Five interceptions help North Little Rock outlast LR Christian
North Little Rock 52, Little Rock Christian 37
October 16, 2026 | Hooten’s Arkansas Football
LITTLE ROCK — North Little Rock intercepted 5 passes and scored on a kickoff return and an interception return to defeat Little Rock Christian 52-37 Friday, overcoming 3 first-half rushing touchdowns by Nick Harp on the Warriors’ senior night.
Robert Jackson ran for touchdowns of 3 and 13 yards and threw a 44-yard scoring pass to Jamir Lee. Danny Smith added an 11-yard touchdown run with 2:14 remaining, escaping the initial tackle and working left to turn an 8-point lead into a two-possession advantage.
The Charging Wildcats won a game in which neither team could hold the lead for long through the first half and opening minutes of the third quarter. Little Rock Christian led 21-13 early in the second quarter, trailed 32-27 at halftime and went back ahead 34-32 on a fourth-down touchdown pass to open the second half.
Harp started the scoring with a 34-yard run with 5:21 left in the first quarter. Jackson answered from 3 yards out after a fourth-down completion to Lee extended North Little Rock’s possession. Haden Hall then connected with Ridge Bowman for a 49-yard touchdown, putting the Warriors back ahead just 30 seconds after Jackson’s score.
Jackson’s 13-yard keeper cut the lead to 14-13 with 10 seconds remaining in the quarter. Harp restored the Warriors’ margin with a 17-yard run, getting outside and using a stiff-arm on the way to the end zone. Eric Cucos kicked the extra point for a 21-13 lead with 10:25 left in the half.
North Little Rock answered with a kickoff-return touchdown and then intercepted a tipped pass on the next Warrior possession. Lee converted another fourth down with a catch near the goal line, and Christian Reeves finished the drive on a direct snap. A second interception set up Jackson’s 44-yard touchdown pass to Lee, extending the Charging Wildcats’ lead to 32-21.
Harp’s 2-yard touchdown on the final play of the half pulled Little Rock Christian within 5. The Warriors opened the third quarter with an onside kick by Cucos that Ryan Mullen recovered. Facing fourth down, Hall found Mann Pickens, who took the pass the rest of the way for a 40-yard touchdown. Cucos’ extra point made it 34-32 with 11:09 remaining in the third quarter.
North Little Rock regained the lead on a short touchdown run, then returned an interception for a score with 5:26 left in the quarter. The extra point made it 45-34. Cucos kept the Warriors within one possession with a 36-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
Little Rock Christian forced a punt and took over at its 27 with 6:29 remaining, but another tipped pass became an interception. Smith finished the ensuing North Little Rock possession with his 11-yard touchdown. A fifth interception ended the Warriors’ next opportunity, and the Charging Wildcats later stopped a fourth-down pass attempt before kneeling out the remaining time.
Scoring summary
First quarter • 5:21 Little Rock Christian — Nick Harp, 34-yard run (Eric Cucos kick). LR Christian 7-0.
First quarter • 2:11 North Little Rock — Robert Jackson, 3-yard run (kick good). Tied 7-7.
First quarter • 1:41 Little Rock Christian — Ridge Bowman, 49-yard pass from Haden Hall (Eric Cucos kick). LR Christian 14-7.
First quarter • 0:10 North Little Rock — Robert Jackson, 13-yard run (kick missed). LR Christian 14-13.
Second quarter • 10:25 Little Rock Christian — Nick Harp, 17-yard run (Eric Cucos kick). LR Christian 21-13.
Second quarter • 6:50 North Little Rock — Christian Reeves, 2-yard direct-snap run (2-point attempt failed). North Little Rock 25-21.
Second quarter • 1:42 North Little Rock — Jamir Lee, 44-yard pass from Robert Jackson (kick good). North Little Rock 32-21.
Second quarter • 0:00 Little Rock Christian — Nick Harp, 2-yard run (2-point attempt failed). North Little Rock 32-27.
Third quarter • 11:09 Little Rock Christian — Mann Pickens, 40-yard pass from Haden Hall (Eric Cucos kick). LR Christian 34-32.
Fourth quarter • 11:55 Little Rock Christian — Eric Cucos, 36-yard field goal. North Little Rock 45-37.
Fourth quarter • 2:14 North Little Rock — Danny Smith, 11-yard run (kick good). North Little Rock 52-37.
Players who stood out
Robert Jackson, North Little Rock — Rushing touchdowns of 3 and 13 yards, plus a 44-yard touchdown pass to Jamir Lee.
Jamir Lee, North Little Rock — Caught a 44-yard touchdown pass and converted fourth downs on the possessions that ended in Jackson’s first rushing touchdown and Reeves’ touchdown.
Danny Smith, North Little Rock — Scored on an 11-yard run with 2:14 remaining to extend the lead to 52-37 after the extra point.
Nick Harp, Little Rock Christian — Rushing touchdowns of 34, 17 and 2 yards, all in the first half.
Haden Hall, Ridge Bowman and Mann Pickens, Little Rock Christian — Hall threw a 49-yard touchdown to Bowman and a 40-yard fourth-down touchdown to Pickens.
Eric Cucos and Ryan Mullen, Little Rock Christian — Cucos kicked a 36-yard field goal and the onside kick that Mullen recovered to open the second half.