JONESBORO -- Jonesboro knocked off Lake Hamilton Friday, 47-44, in the first round of the Class 6A state playoffs.
Cross Jumper passed for three touchdowns and ran in for another for the Hurricane (7-4) in their three-point victory.
The first score of the night came when Albert George fumbled in his own end zone for Jonesboro, knocking the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety. Lake Hamilton (5-6) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with 8:22 left in the first quarter.
The Hurricane found themselves at the Lake Hamilton 10-yard line after the Wolves fumbled, but Jumper's pass was intercepted in the end zone by Braden Braughton, who took it 102 yards the other way for a score, giving the Wolves a 10-0 lead.
Jonesboro responded with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Jumper to Tate Lutes, cutting the lead to 10-7 with 4:47 left in the opening quarter.
From there, George and Malik Brewer went back and forth scoring for the Hurricane and Wolves, respectively. George punched in three scores, the longest of which being from three yards out, while Brewer scored twice, taking one run 44 yards and punching in the other from the 3.
Jonesboro carried a 28-23 lead into halftime.
The Hurricane drew first blood in the second half when Jumper found Lutes for a 34-yard score. The Wolves responded with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Braughton, cutting the Jonesboro lead to 35-29 late in the third quarter.
Jonesboro capped off an 80-yard drive with a four-yard jump ball touchdown pass from Jumper to Lutes, their third such connection of the night, giving the Hurricane a 41-29 lead with just over a minute remaining in the third period.
Brewer then added another score to his already huge night, toting one 31 yards to cut the score to 41-36 with just 10:42 left in the contest.
Jumper responded with a 21-yard scamper up the gut for a touchdown, giving the Hurricane a 47-36 lead with 7:44 remaining.
The Wolves got the ball back with 3:07 left in the game with a final shot at a comeback and took full advantage. Brewer took a screen pass 82 yards down the Lake Hamilton sideline for a score, cutting the lead to 47-44 with just 2:45 to play after the two-point conversion. Lake Hamilton then went for the onside kick and recovered at the Jonesboro 44.
On third-and-15, Layne Warrick threw a pick to Logan Orr, putting an end to the Wolves' comeback.
With only 2:01 left to play, the Hurricane ran the clock out, setting the final.
Jonesboro will travel to Benton (8-2) next week.
Sports on 11/10/2018