By ANN THARP
Special to The Leader
The Lonoke Jack-rabbits traveled to Baptist Prep in Little Rock Friday night and picked up a much needed conference victory by a score of 33-7. It was the first game with Taggert Moore at the helm as interim coach after the resignation of head coach Doug Bost on Tuesday. The Jackrabbit offense picked up four touchdowns in the first half, while the defense held the Eagles to 23 first half yards.
“They brought the energy,” said Coach Moore. “I told them all week, just bring the energy, we’re a family. They did more than I could ever have wished for. They love each other, they love this coaching staff, the coaching staff loves them. We’re back on track.
“Coach Keith put a great game plan in. He called all the plays. He absolutely did a great job on offense tonight. Defensively, we told them if they would play disciplined, that we would be just fine. Those guys came out and played disciplined. They went right to their man, right when they had to on that triple option stuff. They didn’t try to do too much. They did their job, all eleven of them, and that’s why we had the success. All eleven of those guys worked as one tonight, and I’m proud of them for that.”
Lonoke had first possession and good field position on its 46-yard line. Quarterback Logan Dozier and Xavier Hodge carried the ball down the field, moving the first down markers three times for a first and ten on the 11-yard line. The drive was completed with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Dozier to Ethan Mulligan in the corner of the end zone. The extra point was blocked, but the Jackrabbits had the 6-0 lead with 5:24 remaining in the opening quarter.
The next Lonoke score was set up by a 40-yard scamper by Hodge to the Eagle 10-yard line. On fourth down at the three, Hodge finished the drive with the touchdown for the 12-0 advantage with 1:16 left in the quarter.
The teams exchanged punts and Baptist Prep turned the ball over on downs before the Jackrabbits next scoring drive. Again, it was Dozier and Hodge on the carries, but a nine-yard completion from Dozier to Isaac Toney gave Lonoke a first down on the 12-yard line. Hodge took it in from there for the score. The extra point was good by Mario Reyes, and the lead grew to 19-0 with 4:39 to go in the half.
The Eagles attempted a pass on the first play of their possession, but it was picked off by Kameron Cole for another scoring opportunity for the Jackrabbits. A pass interference call on the Eagles in the end zone and an offside penalty gave Lonoke first and goal on the 9-yard line. Dozier took it 3 yards, Hodge 5, and Dozier the final yard for the touchdown. Reyes was good on the point after, and the lead was 26-0 with 0:25 on the clock.
Baptist Prep put together a 47-yard drive to start the second half, but stalled and turned the ball over on downs. Luke Vaden had most of the carries on the drive.
Lonoke’s score this time came on the arm of Dozier, as he hit Cole for a 57-yard touchdown pass. Reyes added the extra point, and the score was 33-0 with 4:51 in the third.
The Eagles only scoring drive came next as Vaden and quarterback Dylan Hogan moved the ball from their own 40-yard line to the end zone. Hogan was the one to carry the ball in from nine yards out. The extra point was good by Brennan Deal and Baptist Prep was on the scoreboard, 33-7, with 10:09 remaining in the contest.
The Jackrabbits finished the night with 290 yards of offense. Baptist Prep had 167 yards in the second half for a total of 190 yards.
Hodge had 113 yards rushing, 14 yards receiving and two touchdowns for Lonoke. Dozier had two passing touchdowns and rushed for one.
The Jackrabbits will host Southside-Batesville Friday night.
