Warren will have to put Friday night’s loss behind it quickly as the Lumberjacks enter the final stretch of the regular season with conference play still on the line.
Stuttgart handed Warren a 45-16 defeat at Jim Hurley Jr. Stadium, using a dominant first half to create a cushion the Lumberjacks could not erase. Warren finished the night with two rushing touchdowns, a defensive safety and a recovered kickoff, but the Ricebirds’ early scoring proved decisive.
The Lumberjacks now stand at 4-4 overall and 3-2 in 8-4A Conference action. The result came a week after Warren picked up an important road win at Star City.
Stuttgart’s offense created problems for Warren throughout the first half, particularly with its ability to stretch the field. The Ricebirds scored through the air several times, including touchdown passes of 44 and 46 yards. Stuttgart also turned a tipped Warren pass into a defensive touchdown, helping the visitors carry a 38-0 lead into halftime.
Warren had difficulty putting together scoring drives before the break. Quarterback Jackson Denton moved the ball on the ground early, but the Lumberjacks struggled to sustain their possessions. Denton later left the game because of an injury, bringing Coleman Byrd into the lineup.
The change at quarterback did not end Warren’s offensive struggles immediately. Two interceptions near Stuttgart’s goal line kept the Lumberjacks from getting on the scoreboard in the first half.
Byrd gave Warren a different spark after the break, using his running skills to produce both of the team’s touchdowns. His first came on a 6-yard run late in the third quarter, with Emanuel Pahuamba adding the extra point.
Special teams briefly gave Warren another opening when JaKobe Avery recovered a fumble on the kickoff following the touchdown. Stuttgart responded with an interception, however, stopping the Lumberjacks from taking advantage of the mistake.
Warren’s defense then contributed to the scoring. Calloway brought down a Stuttgart player in the end zone for a safety, cutting into the Ricebirds’ lead.
Byrd added his second touchdown on a 7-yard run in the fourth quarter. Pahuamba’s successful extra point made the score 38-16, marking Warren’s final points of the evening.
Stuttgart closed out the game with a kickoff return for a touchdown, ending Warren’s hopes of making the score more competitive.
The Lumberjacks will turn their attention to Watson Chapel as they prepare for their next conference contest. Warren will travel to face the Wildcats Friday, Oct. 30, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
