Monday, July 24, 2017

Lumberjack Football Right Around The Corner

It may still be July, for a few more days, but it is close to time for the Warren Lumberjacks to begin the 2017 high school football season.  Warren enters the season as the defending class 4A champions and the favorite to compete once again for a conference and state title.  Coach Bo Hembree begins his 18th year at the helm of the orange and black.  He looks back at some 13 conference championships to go with four state titles and two second place finishes on the state level.  It is a remarkable record.


As the coach will tell you, every year is new and success depends on hard work, dedication, development and a good bounce now and then.  The Lumberjacks have a good core of returning players with talent and some new comers with ability.  On paper they are good.  Now they have to perform.

Warren will begin practice officially on August first with a controlled scrimmage set for Tuesday, August 22 at McGehee.  The Jr. Jacks will also scrimmage the Owls on Monday night August 21st at Jim Hurley, Jr. Stadium.  Warren then opens Tuesday, August 29th against Little Rock Christian at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.  LR Christian is a 5A  school and is picked second in conference 5A Central behind Pulaski Academy.  After the following Friday night off, the Lumberjacks will face Stuttgart at home, Watson Chapel there, Crossett at home, Star City there, Dumas there, DeWitt at home, Monticello at home, Hamburg there and Dollarway on a Thursday night at home. It is a schedule with a number of very good teams both conference and non-conference.

Hootens has Dumas ranked #9 in class 4A and Hamburg #10.  Warren will be breaking in a new quarterback and new featured running back as well as several new players on defense.  The Jacks do have a number of very skilled linemen and receivers returning and several outstanding defensive players.  The strong kicking game of the past few years has the chance to be very good again.


Warren fans are encouraged to attend all the games and support the team and a program that has provided the community statewide, and indeed national attention.  Remember to sign up on the National Federation of High School network through salineriverchronicle.com and be able to watch all Lumberjack games live or on demand as you have opportunity.  The cost is minimum and the school benefits.  This season will give you the chance to watch one of the top recruits in Arkansas play each week.  It will also provide you a view of one of the most entertaining high school teams in the state.

Football is a great game to watch but more importantly to develop young student-athletes.  It teaches and educates.  It produces community pride and we all should want to support these students as they compete for our school and our community.

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