For a brief moment Friday night, it appeared Star City might have the electricity needed to pull off a homecoming upset against the Warren Lumberjacks.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Warren quickly found the breaker box and pulled the plug.
After watching Star City return the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown, the Lumberjacks responded with a relentless offensive attack that produced seven rushing touchdowns and 572 yards of total offense in a convincing 49-21 victory.
The win improved Warren to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in 4A-8 Conference play, while Star City fell to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in conference action.
The Bulldogs could hardly have scripted a better beginning to their homecoming celebration. Before Warren's offense ever stepped onto the field, Star City had electrified the home crowd with a 94-yard kickoff return that gave the Bulldogs an immediate 7-0 advantage.
That excitement, however, would prove short-lived.
Warren recovered the ensuing onside kick and immediately went to work, covering 61 yards in six plays before sophomore running back JaKoby Avery crossed the goal line from 2 yards out. Emanuel Pahuamba added the extra point, erasing Star City's early advantage and tying the contest at 7.
The Lumberjacks' defense soon began making its presence felt as well.
Kannon Lambert dropped a Star City ball carrier for a loss to help stall the Bulldogs' next possession. Warren subsequently threatened to score after quarterback Jackson Denton connected with Tayshawn Edwards for a 37-yard gain, but a mishandled snap resulted in a fumble recovery by Star City.
The Bulldogs were unable to capitalize.
After ZaKobe Ingram recorded a sack during the ensuing possession, Hayden Hampton intercepted a Star City pass to give Warren another opportunity.
Avery made the Bulldogs pay, breaking loose for a 21-yard touchdown run to finish a five-play drive and put the Lumberjacks ahead 14-7 with 3:01 remaining in the opening quarter.
Star City managed to keep the contest competitive early, answering with a 16-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to even the score at 14.
From that point forward, however, Warren began imposing its will.
The Lumberjacks assembled a methodical 12-play, 65-yard scoring drive that showcased their ability to move the football both through the air and on the ground.
Denton, who completed his first eight passing attempts, connected with Ty Hembree three times during the possession and scrambled for a critical first down. DeAngelo Herron finished the march with a 1-yard touchdown run to restore Warren's seven-point advantage.
Warren's defense followed with another important stop as Ingram and Lambert combined for a third-down sack, forcing the Bulldogs to punt.
Denton wasted little time putting the offense back in scoring position, finding Avery out of the backfield for a 45-yard completion on the first play of the ensuing possession.
Six plays later, Herron powered into the end zone from 4 yards out for his second touchdown of the evening.
Pahuamba's extra point gave Warren a 28-14 advantage heading into halftime.
If the first half demonstrated Warren's offensive versatility, the second half belonged to the Lumberjacks' ground game.
Receiving the second-half kickoff, Warren marched down the field with little resistance. An 18-yard reception by Scout Ballentine moved the ball to the Star City 10-yard line, setting up another Herron touchdown.
The running back scored from 7 yards out, extending Warren's lead to 35-14 with 9:51 remaining in the third quarter.
Star City managed to move the chains on its next possession but eventually punted. A Warren fumble gave the Bulldogs another opportunity to regain some momentum, but senior Jacob Marshall intercepted a deep pass at the Lumberjacks' 39-yard line.
Once again, Warren's rushing attack took over.
Avery delivered one of the game's more physical runs, dragging defenders downfield and helping move the football to the Star City 6-yard line.
Herron finished the possession with another 1-yard touchdown run, his fourth rushing score of the night.
With 3:23 remaining in the third quarter, Warren held a commanding 42-14 advantage.
The Lumberjacks weren't finished.
After the defense forced a turnover on downs deep in Star City territory, Warren needed just three plays to reach the end zone again. Avery delivered the final blow with a 10-yard touchdown run, his third of the evening.
The score pushed Warren's advantage to 49-14 late in the third quarter and triggered the mercy rule.
With the outcome firmly in hand, Warren began turning the game over to its second-team offense and defense near the end of the third quarter, giving reserve players valuable varsity experience while the starters watched from the sideline.
Star City managed to score a fourth-quarter touchdown against the Lumberjacks' reserves, trimming the final margin to 49-21.
Even with the second unit on the field, Warren continued moving the football effectively.
Chris Alford Jr. carried six times for 54 yards on a late possession, helping move the Lumberjacks to the Bulldogs' 1-yard line with just over a minute remaining.
Rather than adding another touchdown, quarterback Parker O'Neal took two kneel-downs to run out the clock and complete the victory.
While Warren's passing attack provided several explosive plays, the story of the night was the Lumberjacks' ability to control the game on the ground.
All seven Warren touchdowns came by rushing, with Herron accounting for four and Avery adding three.
Avery finished with 146 rushing yards on 16 carries, averaging more than 9 yards per attempt. The sophomore also contributed 52 receiving yards on two catches, giving him 198 yards of total offense.
Denton completed 22 of 28 passes and added 26 yards on the ground. Edwards led the receiving corps with five catches for 92 yards, while Hembree hauled in seven receptions for 39 yards.
The Lumberjacks' balanced attack, combined with a defense that produced timely sacks, interceptions and critical stops, allowed Warren to overcome Star City's dramatic opening and steadily take control of the contest.
The victory also gives Warren momentum heading into one of its biggest conference challenges of the season.
The Lumberjacks return home Friday, Oct. 23, to face undefeated Stuttgart at Jim Hurley Jr. Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
