The Warren Lumberjacks wasted no time asserting their dominance Friday night, exploding for 42 first-half points en route to a commanding 42–14 win over the visiting Star City Bulldogs at Jim Hurley Jr. Stadium. The victory improved Warren to 5–2 overall and 3–1 in conference play, while Star City dropped to 0–7 and 0–4.
From the opening possession, it was clear Warren’s offense came ready to strike. After forcing a quick three-and-out, the Lumberjacks went to the air early as quarterback Jackson Denton connected with Ren Reep for a 45-yard completion down to the Bulldog 10-yard line. On the next play, Denton hit Josiah Steen for a 10-yard touchdown pass, giving Warren a 7–0 lead less than three minutes into the game.
Star City answered immediately with an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, briefly tying the contest at 7–7. But that was as close as the Bulldogs would get.
On the ensuing drive, Denton found Blayze Fellows streaking down the sideline for an 85-yard touchdown strike, reclaiming the lead 14–7 with 9:37 left in the first quarter. The Lumberjack defense then stood tall, stifling Star City’s ground game and turning the Bulldogs away on downs deep in Warren territory.
Pinned at their own 6-yard line, the Jacks struck again. Denton delivered another long touchdown — this time a 94-yard connection with Tashawn Edwards — extending the Warren lead to 21–7 as the first quarter closed.
The offensive onslaught continued in the second quarter. After a short Star City punt, Warren took over at the Bulldog 39-yard line. Denton immediately went back to the air, finding Steen once again for a 34-yard touchdown, pushing the margin to 28–7.
Moments later, the Lumberjacks capitalized on another short field after a defensive stop. A quick strike to Aaron Davis set up a 3-yard scoring run by the senior back, capping a remarkable stretch in which Warren scored touchdowns on five of its first seven offensive plays. The scoreboard read 35–7 midway through the second quarter.
Star City managed a few sustained drives in the first half but was repeatedly undone by penalties and the relentless pressure from Warren’s defense, led by Zacharia Bush, Braxton Hembree, and a swarming front seven that lived in the Bulldog backfield.
Before the break, Denton added one more exclamation point — an 18-yard touchdown pass to Fellows, his fifth scoring toss of the half. By intermission, the senior quarterback had completed 7 of 8 passes for over 300 yards and multiple touchdowns, all before taking a single snap in the second half.
With a 42–7 halftime advantage, Warren emptied the bench in the third quarter as the game clock ran continuously under the sportsmanship rule. Star City added a late touchdown, but the outcome had long been decided.
Warren’s explosive first-half performance showcased the balance and depth that have defined the Lumberjacks’ midseason surge. The combination of Denton’s precision passing, dynamic playmaking from Reep, Fellows, Edwards, and Steen, and a bruising defensive effort once again underscored Warren’s status as a conference contender.
Next week, the Lumberjacks face another big test — a road trip to take on the undefeated Stuttgart Ricebirds in a pivotal conference matchup that could shape the postseason race. Star City will look to regroup as they travel to Hamburg in search of their first win of the season.
Final Score: Warren 42, Star City 14
Records: Warren (5–2, 3–1), Star City (0–7, 0–4)
