Feeling at home

For the first time since 2013, Lonoke will have a home playoff game.

The Jackrabbits (5-5), who are the No. 3 seed from the 2-4A Conference, will host 1-4A No. 4 seed Prairie Grove today.

“The kids are excited,” Lonoke Coach Taggart Moore said. “It’s one of our goals to get here.

“We’re here. We’re ready to go.”

Moore took over as interim coach during the middle of the 2016 season, replacing Doug Bost. He became the full-time coach in 2017 and has the Jackrabbits in the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

“When I took over, we knew it was going to be a rebuilding job,” Moore said. “The group of seniors that I have now were sophomores [in 2016].

“They had what it took to be successful.”

Junior Davante Adams leads the Jackrabbits offensively with 767 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns.

“He’s really turned into a different back,” Moore said. “He shied away from contact last year. This year, he looks for contact. He wants to lower the shoulder.”

Senior Braidon Bryant has completed 42 of 84 passes for 691 yards and 4 touchdowns and has scored nine times on the ground.

Moore believes that the 2-4A Conference, with the Jackrabbits, champion Stuttgart, Heber Springs, Southside Batesville and Central Arkansas Christian, has improved this season and has helped his team get ready for the playoffs.

“Our conference was kind of underrated going into the year,” Moore said. “The conference is getting back to where it should be.”