The Lumberjacks advanced from the first round of the state playoffs after their win against the Blytheville Chickasaws, 41-20 on a cold and rainy Friday night.
“We knew coming in [the Chickasaws] were very athletic. I thought they were really good,” said Coach Bo Hembree. “Our kids just kept playing and we found a way.”
The Lumberjacks kicked the game off with a kickoff to Blytheville by kicker Jose Jacinto. The Lumberjacks recovered the ball at the Chickasaw’s 40-yard line.
The Lumberjacks scored the first touchdown of the night with nine minutes left in the first quarter. The Lumberjacks made it down to the three-yard line where quarterback Maddox Lassiter busted through the defensive line for the touchdown. The extra point by Jacinto was good, giving the Lumberjacks the 7-0 lead.
The Lumberjacks continued to lead in the second quarter, 7-0.
The Chickasaws scored their first touchdown with 9:35 left in the quarter after the receiver ran the ball from the Lumberjacks’ 29-yard line to the end zone. The Chickasaws attempted a two-point conversion that was good. The Chickasaws were in the lead 8-7.
Jalin Lee caught the kickoff and ran to the Lumberjacks’ 48-yard line for the first and 10.
At 7:30, the Lumberjacks were back on offense. At the two-yard line, Lassiter made a pass to Neon’dre Thomas, who caught it at the end zone for a touchdown.
The Lumberjacks made a successful attempt at a two-point conversion, putting them back in the lead with 15-8.
With three minutes left in the second quarter, Lassiter made a 13-yard pass to Ervin Rivera, who made it to the end zone for another touchdown.
The kick by Jacinto was good, giving the Lumberjacks 21-8.
Later, with only a few seconds left in the first half, the Chickasaws intercepted the ball close to their end zone and ran a few yards for the touchdown. The receiver was tackled by one of the Lumberjacks at the end zone, but the touchdown was good.
However, the Chickasaws attempt at a two-point conversion was no good.
The Lumberjacks ended the first half in the lead with 21-14.
In the third quarter, the Chickasaws’ offense made a big play from their two-yard line and running the ball to the Lumberjacks’ 14-yard line.
The Chickasaws’ quarterback threw a pass from the four-yard line for a touchdown.
They attempted another two-point conversion that failed. Tension was mounting as the Lumberjacks were ahead by only one point, 21-20.
With 4:30 minutes left in the third quarter; Lassiter passed to Rivera for a 21-yard play to the six-yard line. On the next play, Lassiter bulldozed through the middle of the defense for another touchdown.
After another successful kick by Jacinto, the Lumberjacks continued to lead 35-20.
The Chickasaws started on offense at the start of the final quarter.
The Lumberjacks were soon back on offense with 11:04 left. Lassiter threw an incredible 40-yard pass to Antonio Jordan at the end zone for the final touchdown of the night.
The Lumberjacks will face off against Stuttgart on Friday night here at home. Kickoff begins at 7 p.m.
