STUTTGART, Ark. – A clash of two of the biggest teams in 4A went down Friday night, August 26, 2022, as the Warren Lumberjacks traveled to Stuttgart for the season-opening game of the 2022 season, falling to the Ricebirds in a very close battle by the final of 31-28.
Top photo: Lumberjack sophomore receiver Kam Davis escapes two Stuttgart defenders and hauls a pass 85 yards for a touchdown Friday night at Stuttgart. Photo by Robert Camp.
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Things looked to be going Warren’s way early in the first quarter. Stuttgart won the toss and elected to receive. However, the opening kickoff was muffed by Stuttgart and the Jacks recovered with great starting field position.
The Lumberjacks logged a few penalties on that first drive, a sign of early season kinks still being worked out, and a trait that both teams had difficulty shaking throughout the evening. Penalties on the first drive pushed the Lumberjacks back far enough that they were forced to punt.
Defensively Warren was stout in the opening minutes. They held Stuttgart scoreless on their first drive and put the Jack offense back on the field with the score at 0-0 in the first.
Shifting between Maddox Lassiter and Treylon Jackson at quarterback on Warren’s following drive, things picked up the pace. The second offensive possession saw Warren convert two big fourth-down plays. Keeping the drive alive paid off moments later as the Jacks moved inside the red zone to the Stuttgart five-yard line. Senior power back Landon Wolfe took the ball up the middle for the first touchdown of the season. Jose Jacinto hit the extra point to make it 7-0 Warren in the first.
Again Warren’s defense looked in control on the Ricebirds’ next drive. With a third and long situation, the Jacks had a great opportunity to once again get the offense back on the field. In a sign of things to come however, Stuttgart busted a run for distance yards, picking up not only the first down, but taking it to the house for a touchdown. The home crowd at Ned Moseley stadium were disappointed to see a flag thrown and the touchdown called back. Still with good field position and looking to capitalize on the renewed drive, once more Stuttgart’s offense sputtered, committing multiple penalties and pushing them beyond manageable yardage for the first down. They were forced to punt.
Warren’s run game went to work again, this time with Jackson finding the tough yardage. He would pick up 26 going into Stuttgart territory near the midway point of the second quarter. Tayshawn Johnson eventually finished off the drive with a seven-yard run up the middle and into the end zone. Jacinto knocked through the extra point to make it 14-0 Warren.
Stuggart answered back swiftly on their ensuing drive. A 69-yard rush went the distance and the score was cut to 14-7, Warren leading.
With 4:45 left in the first half, the Jacks set up at the Ricebird one-yard line. Lassiter restored the 14-point Lumberjack advantage with a one-yard blast up the middle. Jacinto hit his third PAT of the night to make it 21-7 Warren.
The Ricebirds put together another tough drive with just two minutes remaining before the break. They converted once on fourth and five to keep the drive alive. Stuttgart senior and all-conference kicker Jack Hosman booted a 40-yard field goal to cut the score to 21-10 Lumberjacks going into halftime.
In the third quarter the Ricebird defense began to cause problems for Warren’s offensive line. Warren struggled to patch together a few plays in the early minutes of the half, eventually being forced to punt.
The score was quickly cut to 21-17 as the delta foes broke free on a 57-yard bolt to the house.
As the momentum switched, Warren’s offense continued to fight for positive yardage. Halfway through the third, the Jacks were again forced to punt, this time from deep in their own territory. Stuttgart blocked the kick and recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown, taking the lead for the first time at 24-21.
The hits kept coming for Warren as a player was ejected due to a scuffle on the following Warren drive.
Regrouping somewhat, the orange and black did answer back and retake the lead with 5:45 to go in the third quarter. Jackson connected through the air with sophomore receiver Kam Davis on a post route. Davis split the defense, made the catch, and sprinted 85 yards for the touchdown. Jacinto’s extra point attempt was good to make it 28-24 Lumberjacks.
Into the fourth quarter, Stuttgart retook the lead with 6:57 left in the ballgame. An 11-yard quarterback rush put the Ricebirds up 31-28.
In the closing minute Warren forced a Stuttgart punt, but it was muffed and recovered by the home side. The Ricebirds ran the clock out to win by the final of 31-28.
Treylon Jackson carried the ball 13 times for Warren, rushing for 96 yards. The rotational quarterback and tailback also threw for 116 yards on the night. 85 of those yards came on a single touchdown pass to Kam Davis.
Warren’s other rotational quarterback, power back, and sometimes receiver Maddox Lassiter ran for 74 yards on 10 carries. He scored a touchdown on the ground as well.
Two other Lumberjacks picked up yards on the ground on the night, with Tayshawn Johnson rushing for 11 on four carries, and Landon Wolfe picking up seven yards on two carries.
Out wide, Kam Davis led the orange and black in receptions with 85 yards and a touchdown. Lassiter followed him with 21 yards. Jalin Lee had 14 yards through the air, while Tayshawn Johnson picked up 10, and Antonio Jordan had one catch for nine.
Stuttgart’s Cedric Hawkins carried the ball 25 times for 222 yards and two touchdowns. He was followed by sophomore DeOntae Clark with 19 carries for 122 yards and a touchdown.
While Warren’s defense struggled to stop the talented Ricebird duo, the Jacks still fought hard on the defensive side of the ball. Senior Jalin Lee put in an outstanding performance, tallying eight tackles.
Maddox Lassiter, Landon Wolfe, and Neeyo Harding each had six takedowns in the game.
A few other defensive standouts included Lee Johnson. The Lumberjack senior took home three tackles to his credit as well as a pass defended.
Junior Jordyn Ingram, a newcomer to this Warren team, having not played last season, popped up with a surprising five tackles. He’ll be one to keep an eye on in the weeks to come.
Bryson Harris, Delfino Rivera, and Tyrone Graves combined for a total of 11 tackles. Harris, unfortunately, exited in the second half with an injury.
Coming up just short against one of the best teams and competition in Arkansas’s 4A classification is no small task, particularly considering Warren was facing down several injuries and illnesses which depleted the interior lines on both sides of the ball.
They’ll regroup and get set to take on White Hall next Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Jim Hurley, Jr. Stadium in Warren, after which a bye week is in sight to hopefully get healthy once more before conference play begins September 15 when the Jacks travel to Star City.