WARREN, Ark. – The Warren Lumberjacks were officially crowned the 2022 8-4A Conference Champions Thursday night, November 3 after defeating the Hamburg Lions by the final of 42-7 at Jim Hurley, Jr. Stadium in Warren, capping a 9-1 regular season record in which the Jacks went undefeated in conference play.
The 8-4A Conference title is the eighth for the program in the last ten years, a remarkable decade-long run. Warren came into the ballgame having already wrapped up the number one playoff seed from the 8-4A, but still needed to win to outright claim the Conference Championship.
Top photo: Quarterback Maddox Lassiter looks to the sidelines during Warren’s Thursday night game vs. Hamburg. Photo by Robert Camp.
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Hamburg however knew beforehand this would be their final game of the season, still sitting in the bottom three of the Conference table.
Recent history suggested a tough task for Hamburg. Warren led the series 21-1 since 2001, just a year or so into the Bo Hembree era at Warren.
The Jacks received the opening kickoff. Doling out a steady dose of Cody Weatherspoon in the run game, the Jacks took just over a three-minute first-possession drive to punch the ball into the end zone. Weatherspoon, a sophomore who has broken out in recent weeks with multiple starts, capped off the drive with a two-yard blast. Jose Jacinto converted the point after to put Warren up 7-0 early.
Hamburg gave the Jack defense a few fits on their opening offensive drive. The Lions marched downfield and scored with 3:19 to go in the quarter to tie things up at 7-7.
On the following Lumberjack possession, a couple of big plays sustained the drive into the second quarter. Senior quarterback Maddox Lassiter hit Antonio Jordan for an important third down conversion, while power back Landon Wolfe ripped off a 13-yard gain to put Warren deep into the red zone at the start of the second. Hamburg’s defense looked as if it might put up a stand to end the drive, but Lassiter lofted a pass on fourth and seven to Neon’dre Thomas, who made a superb play to come back for the ball and haul it into the end zone. Jacinto’s extra point helped restore the Jack lead at 14-7.
Weatherspoon collected his second ground score of the night with 6:11 to go before the half. The sophomore shot through the middle of the line for six from two yards out. Jacinto added the point after to make it 21-7 Warren.
Neeyo Harding led a wonderful effort by the Lumberjack defense on the following Hamburg drive, shutting down the Lions after a trip that could have threatened Warren’s end zone otherwise. Harding made a tackle out wide that not many defensive ends on the high school level can, taking a tight angle out wide and chasing down the tailback with gears to spare. It was just one play of many Harding made throughout. The junior was a standout for the orange and black.
With 3:01 to go before halftime, Delfino Rivera caused a Hamburg fumble. It was recovered by defensive lineman Weston Gavin for Warren.
From their own 34-yard-line, the Jacks went right back to work in search of closing the game out before halftime. Lassiter posted two crucial back-to-back runs for a first down. He then connected with Thomas again, this time for a 23-yard gain. Thomas dodged a couple of Hamburg defenders on his way into Lion territory. Although deep into the opposition half, Warren once more faced a tough fourth and long situation. Lassiter delivered again on fourth down. This time he threaded a bullet to Ervin Rivera over the middle for 27 yards and a first down. Landon Wolfe closed out the drive with a six-yard power play right up the gut. Jacinto’s extra point kick put the Lumberjacks up 28-7 at the half, in firm command.
Hamburg’s offense pushed into Warren’s end of the field in the early minutes of the third quarter. However, the Jack defense came up big with a fourth and inches stop.
Coach Bo Hembree dialed up a deep bomb immediately after the turnover on downs. Lassiter launched a pass to Jordan, who shook off the corner, made the catch, and took it for a 46-yard completion, flipping the field. The drive sputtered to a close when the Jacks failed to convert on fourth down inside the 15.
Hamburg fumbled just a couple of minutes later and Warren recovered again. Lassiter flung his second touchdown pass of the night to Thomas from 10 yards out to put the Lumberjacks up 35-7.
The sportsmanship rule was put into effect late in the third after Warren corner Malik Day picked up a third Hamburg fumble and sprinted back 68 yards for another Jack touchdown. Jacinto added the extra point.
A quick fourth quarter saw no points added. The Lumberjack won by the final 42-7, securing the outright 8-4A Conference Championship.
Warren’s offense put up a total of 324 yards total offense, 140 coming on the ground and 184 through the air.
Sophomore tailback Cody Weatherspoon led the Jacks in rushing with 45 yards and two touchdowns.
Quarterback Maddox Lassiter picked up 41 yards on the ground, while Landon Wolfe scored a touchdown and rushed for 21 yards.
Lassiter went 10 of 22 throwing with 181 yards and two touchdown passes.
Antonio Jordan and Neon’dre Thomas led the Jacks in receiving. Jordan caught three passes for 74 yards. Thomas caught four passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns.
Standout defensive performers for the Jacks were defensive lineman Weston Gavin, linebacker Delfino Rivera, Maddox Lassiter, Neeyo Harding, Jalin Lee, and Malik Day. Day, a senior, posted four tackles and a fumble recovery return for a touchdown. He earned Saline River Chronicle Player of the Game honors for his performance.
The Lumberjacks move immediately into the 4A State Playoffs. They will host Blytheville next Friday night, November 11 in the first round. Blytheville finished the season 5-4 overall with a Conference record of 3-3. They finished fourth in the 3-4A.