By RICK KRON Leader staff writer
Five interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt was more than enough to help Lonoke secure a 45-7 win over Central Arkansas Christian on Lonoke’s home field Friday on Homecoming night.
The CAC offensive plan appeared to be pass, throw, lob pass as more than 95 percent of its attempted plays were through the air.
The Jackrabbit defense keyed in on that plan often during the game where the mercy rule –letting the clock continue to run—went into effect late in the third quarter.
CAC’s Garrison possibly set a record for interceptions and incomplete passes as he threw 5 picks and more than two dozen of his passes were incomplete.
The Jackrabbit’s offensive plan was run, run, run with Xavier Hodge doing the yeoman’s work.
The Jackrabbits drew first, second and third blood in the game.
Two plays after Tallon Swint blocked a CAC punt, Michael Hodges bullied across the goal line on a 17-yard run down the home team’s sideline and Nick Tate added the extra point, it was the Jackrabbits out front of the CAC, 7-0.
Two series later, Hodges grabbed a pick six off an errant throw by CAC quarterback Eli Garrison. Hodges scurried 35 yards into the end zone.
Getting the ball back, it took the Mustangs just two plays before throwing an intercept, this time to Tyler Washington, However the Jackrabbits couldn’t do anything with the interception and gave the ball back to the Mustangs on downs.
After taking a 14-0 lead with 4:45 still left in the first quarter, Lonoke tried to surprise the Mustangs with an onside kick, but CAC recovered, starting off at midfield, but three plays later Dalton Smith snagged a Garrison pass at the 20-yard line and took it back 23 yards.
Xavier Hodge rushed five straight times before quarterback Daniel Seigrist, on a keeper, scooted 39-yards for Lonoke’s third touchdown in the first quarter. Another extra point by Tate made it 21-0 with 1:48 left, enough time for CAC to get on the scoreboard.
The Mustangs scored on a pass from Garrison to Gentry Miller. With the extra point, it was Jackrabbits up by 14 at the end of the first quarter.
The Mustangs started to move the ball at the start of the second quarter, taking it all the way to the 12-yard line. On the next running play CAC’s Blake Smith rushing up the middle fumbled and Hunter Kyzer recovered it for the Jackrabbits. But the team couldn’t get any traction, giving the ball back to CAC.
Three plays later Washing-ton nabbed his second interception and took 11-yards to the 29-yard line. Seigrist, on a keeper, cut over the left tackle and took it 11-yards for another touchdown. With the extra point, it was now 28-7 at halftime.
Lonoke received the opening kick-off of the third quarter. Smith took the opening kick from his 10-yard line to the Mustangs’ 10-yard line. And with less than 30 seconds gone in the third quarter, a 10-yard run by Braidon Bryant made it 35-7.
For the next five possessions it looked like a trench warfare game with neither side moving the ball much until CAC fumbled and Smith recovered it on the 19-yard line. Four runs by the quarterback put Lonoke ahead 42-7 and initiated the Mercy Rule with three minutes left in the third quarter.
Before the end of the quarter Washington grabbed his third interception near the 38-yard line just inside the sidelines. Starting the fourth quarter Bryant fumbled and CAC recovered but a block-in-the-back call canceled their touchdown run and the Mustangs just couldn’t move the ball.
Shawn Lake scored the final touchdown for Lonoke with a 33-yard scamper down the line with seven minutes left in the game.
The win improves Lonoke’s record to 4-5 overall. CAC drops to 0-9.