By ANN THARP
Special to The Leader
The Lonoke Jackrabbits traveled to Fred C. Hardke Memorial Field in Carlisle on Friday night to face the Bison in the second year of the Central Lonoke County Showdown. Last year, at Lonoke, the Jackrabbits were the victors, and this year it was Lonoke again, winning this year’s contest 42-6.
The Jackrabbits (1-0) dominated the first half, scoring on their first five possessions, while the Bison (0-1) could get nothing going on offense. The second half was played under the sportsmanship rule, with the teams scoring a touchdown each.
“We came out and did what we had to do,” Lonoke coach Taggart Moore said. “We wanted to stay healthy. We had a lot of stuff we wanted to get in and see how they reacted to it. I thought we did a great job. Like I said, the mainthing coming into this thing was get through it healthy, get ready, we got a big one next week. And, we did that, and I’m pleased with it.”
Lonoke had the first possession of the game and started from its own 35-yard line. The Jackrabbits moved down the field to the Carlisle 17-yard line on five runs by Xavier Hodge. Quarterback Daniel Seigrist was dropped for an eight-yard loss by Baylor Craig to bring up fourth down and 17 on the 25-yard line. Seigrist then found Braidon Bryant in the end zone for the touchdown reception. Nick Tate added the point after for the early 7-0 Lonoke lead.
The Bison went three and out, and the Jackrabbit offense struck again. This time Hodge ran for 38 yards on first down to the Carlisle 15-yard line. Davonta Adams moved the ball to the five, and Hodge scored from there. Tate again kicked the extra point for a 14-0 advantage.
Carlisle again was forced to punt, aided by a 10-yard sack of quarterback Braiden Jenkins by E’shaun Brown.
As in the previous possession, it only took three plays for the Lonoke offense to strike. On second and 13, Seigrist again was complete to Bryant who escaped for 49 yards and a touchdown. Tate again was good for the point after, and the score was 21-0.
Will Carter returned the ensuing kickoff to the Bison 39-yard line. Ian Seidenschwarz picked up 10 yards and a first down, but Carlisle then stalled and turned the ball over on downs.
It was Hodge again for Lonoke, this time with a 45-yard touchdown run at the start of the second quarter upping the score to 28-0 with Tate’s extra point.
On Carlisle’s possession, Jenkins completed a pass to Houston Garrich for 10 yards on fourth down to pick up a first but was then intercepted by Dalton Smith who ran to the 12-yard line of Carlisle to put the Jackrabbits in great position to score again.
This time it was Seigrist to De’Angelo Noid for the 12-yard touchdown reception on fourth down. Once again, Tate added the PAT, and the score was 35-0 with 7:10 left in the half. That remained the halftime margin.
Lonoke scored once more on its first possession of the second half, this time on a keeper by Seigrist from 25 yards out. Tate was perfect for the night to make the lead 42-0.
The Bison then put together a 14-play 78-yard scoring drive, picking up four first downs along the way. Jenkins moved the ball to midfield on a 25-yard keeper to pick up the first. Davarius Allen carried the ball 10 times on the drive, gaining 32 yards and scoring the Carlisle touchdown from less than a yard out. The two-point conversion was no good, setting the final margin of 42-6.
Hodge rushed 12 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns for Lonoke. Bryant had three receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns. The Jackrabbits had 315 yards of total offense.
Allen had 42 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown for the Bison. Seidenschwarz carried nine times for 33 yards. Carlisle had 109 yards of total offense.
Lonoke will host Beebe next Friday, while the Bison travel to DeWitt.
