MONTICELLO, Ark. – The Union Bank and Trust Saline River Shootout has long tilted Warren’s way. On Friday night, the Lumberjacks showed exactly why. Down by 10 in the fourth quarter on the road, Warren mounted a season-defining drive: first converting a desperate fourth down with a clutch pass to Josiah Steen, then stunning Monticello with a 60-plus-yard touchdown strike from Jackson Denton to Bleyze Fellows to complete a 27-23 comeback victory.
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The Lumberjacks (4-1, 2-0 8-4A) have owned this rivalry for most of its history. But this year’s edition demanded more than just talent—it demanded resilience. And Warren, drawing on the pedigree of a program that has built its identity on finding ways to win, once again answered in the defining moments.
Monticello controls early
Warren struck first when Denton connected with Steen for a 75-yard touchdown midway through the opening quarter, but Monticello responded immediately with an 80-yard run to even the score at 6-6.
The Billies seized momentum in the second quarter, adding a five-yard rushing touchdown and a field goal to build a 16-6 lead. Warren clawed back before halftime when a long completion to Fellows set up Aaron Davis’ one-yard scoring plunge with :10 left, cutting the margin to 16-13 at the break.
Monticello regained control in the third quarter, punching in a four-yard rushing touchdown with :43 left to extend the lead to 23-13.
Championship DNA in the fourth
That’s when Warren flipped the script. Just 21 seconds into the final frame, Denton found Fellows for a 43-yard touchdown, trimming the deficit to 23-20.
The defense rose up next. Linebacker Aaron Woodard stuffed a Monticello fourth-down attempt with 8:25 remaining, giving the Jacks new life. A potential game-tying field goal later caromed off the upright, but Warren’s defense delivered another stop, forcing a punt with 2:50 left.
Backed up at its own 17-yard line, the Lumberjacks mounted their season-defining drive. Facing fourth and long, Denton fired to Steen, who hauled in a clutch catch to move the chains and keep Warren alive.
Two snaps later with 1:28 to go, Denton dropped back to pass. With a Monticello lineman closing in from behind, he calmly lofted a high-arcing throw over Monticello’s three-safety defense. Downfield, Fellows sized up the ball against tight coverage. Leaping over the defender, he snatched it above the secondary’s reach, leaving the defender sprawling on the turf as Fellows sprinted untouched into the end zone. The 60-yard strike sent the Warren sideline into celebration and gave the Jacks their first lead since the opening quarter. Marquez’s extra point extended it to 27-23 with just about two minutes left.
Monticello tried to rally, but Steen—already with a touchdown and the pivotal fourth-down reception—sealed the game with an interception in the final minute, capping Warren’s remarkable comeback.
A culture of winning
Warren’s rally wasn’t just about late-game fireworks. It was a reminder of the program’s culture—a culture that has fueled dominance in this rivalry and built a reputation for finishing when it matters most.
With the victory, Warren improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play, keeping their 8-4A title hopes firmly intact. The Lumberjacks will carry their momentum into another road test at Hamburg on Friday, October 26.
