Lonoke interim coach Taggart Moore is trying to keep the Jackrabbits afloat after a 1-3 start and a coaching change.
Doug Bost resigned as head coach Tuesday after 7½ years at Lonoke. He led the Jackrabbits to a Class 4A state championship game appearance in 2009.
Moore, 30, is the Jackrabbits’ defensive coordinator and has been at the school since 2013. Now that he’s in charge for at least the remainder of the 2016 season, Moore has been telling his players to remain positive.
“At the end of the day, this is high school football. It’s supposed to be for the kids,” Moore said. “Somewhere along the line, we lost some of that. They need to have a good time. They need to make some memories.
“I want to be there for them.”
Injuries have decimated the Jackrabbits (1-3, 0-1 2-4A Conference) this season.
Starting quarterback Braidon Bryant, a sophomore, injured his shoulder in Week 2 against Beebe. Lonoke has used five quarterbacks this season, with senior Logan Dozier the current starter.
Also, Lonoke lost junior defensive end E’Shaun Brown to a shoulder injury earlier this season.
“We’ve had some injuries. But you can’t use that as an excuse,” Moore said. “We have to get the next guy up.”
Lonoke travels to Little Rock on Friday to face Baptist Prep, led by first-year Coach Morgan Cruce. Cruce runs the triple option, which will be a test for the Jackrabbits, Moore said.
“We know that we have to be disciplined,” Moore said. “We’ll have to do our best and not try to do too much.”
Over the next six weeks, Moore said he wants the Jackrabbits’ energy level to increase.
“I want to see the kids be positive,” Moore said. “Adversity is hitting all of us in the mouth. That’s going to happen in life. We have to overcome it. Bad stuff is going to happen. You have to overcome it. It’s a next-play mentality.
“The coaching staff has their back. They need our support during this time.”