Sports: Warren/Stuttgart Game Two Same Result

Lumberjacks showed up ready to play in round two of the 2016 State Playoffs.

For the second time in the 2016 Arkansas High School Football season, the Warren Lumberjacks and the Stuttgart Ricebirds met. Game one was back in September and was during week two of the regular season. Warren won at Stuttgart by nine. Friday night, November 18th, the two teams met again in round two of the playoffs at Jim Hurley, Jr. Stadium. Warren won by ten to advance to the third round of the playoffs. The Jacks will face one of the top teams in class 4A as the Joe T. Robinson Senators come to Warren. There should be a huge crowd on hand for a game that will gain statewide attention.

Sophomore J'malachi Kinnard finds the hole and moves to it.

Friday night, Stuttgart chose to receive, and Warren's defense, which was outstanding all night, forced a three and out. Stuttgart punted to the Lumberjack six-yard line. The Jacks promptly marched 94 yards and scored at the 5:09 mark of the first period on an 8-yard run by quarterback Hayden Lassiter. Sergio Yepes made the PAT, and Warren lead 7-0. Warren's defense continued to play very well as did the Stuttgart defense. The period ended with the score still 7-0 in favor of the Lumberjacks.

Treylon Burks gave the Ricebirds trouble all night.

The Jack offense moved the ball well at times but penalties and mistakes kept the orange and black from scoring. Stuttgart threatened to score but the Warren defense kept making big plays.

J'malachil Kinnard, who had an outstanding game intercepted a pass in the second quarter but Warren could not capitalize. Stuttgart also intercepted a Warren pass as the Jacks threatened. Warren fumbled deep in their own territory but the Warren defense rose up and stopped Stuttgart. Both teams punted effectively. Warren lead 7-0 at the half.

In the third quarter Yepes nailed a 17-yard field goal for the Lumberjacks to up the lead to 10-0. With 1:11 remaining in the third, Lassiter, who ran great all night, ripped off a 46-yard touchdown run, and Yepes kicked the lead to 17-0. The Lumberjack defense turned Stuttgart back from the one yard line, in what was one of the key series of the game.

Sergio Yepes puts it through the uprights.

In the fourth quarter, Stuttgart finally struck with a 14-yard pass to cut the lead to 17-7. Warren immediately responded with a nice drive culminating with a 33-yard touchdown strike from Lassiter

Hayden Lassiter scores for the Lumberjacks.

to Keemontrae McKnight. Yepes was again good, and Warren was up 24-7. Stuttgart did score again after converting a fourth-down play and reached the end zone via a three yard run.
The Ricebirds tried an onside kick only to have Treylon Burks scoop it up and return it deep into Stuttgart territory. Warren then ran out the clock to secure a 24-14 victory.

Dennis Daniels fights hard for every inch of yardage.

The game was hard fought and required a maximum effort on the part of Warren to win. Every player contributed and kept battling to the end. Dennis Daniels, who was keyed upon all night, had 16 carries for 58 yards and Hayden Lassiter ran 29 times for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Lassiter 7 out of 13 passing for 115 yards and one TD with one interception.