The Batesville Pioneers opened their season with a 52-21 loss against the defending 5A state champions, the Little Rock Christian Warriors on Friday night at Pioneer Stadium.
Little Rock Christian opened the scoring on a 40-yard field goal in the first quarter. The Pioneers responded with an 80-yard scoring drive capped by an Eli Livingston 1-yard touchdown run. Alejandro Medina’s extra point made it 7-3, Batesville late in the first quarter.
The Pioneer lead was short-lived, and Little Rock Christian answered with a quick scoring drive to retake the lead at 10-7.
Following a Batesville punt, the Warriors scored another quick touchdown to take a 17-7 lead, and unfortunately for Batesville, Little Rock Christian would go on to score four more times in the first half to take a 45-7 halftime lead.
The Warriors would score again in the third quarter to make the score 52-7.
Batesville scored twice in the final quarter, getting two touchdown passes from Eli Livingston, both to Karson Douglas, the first from six yards out and the second on a perfectly thrown 21-yard pass.
The Pioneers fell to 0-1 on the season and will host the 6A Jonesboro Hurricane next Friday at Pioneer Stadium. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.
