LITTLE ROCK — This time, it’s for real.

A little more than three months after meeting in a preseason scrimmage, Warren and Stuttgart tangle again in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A playoffs Friday night at Moseley Stadium in Stuttgart.

Stuttgart (10-1) is ranked No. 2 in Class 4A. Warren (9-3) is No. 5 after winning nine consecutive games.

The schools met in an Aug. 20 scrimmage at Stuttgart, with the Ricebirds holding the upper hand, Warren Coach Bo Hembree said.

“They really physically beat us up,” Hembree said. “This will be a good measuring stick to see how far we’ve come.”

One of the youngest teams in Class 4A, the Lumberjacks start seven sophomores on offense and three sophomores and one freshman on defense, Hembree said.

“It’s been an interesting year, for sure,” Hembree said.

Warren began the season ranked No. 2 in Class 4A, but tumbled out of the Super Six poll after losses to Shiloh Christian (26-25), Pulaski Academy (49-18) and Camden Fairview (42-0), the latter two teams ranked second and first, respectively, in Class 5A.

But Warren rebounded to finish 7-0 in the 8-4A — Hembree’s ninth conference championship in 12 seasons at the Bradley County school — and advanced with victories over Lonoke (36-19) and Malvern (32-28) in the postseason.

“Yeah, I’m surpised where we’re at,” Hembree said. “We’re playing a lot of young kids and have had a lot of injuries.”

Hembree said at one time Warren was without seven starters, but all but two will be available Friday night.

Youthful skill talent is Warren’s strength.

Junior quarterback Drake Jones, slowed by a knee problem early in the season, has completed 86 of 193 passes for 1,520 yards and 15 touchdowns. Jones also starts at defensive end.

Sophomore tailback Kilay Cox has rushed 222 times for 1,538 yards and 20 touchdowns. Cox’s older brother, Savion Gilbert, ran for 1,873 yards as a senior at Warren in 2010.

Junior wide receiver Von Eric Gonder has caught 49 passes for 945 yards and 8 touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Darveon Brown has caught 47 passes for 713 yards and 9 touchdowns.

“They’ve got players everywhere,” Ricebirds Coach Billy Elmore said. “They do a good job. Bo’s a good friend of mine. Got a lot of respect for what they do. We talk, probably, at least weekly during the season, so we know a lot about each other. The weird thing of it is, we’re going through practice and it’s almost like we’re practicing against ourselves.”

Stuttgart won its first eight games, including 24-14 over Pine Bluff Dollarway, before being beaten 28-7 by Lonoke.

Stuttgart secured a share of the 2-4A title, and a No. 1 playoff seed, with a 43-8 victory over Marianna in the regular-season finale.

Following a first-round playoff bye, Stuttgart beat Dardanelle 54-0 last week as junior tailback Tyler Luster ran for four touchdowns.

Senior wide receiver/ defensive back Courtney Carroll also caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Dontrell Brown and returned an interception 60 yards for another score.

“It’s a big deal to be practicing on Thanksgiving,” Elmore said. “It’s something that you want to try to make as a tradition, especially being a home game. It’s a big deal around here.”

At a glance

Warren vs. Stuttgart

WHAT Class 4A quarterfinals WHEN 7 p.m. Friday WHERE Moseley Stadium, Stuttgart RECORDS Warren 9-3; Stuttgart 10-1 RANKINGS Warren is No. 5 in Class 4A; Stuttgart is No. 2 in Class 4A SEEDS Warren is No. 1 from the 8-4A; Stuttgart is No. 1 from the 2-4A

Sports, Pages 33 on 11/22/2012