Lions off to flying start

NEWARK — The young Jessieville Lions found instant success through the air on Friday night to kick off their season with a 44-0 win on the road against Cedar Ridge.

Jessieville (1-0) averaged 22 yards per completion. Freshman quarterback Carson Hair was 10for-19 for 220 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Head coach T.J. Burk said he expected explosiveness from his young skill players, but it was a senior that starred for the Lions on Friday. Senior Cage Glisson caught three passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns, including a 78-yard score. Sophomore Charlie Davis also caught four passes for 43 yards and a touchdown.

Yards were tougher to come by on the ground. Jessieville was held

71 rushing yards on 25 carries for an average of only 2.8 yards per run.

Junior Austin Carl led the Lions with 35 rushing yards on six attempts. Sophomore Andrew Graves carried 11 times for 33 yards and a score. Junior Joey Benson added two carries for nine yards and a touchdown.

The Lions returned only three starters on each side of the ball from a 4-6 team in 2017, but played relatively clean in their first game of the season. Jessieville had nine first downs, while Cedar Ridge (0-1) managed just five.

The Timberwolves were also flagged nine times for 45 yards. The Lions committed only four penalties for 20 yards.

Jessieville is scheduled for its first home game of the season on Friday against Mount Ida (1-0), the Class 2A runner-up in 2017 and the state champion in 2016. The Lions opened the season on Friday with a 33-0 win on the road against Magazine.

Bismarck loses lead in final minute

LITTLE ROCK — Bismarck was less than a minute away from a 2-0 start to the season on the road against Baptist Prep.

The Lions (1-1) erased a 14-0 first-half lead to control Friday night’s game for much of the second half, but the Eagles (1-0) scored with less than a minute to play to take a 35-29 victory.

Junior quarterback James Kegley got the Lions on the scoreboard with an eight-yard rushing touchdown midway through the second quarter. They trailed, 14-8 after Kegley completed a pass to sophomore Braven Golden for the 2-point conversion.

The teams traded touchdowns late in the first half. Bismarck scored again on a 48-yard passing play from Kegley to senior Dylan Clayton. Baptist Prep took a 20-15 lead into halftime.

Bismarck went ahead midway through the third quarter on a 55yard touchdown reception by Clayton. Connor Corley’s extra point put the Lions ahead, 22-20.

Baptist regained the lead with a touchdown and a 2-point conversion before Kegley notched his fourth touchdown of the game on a 48-yard play to senior Brock Tenbrink. Another extra point by Corley gave the Lions the lead until the late score by the Eagles.

Kegley finished 9-for-21 for 219 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He was also the team’s leading rusher with 34 yards on nine carries.

Junior Kadin Walker led the defense with 12 total tackles and 10 solo. Clayton made eight total and five solo tackles.

Bismarck opened the season with a 28-22 win at home against Class 2A Cutter Morning Star (0-1). The Lions will be back at home on Friday against another 2A opponent, Poyen (1-0).

Lady Cobras tally season’s best score at Malvern

MALVERN — Fountain Lake’s boys’ and girls’ golf teams each won their competitions at Malvern Country Club a week ago, with the Lady Cobras compiling their best score of the season.

Fountain Lake took the girls’ match with a score of 163. Malvern finished second with a team score of 176. Players from Bauxite and Ouachita also competed.

Savannah Iglehart medaled for the Cobras with a round of 51. Camille McDaniel followed closely with a 52. Iglehart and McDaniel’s scores were personal bests.

Malvern’s Abby Loy and Bauxite’s Olivia McDade tied at 54.

Elaine Altimus shot a 60 to round out Fountain Lake’s scores.

“The girls played remarkable

today,” said Fountain Lake golf coach Michael Blees. “Savannah, Camille and the rest of the girls have worked so hard this year. It was great to see all of the pieces fall together today.”

Grace Davis and Hannah Carey each added scores of 61 for Malvern. Maddie Taylor also shot a 63.

Christopher Desfassiaux finished as the medalist for Fountain Lake with a round of 43 in the boys’ match. Ouachita’s John Fowler finished second at 45.

The Cobras compiled a team score of 136 as Zach Redifer shot a 46 and Jordan Mungle carded a

47. Lachlan McMurray also carded a 49.

Ouachita was the runner-up at

148. Malvern placed third at 175, led by Andrew Edwards’ 46.

“The boys are really starting to come together,” Blees said. “We are starting to bond as a team and not just playing as individuals.”

Fountain Lake is next scheduled to play on Tuesday against Bismarck at DeGray Lake Resort Golf Course.

Wolves place fourth at Pine Bluff

PINE BLUFF — Lake Hamilton placed fourth in a tournament competition on Thursday.

“This was an excellent tournament put on by White Hall, Pine Bluff Country Club and sponsored by Relyance Bank,” said Lake Hamilton golf coach Brandi Higginbotham.

Cade Robinson paced the Wolves with a round of 89. Caleb Dodd added a 93 and Jordan Johnson shot a 96.

Josh McNulty medaled for White Hall with a score of 71. Little Rock Christian’s Ben Brogden and Matthew Parker tied for second at 76.

Little Rock Christian won the boys’ competition with a team score of 318. Pulaski Academy scored 349 and El Dorado was third at 360.

Lake Hamilton finished at the head of a competitive bunch with a score of 384. White Hall and Sylvan Hills tied at 388, while Sheridan’s team score was 393.

Sheridan’s Emma Hester medaled in the girls’ competition by 15 strokes. She shot a round of

80 and was followed in second by Pulaski Academy’s Alex Barnwell, who shot a 95.

Ginny Higginbotham, Kenley Spruill and Annabelle Coppedge represented Lake Hamilton.

“Two freshmen shot team low scores, as well as shooting their personal bests on 18 holes,” Higginbotham said. “Ginny and Cade have spent a little more practice time lately and it certainly showed up in this match. Kenley also bettered her

18-hole score. We are just hoping to get all of the boys’ best performances on the same day, preferably at the conference tournament.

“Little Rock Christian’s boys are certainly comparable with the top boys in 5A, as well as Sheridan’s girls.”

Lake Hamilton is scheduled to host Prescott, Sheridan and Sylvan Hills on Thursday.

Junior Rams win in straight sets

CAMDEN — Lakeside’s junior Rams picked up a pair of wins to open conference play on Thursday on the road against Camden Fairview.

The junior high team improved to 4-3 overall with a 25-10, 25-19 win.

Lakeside was led by the efforts of Sarah Porter with four kills, one solo block and five ace serves. Annelise McAlister brought in two kills, four aces and three assists. Vivien Mardis had two kills, one ace and five assists. Back row play was led by Kaitlyn Threadgill with 14 digs.

The eighth-grade team improved to 4-1, winning 25-11, 25-11.

Carsen Cordell had 11 service points. Kate Foreman had seven points and Beau Kuhn added five, while Threadgill chipped in five, including two aces.

Both teams will travel to Magnolia on Tuesday for conference matches.