LITTLE ROCK — Warren didn’t trail until the final seconds Friday night as the Lumberjacks’ season ended in a heartbreaker.
Mills University Studies defeated Warren 47-40 at Comet Stadium in a state quarterfinal game.
Mills (11-0) took its first lead of the game with 19.5 seconds to play on a 2-yard run by freshman quarterback Eli Moody.
Warren (10-3) got to the Comets’ 36-yard line with 3.3 seconds remaining, but the Hail Mary pass fell incomplete, ending the season for the Lumberjacks while keeping the Comets undefeated.
The Lumberjacks led by as much as 26-7 in the first half after taking advantage of three Mills turnovers. The Comets cut the lead to 26-14 but were stopped on the goal line on the final play of the half to keep that the halftime score.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Mills didn’t turn the ball over in the second half after throwing one interception and fumbling twice in the first. The Lumberjacks forced one fourth down stop but gave up three touchdowns and a field goal on Mills’ other drives.
Mills tied the game at 32 late in the third. Warren retook the lead on a 30-yard pass from senior quarterback Cam Burks to Tramond Miller, with Antonio Jordan running for the 2-point conversion.
Chauncey Haynes returned the ensuing kickoff 73 yards, and Moody ran in the 2-point try to tie the game at 40.
Warren reached the Mills 21-yard line, but the Comets stopped the Lumberjacks on fourth down, setting up Mills’ game-winning drive.
The Lumberjacks struggled to protect the football and threw four interceptions, including two in the second half.
The loss came despite a noteworthy effort from Jordan, who scored four Warren touchdowns. He rushed 13 times for 98 yards and three touchdowns and caught six passes for 128 yards and a score.
Burks completed 12 of 21 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns. Aaron Davis rushed 14 times for 65 yards.
For Mills, Moody rushed 19 times for 166 yards and three touchdowns, while Zamarion McDonald rushed 19 times for 186 yards and two touchdowns.
Following Haynes’ kickoff return touchdown but prior to the game-tying extra point, there was an extended delay in the game as an ambulance was called for someone on the Mills sideline.
The Comets will host Elkins next week.