For three quarters on Friday night, the Warren Lumberjacks went punch-for-punch with undefeated, top-ranked Dardanelle in one of the most explosive state semifinal games Arkansas has seen in years. In a matchup with a trip to Little Rock on the line, Warren’s offense lit up the scoreboard, its defense came up with clutch stops, and the Lumberjacks traded blows with a team that had steamrolled most of its schedule.
But in the end, Dardanelle’s bruising quarterback Creed Vega — who accounted for six touchdowns — proved too much, as the Sand Lizards pulled away late to win 56–36 and advance to the state title game. The final margin didn’t capture the night’s drama, nor the heart Warren displayed.
Warren received the opening kickoff and immediately set a tone: aggressive, physical, and fearless. Aaron Davis burst through the left side for 31 yards on the game’s first big play, and moments later quarterback Jackson Denton connected with Tayshawn Edwards to set up first-and-goal at the 1. Davis punched it in with 10:37 left in the first quarter, and after the Marquez PAT, Warren led 7–0.
But Dardanelle, as expected from the state’s top-ranked team, answered quickly. The Sand Lizards converted key runs on their first possession, and Vega capped the drive with a 5-yard keeper to tie the game 7–7 midway through the opening quarter.
A turnover on downs gave Dardanelle the ball near midfield, and Vega ripped off a 40-yard scoring run to put the Lizards ahead 14–7. Warren’s next drive stalled, and Dardanelle threatened to seize full control early in the second quarter. A Dardanelle holding penalty seemed to give Warren relief — until Vega converted 3rd-and-14 with another long run, setting up a short TD by Roderic Chaten for a 21–7 lead.
Just when momentum seemed lost, the Lumberjacks ignited. Denton connected with Edwards, Josiah Steen, and Bleyze Fellows on a sharp, fast-paced drive. Fellows finished it with a 14-yard touchdown grab to cut the deficit to 21–14 with 9:44 left in the half.
After a defensive stop, Warren took over with a chance to tie. Instead, the Jacks stalled again — but the incredible was yet to come. With just 56 seconds left in the half, Denton escaped two sacks, rolled right, and heaved a 58-yard strike to Fellows, who outran the secondary to the end zone. The PAT was no good, but Warren had climbed within 21–20 at halftime, and the momentum was back on the orange-and-black sideline.
Dardanelle opened the second half with a dagger — Vega sliced off an 80-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 28–20.
Warren, as it did all night, answered with precision. Denton went into full command mode, hitting Davis, Fellows, and Steen while guiding a 12-play drive. On 4th-and-1 at the Lizard goal line, Davis got Warren to the doorstep, and moments later Denton fired a touchdown to Steen. Denton then found Ren Reep for the two-point conversion, tying the game 28–28 with 7:28 left in the third. The teams traded grinding drives, and when the third quarter expired, the scoreboard fittingly showed a deadlock: 28–28. It was clear the final 12 minutes would determine everything.
Dardanelle struck first in the fourth quarter, with Vega punching in another short touchdown to take a 35–28 lead.
But Warren refused to fold. Denton, calm under pressure, found Steen and Fellows on key third downs to push deep into Lizard territory. A pair of Dardanelle penalties — including a pass interference at the goal line — gave Warren new life. Denton delivered again, hitting his receiver for the touchdown and connecting on the two-point try to give Warren a 36–35 lead with 7:45 to play. The Warren crowd roared. For a moment, Little Rock felt within reach.
But Dardanelle’s return game delivered a crushing blow. Brayden Branson returned the kickoff to the Warren 3, and Vega scored on the next play. A successful conversion put Dardanelle ahead 43–36 with 7:29 remaining.
Warren’s next possession ended quickly when the Lizards intercepted a Denton pass near midfield. From there, Vega imposed his will on the ground, converting a critical 4th-and-1 and ripping off multiple clock-draining runs. With under two minutes left, he powered in from the 3 to extend the lead to 49–36.
A misplayed kickoff gave Dardanelle possession inside the Warren 10, and Vega added his sixth touchdown of the night. Another mishandled kick return allowed the Lizards to kneel out the final seconds.
Dardanelle won 56–36, but Warren never blinked in the face of the state’s top team. The Lumberjacks matched the Sand Lizards score-for-score for three quarters, led by a sensational night from their offensive trio:
Jackson Denton — a warrior all evening — delivered deep strikes, extended plays with his legs, and accounted for multiple touchdowns.
Aaron Davis jump-started the offense early and churned out hard yards throughout the night.
Bleyze Fellows, Tayshawn Edwards, Josiah Steen, and the entire WR unit repeatedly made clutch grabs and big plays.
Warren’s defense came up with major stops, including two fourth-down stands, but Vega’s power running was the difference late.
The Lumberjacks finish the season 10-4 and in the top four of Class 4A — another strong campaign for a tradition-rich program. They walked into the home stadium of the undefeated No. 1 team in Arkansas and went toe-to-toe for the better part of 48 minutes. In the end, Dardanelle was simply too deep, too physical, and too experienced. But Warren showed heart, explosiveness, and the kind of resilience that defines championship-caliber teams. It wasn’t the ending Warren hoped for, but it was a performance worthy of pride — one that showed the Lumberjacks belong on the big stage, and one that sets the foundation for another run in 2026.
