Eason, Hixson and Ingle score twice as Lonoke pulls away

Lonoke 49, Heber Springs 21

LONOKE — D’Mareon Eason, Jonathan Hixson and Ryder Ingle scored two touchdowns apiece as Lonoke defeated Heber Springs 49-21 Friday night.

Eason scored on a 43-yard reception and a 67-yard run, Hixson added rushing and receiving touchdowns, and Ingle scored twice on the ground. The Jackrabbits led 35-14 at halftime and stretched the margin to 49-14 on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Eason’s 43-yard touchdown catch with 5:39 remaining supplied the only scoring of the first quarter, according to the broadcast’s halftime scoring review. Hixson broke a 50-yard scoring run three seconds into the second quarter, and Dylan Dean found Darrius Jeffrey Jr. on a 41-yard touchdown pass with 11:26 left. Jeffrey took the short throw down the right sideline to help build a 21-0 lead.

Heber Springs answered when Spencer Sugg connected with Eli Long for a 37-yard touchdown with 8:23 remaining in the half. The extra point failed, leaving the Panthers behind 21-6.

Ingle’s touchdown run restored Lonoke’s three-touchdown advantage with 3:19 left, but Lane Bradley returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. Sugg then found Long on a fade for the two-point conversion, pulling Heber Springs within 28-14.

Eason answered with a 67-yard scoring run around the right side with 1:45 left before halftime. The long touchdown gave Lonoke a 21-point cushion heading into the break.

The Jackrabbits extended that advantage after halftime. Ingle took a pitch to the right and scored from five yards out with 9:35 remaining in the third quarter. Dean later connected with Hixson in the end zone on the opening play of the fourth, and the extra point made it 49-14 with 11:58 left.

Lachlan Tubbs supplied several strong runs on Heber Springs’ final touchdown drive. Sugg finished the possession with another scoring pass to Long, this one over the middle with 8:10 remaining. Golden Tate’s extra point provided the final margin.

Jeffrey also took the ball away from a Heber Springs receiver late in the fourth quarter, ending the Panthers’ final possession. Long finished with two touchdown catches and the two-point reception; Bradley supplied Heber Springs’ special-teams touchdown.

Scoring summary

First quarter

5:39 — Lonoke — D’Mareon Eason 43-yard reception (kick good). Lonoke 7-0.

Second quarter

11:57 — Lonoke — Jonathan Hixson 50-yard run (kick good). Lonoke 14-0.

11:26 — Lonoke — Darrius Jeffrey Jr. 41-yard pass from Dylan Dean (Eddie Ramirez kick). Lonoke 21-0.

8:23 — Heber Springs — Eli Long 37-yard pass from Spencer Sugg (kick failed). Lonoke 21-6.

3:19 — Lonoke — Ryder Ingle touchdown run (Eddie Ramirez kick). Lonoke 28-6.

2:56 — Heber Springs — Lane Bradley kickoff return (Eli Long pass from Spencer Sugg). Lonoke 28-14.

1:45 — Lonoke — D’Mareon Eason 67-yard run (kick good). Lonoke 35-14.

Third quarter

9:35 — Lonoke — Ryder Ingle 5-yard run (kick good). Lonoke 42-14.

Fourth quarter

11:58 — Lonoke — Jonathan Hixson pass from Dylan Dean (kick good). Lonoke 49-14.

8:10 — Heber Springs — Eli Long pass from Spencer Sugg (Golden Tate kick). Lonoke 49-21.

Players who stood out

D’Mareon Eason, Lonoke — 43-yard touchdown reception and 67-yard touchdown run.

Jonathan Hixson, Lonoke — 50-yard touchdown run and fourth-quarter touchdown catch.

Ryder Ingle, Lonoke — Two rushing touchdowns, including a 5-yarder in the third quarter.

Dylan Dean, Lonoke — Verified touchdown passes to Darrius Jeffrey Jr. and Jonathan Hixson.

Darrius Jeffrey Jr., Lonoke — 41-yard touchdown reception; took the ball away from a receiver on Heber Springs’ final possession.

Eli Long, Heber Springs — Two touchdown catches, including a 37-yarder; caught a two-point conversion.

Spencer Sugg, Heber Springs — Two touchdown passes and a two-point pass, all to Eli Long.

Lane Bradley, Heber Springs — Second-quarter kickoff-return touchdown.

Lachlan Tubbs, Heber Springs — Multiple productive runs on Heber Springs’ final touchdown drive.