By Dennen Cuthbertson, Saline River News Sports Contributor
WARREN, Ark. (10/9/25) – A great crowd with multiple class reunions made their way to Jim Hurley Jr. Stadium Friday night for homecoming festivities, but the result on the field did not go Warren’s favor in a 55-13 setback.
The Jacks fall to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in 4A-8 conference play, while the Lions improved to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in league action.
Hamburg took the opening possession and marched down the field, but had a touchdown called back due to a holding penalty. However, that just delayed the inevitable as the Lions would score on a 15-yard pass and led 7-0 after a successful extra point with 7:48 left in the opening period.
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The Lumberjacks struck back to get to Hamburg’s 9-yard line quickly with the help of two Hamburg penalties and a big pass play to Jakoby Avery. DeAngelo Herron came in to take the snap on first-and-goal and handed off to Hayden Hampton who scampered into the end zone for a touchdown. Emanuel Pahuamba added the point after to tie the game at 7-7 with 6:17 left in the first quarter.
The visitors wasted little time jumping back in front with a 76-yard quarterback run to take a 14-7 lead after a successful extra point a minute later. Warren would punt on its ensuing possession, but almost had the turnover it needed by forcing a fumble on a sack by Jaxstyn Ingram. The Lions were able to recover and Warren forced a 53-yard field goal attempt that was good to push the score to 17-7 with a 1:43 left in the opening quarter.
Warren then made a crucial mistake with a fumble on the kickoff that Hamburg recovered at the Jacks’ 31-yard line. A few plays later the Lions scored on a 2-yard run to move in front 24-7 right before the end of the first quarter. Warren would move the ball well in its next possession with quarterback Jackson Denton picking up a first down on a fourth-down run play. However, an interception near the goal line ended the drive.
Warren would force a turnover on downs and take over near midfield. The Orange and Black attempted some trickery with a double pass that was open, but fell incomplete. The drive would stall and the ball went back to the visitors. Hamburg started with good field position and cashed in on a 4-yard touchdown run a few plays later to move ahead 31-7 with 6:16 remaining before halftime.
The Jacks would put together another good drive and move the ball fairly easily down the field. However, another interception, this one in the end zone, would end the threat. The Lions scored on a 23-yard touchdown pass to take a 38-7 advantage to halftime.
Warren came out of halftime with a turnover on downs before Hamburg scored on a 12-yard rushing play to invoke the mercy rule at 45-7. Warren had a three-and-out in its next possession and the Lions ran the punt back for a touchdown to set the score at 52-7 with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Another interception would end a Warren drive and allow the visitors to kick its second field goal of the game, this one from 37 yards out, to set the score at 55-7. Warren did finish on a positive note as Coleman Byrd led the team on a touchdown drive. Jeremiah Hines and Scout Ballentine each had a catch to move the chains before Byrd was able to find Ty Hembree for a 38-yard touchdown. Hembree broke a couple of tackles and scampered down the sideline to score with 2:30 remaining in the game. A missed extra point set the final score of 55-13 in favor of Hamburg.
The Lumberjacks return to action next Friday night (Oct. 16) against Star City in a pivotal road conference matchup at 7 p.m.
