WARREN, Ark. — There will be plenty on the line Thursday night when the Warren Lumberjacks host the Crossett Eagles in the final game of the 2026 regular season, with both teams fighting for important postseason positioning.
For Warren, a victory by at least 11 points could mean a No. 3 playoff seed and a home postseason game. For Crossett, the stakes are even more immediate, as the Eagles enter the contest needing a victory to secure a playoff berth.
Warren Head Coach Hembree outlined those scenarios during his weekly interview with Saline River News.
“They got to win to get in,” Hembree said of Crossett.
The coach explained that Warren needs to win by 11 points to secure the third seed and a home playoff game.
Warren is coming off a strong 42-12 victory over Watson Chapel, a game in which the Lumberjacks built a commanding 35-6 halftime lead.
Crossett, meanwhile, enters the matchup with its postseason hopes hanging in the balance. Hembree cautioned against overlooking an opponent with so much at stake.
The Eagles narrowly fell to Monticello last week, threatening to score late in the fourth quarter. According to Hembree, Crossett had the football near the Monticello 5-yard line on its final possession.
“They got their backs against the wall,” Hembree said, adding that he expects Crossett to arrive in Warren ready to compete.
One of the Lumberjacks’ primary defensive challenges will be containing Crossett quarterback Cash Forrest, whose ability to extend plays has caused problems for opposing defenses.
“We’ve been chasing him for three years now,” Hembree said. “He’s going to drop back and if it’s not there, he’s going to run try and make something happen.”
Hembree emphasized that containing Forrest will be important for a Warren defense that has experienced its share of challenges against passing offenses this season.
The Lumberjacks will also enter the matchup with renewed optimism surrounding their roster. After dealing with significant injuries throughout the season, Warren is expected to have its full complement of players available for the first time this year.
The return of several experienced receivers could provide an additional boost to an offense that showed considerable efficiency against Watson Chapel.
Hembree acknowledged that some of the returning players are still working their way back into football shape, but expressed excitement about having the team back together as the postseason approaches.
“We’ve got everybody back,” Hembree said.
With playoff seeding, a potential home postseason appearance, and Crossett’s playoff hopes all hanging in the balance, Thursday’s contest carries significance well beyond the final regular-season result.
