By Dennen Cuthbertson, SRN Sports Contributor
STAR CITY, Ark. (10/16/26) – The Warren High School football squad scored all seven of its touchdowns on the ground and pulled away in the second half for a 49-21 mercy-rule victory to spoil Star City’s homecoming.
The Lumberjacks improved to 4-3 with the victory and 3-1 in 4A-8 conference action, while the Bulldogs dropped to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in league games.
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The highlight of the evening for the home team happened on the first play as Star City was able to return the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown and quick 7-0 lead. However, Warren recovered an onside kick and marched down the field 61 yards in just six plays, capped by a JaKoby Avery 2-yard scoring run, to tie the game 7-7 after a successful extra point by Emanuel Pahuamba.
Star City’s next drive stalled, thanks to a tackle-for-loss by Kannon Lambert and Warren started its next drive just beyond midfield. Tayshawn Edwards hauled in a 37-yard catch to put the Jacks in the redzone, but the Bulldogs recovered a fumble on a botched snap to stop the drive. ZaKobe Ingram sacked the home team’s signal caller during the next drive to put them behind the sticks, but a well-executed screen kept the drive alive. However, Hayden Hampton ended the drive when he stepped in front of a Star City receiver for an interception.
Avery made good use of the turnover as the sophomore running back scampered 21 yards for a touchdown to cap a five-play drive and gave Warren a 14-7 edge after a successful extra point with 3:01 left on the clock in the opening quarter. However, the Bulldogs responded with a nice drive of their own to tie the game on a 16-yard rush with 9:57 showing on the clock in the second quarter.
Warren then used a 12-play, 65-yard drive to move in front 21-14. Jackson Denton, who completed his first eight passes of the night, connected with Ty Hembree three times on the drive and had a pivotal first down scramble. DeAngelo Herron capped the drive with a 1-yard plunge into the end zone. On the ensuing possession for the Bulldogs, Zakobe Ingram and Lambert combined for a sack on third down to force a Star City punt.
On the first play of the next drive Denton found Avery out of the backfield for a 45-yard gain to the Bulldogs’ 35-yard line. Six plays later Herron found paydirt from four yards out and a successful extra point by Pahuamba put the score at 28-14, which would remain the tally until halftime.
The Jacks started the second half with the ball and were in the red zone in just six plays after Scout Ballentine hauled in an 18-yard catch to the home team’s 10-yard line. A recurring theme played out two snaps later as Herron ran in from seven yards for his third touchdown to push the score to 35-14 in favor of the Orange and Black with 9:51 remaining in the third quarter. Star City secured a couple of first downs on its opening drive of the second half, but was forced to punt. However, Warren fumbled to give the ball back to the home squad.
The Bulldogs, trying to fight their way back into the game, threw a deep pass that senior Jacob Marshall picked off at Warren’s 39-yard line. Avery then showed some of his strength as he carried defenders down to the Star City 6-yard line. Herron then capped another scoring drive from one yard out with his fourth rushing touchdown of the game with 3:23 showing on the clock in the third quarter. Pahuamba booted another extra point through the uprights for a 42-14 lead.
A few possessions later, the Lumberjacks forced a turnover on downs deep in Bulldogs’ territory. Three plays later Avery ran into the end zone from 10 yards out, his third touchdown of the game, to invoke the mercy rule at 49-14 just before the end of the third quarter.
The Bulldogs would score a touchdown on a drive midway through the final period before Warren’s Chris Alford, Jr., rushed for 54 yards on six carries down to Star City’s one-yard line with just over a minute left in the game. Parker O’Neal then took two kneel downs to seal the 49-21 win for the Jacks.
Unofficially, Warren had 572 total yards on offense with 293 on the ground and 279 through the air. Denton was 22 of 28 passing and added 26 yards rushing. Avery carried the ball 16 times for 146 yards and three touchdowns and hauled in two passes for 52 yards. Edwards led the team with 92 yards on five catches, while Hembree picked up 39 yards on seven receptions.
The Lumberjacks return to action next Friday night (Oct. 23) as they host undefeated Stuttgart. Kickoff from Jim Hurley Jr. Stadium is set for 7 p.m.
