The Warren Lumberjacks have been the model of consistency in class 4A since the arrival of Head Coach Bo Hembree 22 years ago. In that span, Hembree’s Lumberjacks are a combined 227-56-1 (.799) with four state championships.

During those 22 years in south Arkansas, Hembree-led teams have faced Stuttgart a whopping 15 times, owning a dominant 13-2 record over the Ricebirds. Five of those games came in the playoffs. One other fact has remained true during this era: Most of those games have been played in Warren’s Jim Hurley Jr. Stadium.

In their 15 meetings since Hembree’s arrival, Stuttgart has been forced to battle Warren 11 times on the road. The Ricebirds’ record in those matchups? 0-11.

When the tables are turned, the Ricebirds have fared better. Stuttgart is 2-2 in games played at Ned Moseley Stadium, including a 36-0 win over Warren in 2020.

The 2022 renewal of the rivalry is to be played on home turf for the Ricebirds.

“Just like every other team, we play much better at home,” Stuttgart Coach Josh Price said. “The comfort of your own fieldhouse and not riding a bus. It matters.”

Home-field advantage has certainly been real since Price’s arrival for the 2016 season. Price-coached Ricebirds teams enjoy a .789 winning percentage at home, which includes the winless 2019 season where Stuttgart lost five times at home.

This year’s senior class has taken the home-field advantage to another level.

The Ricebirds’ 16-man senior class has never lost a game inside Ned Moseley Stadium, including in their junior high and seventh-grade games. In senior high alone, the 2022 seniors are 15-0 at home, outscoring opponents by an average of 29 points per game. Only one team, Joe T. Robinson in 2020, has kept their margin of defeat to within single digits.

“They’ve never lost at home and they’re very aware of that,” Price said. “They’ve talked about it this week.”

The Lumberjacks are a popular choice to challenge for their first state title since 2016.

Warren returns 13 starters from last year’s 11-1 team that advanced to the semifinals before losing to eventual state champion, Joe T. Robinson.

“They’ve got some very good players returning. No. 1 (Trey Jackson) is a guy they like to throw it to out of the backfield,” Price said. “Warren always has good players; this year is no exception.”

Maddox Lassiter is expected to be the starter at quarterback this fall after splitting time with Riley Cornish last season. Lassiter is a load to bring down at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds. He has the attention of Stuttgart’s coaching staff.

“Man, that dude provides problems at quarterback,” Price said. “He’s so big that he’s almost impossible to stop on the goal line and short yardage. Plus, he’s a really good Will linebacker.”

Lassiter is the younger brother of former Warren signal caller Hayden Lassiter, who is a senior at Ouachita Baptist University this fall.

Although Warren graduated only nine seniors from a year ago, most of those players will prove to be difficult to replace.

Cedric Calbert moves on after going over 1,000 yards a year ago in spite of playing with a torn ACL, while Jecari Lee also graduated. Riley Cornish, Warren’s quarterback from a year ago, signed with Ouachita Baptist University.

Observers should not mistake these losses as evidence that the cupboard is bare, however. The Jacks are loaded with returning contributors from last season.

Trey Jackson is expected to be the primary ball carrier this season after rushing for more than 800 yards in 2021. Jackson torched Stuttgart for 239 yards in their two meetings last season.

Landon Wolfe returns at the defensive end after recording eight sacks last fall.

A question heard uttered in press boxes around the state on Friday nights sounds something like this: “Where do they get all that talent in south Arkansas?”

The sentiment is simple. How, in a town of 5,453 people, can there be a seeming conveyor belt of talent on display?

The question dates back to early in Hembree’s tenure as coach. Long before former Lumberjack Treylon Burks was drafted by the Tennessee Titans, Warren was sending players to the next level.

In 2003, a pair of Warren alumni signed with the University of Tennessee before another trio signed with the University of Arkansas in 2008.

And according to many around Warren, sophomore Antonio Jordan is the next in a long line of receivers from Lumberjack country.

“He has a chance to be one of the best receivers to come out of here, and everybody who’s seen him knows it,” said Hembree.

Jordan, who is listed at 6-foot-4, moved up to the varsity level late last season and caught a touchdown in their 35-7 first-round playoff win over Trumann.

In addition to receiver, Jordan works at quarterback.

“The big receiver is a matchup issue,” Price said. “He’s 6-foot-6 and he’ll be matched up with Kendrick Hawkins most of the day who is 5-foot-9. But this is football, not basketball, so they’re not going to battle for a rebound.”

For the second straight season, Stuttgart is tasked with breaking in a new quarterback.

Landon Melnychuk looks to be the heir apparent, according to Price, after playing most of 2021 on defense. Melnychuk played quarterback late in some games last fall.

“Landon will be our starter. He’s got to get the ball out on time. I’m sure Sparky (Deontae Clark) will get reps at quarterback too,” Price said.

Much of the focus for Stuttgart’s offense is likely to be centered on senior Cedric Hawkins. After rushing for 1,189 yards a year ago, Hawkins earned a scholarship opportunity from Arkansas State where the 5-foot-9 athlete is currently committed.

While Hawkins’ speed is the first thing to jump out to an observer, Price believes it is another tool that separates Hawkins from the competition.

“Cedric is so hard to tackle in space and he has such good skills with the ball in his hands. We have to get him in space,” Price said.

Stuttgart’s coaches left the preseason scrimmage disappointed in one particular element of their team’s performance – blocking.

Since last Tuesday, however, Price believes his group has taken the task of blocking more seriously.

“The offensive line has been better since last week. We opened the competition up and that seemed to get their attention,” Price said.

Price expects to rotate plenty of bodies at receiver in week one with the emphasis being on blocking downfield.

“Good wide receiver blocking allows a 5 to 6-yard play to become a 25 to 30-yard play. That will be key for us Friday night with the way we’re going to play.”

Friday night’s season opener kicks off at 7 p.m.

Fans can hear the game-day broadcast beginning with the Brothers Realty Ricebirds Coaches Show at 6 p.m., followed at 6:30 p.m. by the Freemyer’s Best Brands Plus Pre-Game Show leading into the 7 p.m. kickoff on Country 97.3 KDEW FM. The audio can also be streamed online at www.country973.com or through the Country 97.3 mobile app which is available for free download to smartphones for Apple and Android users.

Fans can also watch the live video stream beginning at 7 p.m. on the EAB Sports Network Stuttgart Ricebirds YouTube channel.

A complete game recap will be available in Monday’s edition of the Stuttgart Daily Leader.