STUTTGART, ARK. – In one of the wildest games of the season, the Warren Lumberjacks came up just short in a back-and-forth contest against the Stuttgart Ricebirds on Friday night, falling 59–55 on the road in Week 8 play.
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First Quarter
Stuttgart opened the night with excellent field position, returning the opening kickoff to the Warren 43-yard line. The Ricebirds advanced deep into Lumberjack territory before settling for a field goal at the 10:10 mark to take a 3–0 lead.
Warren answered immediately with a well-executed drive capped by a 9-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Denton to Josiah Steen at 7:33. Jacarlos Marquez added the extra point to make it 7–3.
The Lumberjack defense delivered a fourth-down stop on Stuttgart’s next series, and the offense again capitalized. With 2:24 remaining in the first, Denton found Tayshawn Edwards for a 42-yard touchdown. Marquez’s kick extended the lead to 14–3.
Stuttgart closed the quarter with an 8-yard quarterback scramble for a touchdown on the final play, narrowing the margin to 14–10 after one.
Second Quarter
Warren struck quickly again to start the second quarter. On the first play, Denton threw a bubble screen to Edwards, who broke loose for an 82-yard touchdown. Marquez’s extra point made it 21–10 with 11:35 left.
Stuttgart responded with a 29-yard touchdown pass at 9:36 to pull within 21–17. After Warren’s next drive ended with an interception in Ricebird territory, Stuttgart took advantage, scoring on a 4-yard touchdown pass on fourth down with 5:04 remaining to take a 24–21 lead.
The Lumberjacks answered immediately. A deep completion from Denton to Bleyze Fellows set up Aaron Davis’s 1-yard touchdown run with 4:11 left. Marquez’s PAT put Warren back ahead, 28–24.
Stuttgart retook the lead less than two minutes later with a 3-yard quarterback run, making it 31–28. But Warren mounted one more drive before halftime, and Steen capped it with a 2-yard touchdown run with seven seconds remaining. Marquez’s kick gave Warren a 35–31 advantage heading into the break.
Third Quarter
Warren’s opening drive of the second half stalled on downs, and Stuttgart quickly seized momentum. The Ricebirds’ quarterback broke free for a 46-yard rushing touchdown at 9:04, and though the extra point missed, Stuttgart went ahead 37–35. Another quarterback run from five yards out stretched the Ricebirds’ lead to 44–35 with 6:40 left in the quarter.
The Lumberjacks refused to fade. Denton hit Steen for a 14-yard touchdown at 5:56, cutting the deficit to 44–42. Moments later, Steen intercepted a pass in the end zone, halting a Stuttgart drive.
At 3:57, Denton connected with Fellows for a 32-yard touchdown, putting Warren ahead 48–44 after a missed two-point attempt. The defense continued to produce, recovering a Stuttgart fumble at 2:14. Two plays later, Denton found Steen again over the middle for a 47-yard touchdown. Marquez’s extra point extended the lead to 55–44 heading to the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Stuttgart cut into the lead early in the fourth with a 10-yard touchdown pass at 11:10, closing the gap to 55–51. A Warren fumble in Ricebird territory on the next possession gave Stuttgart another opportunity.
The Lumberjacks forced a Stuttgart fumble at 7:18 and recovered, but their ensuing drive stalled. A mishandled punt snap left the Jacks short of the first down marker near their own 40, giving Stuttgart prime field position. With 3:28 remaining, the Ricebirds punched in a 2-yard touchdown and converted the two-point attempt to take a 59–55 lead.
Warren mounted one final drive, advancing into Stuttgart territory with just over a minute left, but a Ricebird interception ended the comeback bid. Stuttgart ran out the clock to seal the win.
Looking Ahead
The loss drops Warren to 5–3 overall and 3–2 in 8-4A Conference play. The Lumberjacks will look to rebound next Friday, October 31, when they return home to face Central High School of Helena-West Helena.
