MONTICELLO, Ark. – For the tenth time in twelve years the Warren Lumberjacks took home the Union Bank and Trust Saline River Shootout Trophy outright, after resoundingly defeating the Monticello Billies Friday night, October 21, 2022, by the final of 34-0 on the road at Hyatt Field.
In a game that has been a thorn in the side of Billies fans for over a decade, except for one season in 2020, Warren once again put Monticello to the sword in impressive fashion. The Jacks came into the game with a 6-1 overall record and sitting 5-0 in the 8-4A Conference of Southeast Arkansas. Meanwhile, the Billies looked to continue a recent good run of form, having won back-to-back games in the last two weeks over Central of West Helena and Dumas. Monticello however held a 4-3 overall record but was just 2-2 in the Conference.
Top photo: The Warren Lumberjacks and the Warren Lumberjack Cheerleaders gather around the Union Bank and Trust Saline River Shootout Trophy following Warren’s 34-0 win over Monticello Friday night. Photo by Robert Camp.
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Warren received the game’s opening kickoff, starting their first drive at their own 38-yard-line. The Jacks marched to the Monticello 40 but failed to convert a fourth down play to keep the drive alive. They turned it over on downs.
That stout Lumberjack defense which has been so effective this season for Warren came in and did a superb job on Monticello’s initial drive of the first quarter. The Billies went three and out.
Coach Hembree’s Jacks turned on the motors on the Jacks’ second possession. Warren went to the ground game and found lots of running room. After marching the ball 52 yards and into the northern half at Hyatt Field, Landon Wolfe capped off the drive with a 13-yard run for the first touchdown of the night. Wolfe went off the left tackle and plowed into the end zone. Jose Jacinto hammered through the extra point to put Warren up 7-0 with 5:02 to go in the first.
Monticello’s next possession got off on the wrong foot after a poor return to only the 15-yard-line. Again Warren’s defense was lights out. Kam Davis, a Lumberjack that is subtitling making a name for himself in all the good ways, hurried the quarterback on third down, forcing an incompletion and a punt.
A minute and a half later the Lumberjack offense doubled the Warren lead to 14-0. Wolfe again scored. This time he burst through into the end zone from eight yards out off the right tackle.
The Billies’ best chance came early in the second quarter. Having pushed into Warren territory, they went deep through the air to a wide-open receiver on fourth down. However, the pass was dropped and the opportunity was lost to cut the Jack lead in half.
Hembree’s Jacks punished them almost immediately. Quarterback Maddox Lassiter zipped a pass over the middle to one of his favorite targets, Antonio Jordan. Jordan caught it in stride and wasn’t brought down till he had pocketed 65-yards and flipped the field. Jordan then set up at quarterback in a wildcat formation on the following play. He and that Warren offensive line made quick work of the drive, finishing it off with ease through a five-yard run. Jacinto’s extra point was good, and Warren led 21-0 at the half.
Into the early minutes of the third quarter, Monticello still struggled to move the ball against Warren’s defense. They would be forced to punt on their first drive of the second half.
Warren took over at their own 30 and marched 70-yards for a touchdown with 5:01 to go in the quarter. Jordan ran it in from five yards out for his second score of the night. Jacinto shot through the extra point to make it 28-0 Jacks.
Monticello came close to removing the goose egg late in the third after recovering a Lumberjack fumble. Deep into Jack territory, the Billies threw a pass over the middle near the goal line from about thirty yards out. Warren’s Neon’dre Thomas broke on the ball and intercepted it. The sophomore hauled it back to the Warren 43, effectively putting the dagger in the coffin of any hopes Monticello had of putting a point on the board. It was Thomas’s second interception of the ballgame.
The Lumberjacks scored once more with 8:34 remaining. Jalin Lee ran one final touchdown in from two yards out to seal the deal. A snap and holding mishap on the extra point denied Jacinto the chance to make it 35-0 and implement the sportsmanship rule. However, the trophy was fully dusted and ready to go back across the river by that point, as the game was decided. Warren went on to win by the final of 34-0, taking home the Union Bank and Trust Saline River Shootout trophy for the tenth time in the last twelve years, not including the half-year the Jacks kept the trophy after the 2011 non-conference meeting tie.
The orange and black improve their overall record to 7-1 on the season. More importantly, they remain undefeated in the 8-4A at an impressive 6-0 with just two games remaining in regular season play.
Another night of impressive offensive numbers was put up by the Jacks. The offense totaled 435 yards, 254 of which came on the ground from eight different players.
Cody Weatherspoon carried the ball nine times for 91 yards.
Treylon Jackson returned after being off last week. The senior had nine carries for 42 yards but was able to get more second-half rest, which could prove valuable come playoff time.
Landon Wolfe and Antonion Jordan each scored a couple of touchdowns. Wolfe posted 31 yards to Jordan’s ten. Jalin Lee also appeared in one series at tailback, scoring a touchdown.
Maddox Lassiter went seven of sixteen for 171 yards passing with a touchdown.
His favorite two receivers were Neon’dre Thomas and Jordan. Thomas caught four passes for 74 yards. Jordan had two catches for 82 yards.
The defensive effort was just as impressive as the offensive effort on the night for Warren.
Two Lumberjacks went into double digits on tackles. Jaline Lee posted 11, while Maddox Lassiter posted 10.
Neeyo Harding had a big night as well. The junior had five tackles, one of which was a sack, and two hurried QBs.
Neon’dre Thomas had three tackles and two interceptions. His play on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball earned him Saline River Chronicle Player of the Game honors.
Warren still sits atop the 8-4A Conference table with a 6-0 record. Star City occupies second, with McGehee in third, and DeWitt in fourth as of late Friday night.
The Lumberjacks now come back home to the fortress of Jim Hurley, Jr. Stadium for their final two games of the regular season. The Jacks play host to Central of Helena-West Helena next Friday, October 28 with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. Then, they will face Hamburg Thursday night, November 3 in the final regular season game of the year before the playoffs start.
