By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
It’s doubtful Lonoke coach Doug Bost would ever agree to wear ruby slippers.
But his sentiments this week are much like Dorothy’s when she uttered the memorable phrase from the “Wizard of Oz” — “There’s no place like home.”
Lonoke will end a streak of seven road games dating to last November when the Jackrabbits open 2-4A Conference play against Heber Springs at James B. Abraham Stadium on Friday.
The Jackrabbits (3-0) were technically the home team in their season opener against Star City, but the Hooten’s Kickoff Classic game was held at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
The last real home game for Lonoke was in the first round of last year’s 4A playoffs when the Jackrabbits manhandled Clarksville 48-21 to start off a four-game postseason streak that took them to the 4A state championship game against Shiloh Christian at War Memorial Stadium.
“We’re excited about it,” Bost said. “We’re looking for a lot of energy. At McGehee last week, there just wasn’t a lot of intensity. We’re looking forward to being at home, having a full crowd and to hear the band playing It’s always good to have your first home game of the year.”
Heber Springs (2-1) started the season with a 34-6 blowout of Mountain View before stunning 3A powerhouse Harding Academy 28-14 in Week 2.
The Panthers suffered their first loss Friday against former conference foe Bald Knob, 34-16.
“They’re a well coached football team,” Bost said. “Their strength appears to be their offensive and defensive lines — they’ve got some big old boys up there.”
The biggest key to victory for the Jackrabbits defensively will be containment of junior tailback Markeyvus Mays.
The 5-11, 175-pound junior has speed similar to former Panther running back Braylon Mitchell, who is now a redshirt freshman at the University of Arkansas.
“He has 600 yards of rushing in three games, so he’s someone we will have to key in on when they have the football,” Bost said of Mays. “He’s probably the fastest back we’ve seen so far. We have to contain him and not let him outside, make him run between the tackles.”
Things look more promising for Lonoke’s offense with senior quarterback Logan DeWhitt back. DeWhitt left the first two games early with injuries to his left shoulder, but went the distance against McGehee last week with the help of a brace that helps keep his shoulder in place when he makes contact with other players or the ground.
DeWhitt finished 12 of 23 for 189 yards, three touchdowns and one interception against McGehee.
Senior receiver Darius Scott also put up big numbers, but in a category many would not expect. Scott had 14 carries for 118 yards and a touchdown, with two receptions for 25 yards.
Scott, listed as an outside receiver, is also DeWhitt’s backup at quarterback, but he finished the McGehee game at tailback after starter Keli Bryant was banged up.
“He’s our leading rusher right now,” Bost said. “A lot of those yards he gets when he’s at quarterback, but we can also put him in a speed motion. When someone gets dinged up, he goes to tailback.
“He played four positions last week — inside receiver, outside receiver, quarterback and tailback. The kid knows four different positions; I like that.”
Another senior, Blake Dill, ended up with the best receiving numbers last week with 6 catches for 73 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, Jeremiah Griffin led with 11 tackles, while Wes Plummer had 10 and linebacker T.J. Scott had nine.
