DARDANELLE, Ark. — For three quarters on Friday night, Warren and top-seeded Dardanelle played the kind of back-and-forth semifinal you expect when a trip to War Memorial Stadium is on the line. The Lumberjacks, riding momentum from last week’s 47–40 win at Prairie Grove, showed poise, toughness, and creativity in all phases. But a late surge from the Sand Lizards — aided by a few untimely breaks on special teams — proved decisive as Warren fell 56–36 in the 4A State Playoff semifinals.
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Coming off last week’s 47–40 thriller vs. Prairie Grove, Warren entered the 4A semifinals believing its explosive offense could trade blows with anyone. And early on, that proved true.
First Quarter — Quick start, quick response
Warren received the opening kickoff, and star running back Aaron Davis wasted no time setting the tone. After ripping off a big run on the first snap, Davis capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run at 10:37, followed by a Jacarlos Marquez PAT to put the Jacks up 7–0.
Dardanelle answered with equal efficiency. The Sand Lizards marched downfield and punched in a 4-yard rushing touchdown at 6:14, tying the game at 7–7.
Warren’s next possession showed promise but stalled on downs at the Dardanelle 35 with 4:15 left. Moments later, the Sand Lizards delivered the first momentum-swinging blow: a 38-yard touchdown run by the quarterback at 3:12, giving Dardanelle a 14–7 advantage.
Another Warren drive ended on a 4th-and-1 stop at the Jack 43 in the final two minutes of the quarter, and the opening frame closed with Dardanelle firmly in control.
Second Quarter — Fellows lifts Warren back into it
Dardanelle struck again early, extending the lead with a 7-yard touchdown run at 10:50 (21–7).
But Warren responded with its most composed drive of the half. Quarterback Jackson Denton found Bleyze Fellows on a perfectly placed 13-yard corner-route touchdown at 9:44, trimming the deficit to 21–14.
A key defensive stand at the Warren 35 with 6:19 offered a chance to equalize, but the Lumberjacks again turned it over on downs in Sand Lizard territory.
Denton and Fellows weren’t done. With :56 left in the half, Denton scrambled to his right and fired another touchdown strike to Fellows. The PAT missed, but Warren entered halftime down just 21–20, well within striking distance.
Third Quarter — Trading haymakers
Dardanelle opened the second half with a back-breaking play: an 81-yard touchdown run, stretching the lead to 28–20.
Warren countered with an essential scoring drive. Denton hit Josiah Steen for a 2-yard touchdown pass at 7:28, and Ren Reep hauled in the two-point conversion, tying the game at 28–28.
Momentum felt completely reset heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter — Chaos, swings, and a decisive collapse
Dardanelle regained the lead at 11:48 with a 1-yard touchdown run, making it 35–28.
But Warren delivered one of its gutsiest sequences of the season. Facing 4th-and-3 from the Dardanelle 19 at the 8-minute mark, an offsides penalty kept the drive alive. Just plays later, Denton lofted a fade into the corner where Steen made a spectacular contested catch, and Warren converted the two-point try to take a 36–35 lead.
For a brief moment, Warren had seized control.
Dardanelle returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards, scored on the next play, and added a two-point conversion — flipping the scoreboard to 43–36 with 7:29 left.
Just 14 seconds later, Warren threw an interception, giving Dardanelle possession at its own 45. The Sand Lizard quarterback powered in a 3-yard touchdown run at 2:01. The PAT failed after a bad snap, but the lead grew to 49–36.
The next kickoff was muffed by Warren, and Dardanelle capitalized immediately with an 8-yard touchdown at 1:50, extending the margin to 56–36.
A second mishandled kickoff gave Dardanelle another possession to drain the clock and secure its trip to Little Rock.
Final: Dardanelle 56, Warren 36
The Lumberjacks finish the season 10–4.
