in the 2024 Arkansas high school football season, rolling past the Lakeside Beavers (Lake Village) with a commanding 56-22 victory on the road Friday night. The win advances Star City to 3-0 after week three of the season.
Lakeside won the coin toss and deferred, giving Star City possession to start the game at their own 40-yard line. The Bulldogs wasted no time making their mark, with a big gain on a speed sweep by Zairen Beene to the Lakeside 45-yard line. Moments later, a pass from quarterback Jacob Boothe to Peyton Taylor set the Bulldogs up at the 7-yard line. Star City capitalized on the opportunity with a 7-yard rushing touchdown by Latrell Burris, followed by a successful extra point from Javier Magana to take an early 7-0 lead.
Star City’s defense quickly asserted their dominance by blocking a Lakeside punt, which Burris returned for his second touchdown of the game. Another extra point by Magana extended the Bulldogs’ lead to 14-0 with 6:49 left in the first quarter.
With just 17 seconds remaining in the first, Beene found the end zone with a 3-yard rushing touchdown. Magana’s extra point made it 21-0 to end the quarter.
Lakeside managed to respond early in the second quarter with a 3-yard rushing touchdown, but their two-point conversion attempt failed, making the score 21-6. Star City answered quickly, with Taylor scoring a 21-yard rushing touchdown just a minute later. Although the extra point was missed, the Bulldogs stretched their lead to 27-6.
The floodgates opened for Star City in the second quarter. Caleb Williams added a 24-yard rushing touchdown at the 9:06 mark, and on Lakeside’s next drive, the Bulldogs recovered a fumble in the end zone, with Morgan Leopard falling on the loose ball for the score. After a successful two-point conversion, the Bulldogs led 42-6.
Lakeside briefly cut into the lead with an 87-yard touchdown pass and successful two-point conversion, but Taylor’s 1-yard rushing touchdown and another fumble recovery for a touchdown with 3:46 to go in the second quarter gave Star City a commanding 56-14 halftime lead.
Lakeside’s only other score came late in the fourth quarter when their quarterback ran for an 11-yard touchdown and converted the two-point attempt. However, it was too little, too late, as Star City cruised to a 56-22 win.
The Bulldogs look to keep their perfect record intact as they prepare for next week’s first 8-4A matchup as they travel to Crossett.
Star City Head Coach Chris Norton spoke exclusively with Saline River Sports following Friday’s win. Watch his full postgame comments below:
