Rick Patrick
ECB Publishing, Inc.
It was a chance to get a glimpse at the Jefferson Somerset Academy Tigers on Friday, May 21, when they traveled down to Perry, Fla. for a Spring Football Jamboree. It is a tradition among local high school football teams to play in a shortened scrimmage game during the spring in order to give coaches an opportunity to see their teams under game time conditions. It also gives players valuable playing experience and upcoming seniors the opportunity to put their playing skills on film for possible college recruitment. The teams participating in the Spring Jamboree in Perry were, Taylor County High School, North Florida 
Christian School, Jefferson Somerset Academy and Madison County High School. Each team played two different teams for a period of two 12-minute quarters, the equivalent of one half of football.
The Jefferson Somerset Tigers faced the North Florida Christian Eagles in the second contest of the evening. The game began with the Eagles on their own 25-yard line. The Eagles moved down the field and seemed ready to score. But the Tiger defense stiffened and held the Eagles out of the end-zone to force a turn-over on downs at the Tigers' one-yard line. The Tigers took over deep in their own territory. On their first offensive play, the Tigers lost yardage, resulting in a tackle in their own end-zone and a two-point safety for the Eagles. The score was 2-0, with 5:49 remaining in the first period. The Eagles again had the ball at their own 25-yard line. This time, the Tigers' defensive unit continued to be stingy and forced a three-and-out, putting the Tigers' offense back onto the field at their own 45-yard. The Tigers were able to move the ball to the Eagles' 45-yard line before stalling out. That's where the quarter ended with the Eagles ahead, 2-0.
In the early moment of the second quarter, the Eagles were able to move the ball down the field and find the end-zone. After an unsuccessful point-after-touchdown (PAT) kick, the score was 8-0 with 9:36 remaining in the contest. The Tigers began a sustained drive from their own 25-yard line. However, a fumble on the Eagles' 10-yard line ended the Tigers' scoring threat. From there, the Eagles were able to run out the clock to secure the 8-0 win over the Tigers.
The next contest proved to be an even greater challenge as the Tigers faced the perennial Florida Class 1A powerhouse Cowboys of Madison County High School. The Tigers began the game on offense at their 25-yard line. After going three-and-out, the Cowboys took over on offense near mid-field. The Cowboys proceeded to move the ball down the field and scored a touchdown when Cowboy Delvin Boatman escaped the grasp of a Tiger defender and made his way into the end-zone. The PAT was no good and the Cowboys held a 6-0 lead, with 8:15 remaining in the first period. The Tigers' offense took the field at the 25-yard line, but went three-and-out once again. The Cowboys took over at mid-field and marched down the field again and capped the drive off with an 18-yard run by Jakori Jackson. The PAT was good and the score was 13-0, with 4:38 remaining in the first period. On the Tigers' next drive, Cowboy Orient Livingston picked off a pass and returned it for a pick-six. Following another successful PAT, the score was 20-0, in favor of the Cowboys, with 2:05 remaining in the first quarter. The next Tigers drive went three-and-out from the 25, giving the ball to the Cowboys at the 40-yard line as the first period came to a close.
Early in the second period, Cowboy running back Jakori Jackson broke through the line and raced down the field 60 yards to pay dirt for another Cowboy touchdown. The PAT was good and the score was 27-0, with 10:48 remaining in the second period. The Tigers again went three-and-out from the 25-yard line. The Cowboys took over at the 42-yard line and drove down the field again. The drive was capped off with a short run by Cowboy running back Mike Mobley. The PAT was no good, and the Cowboys held a dominating, 33-0 lead with 5:12 remaining in the contest. Again, the Tigers struggled to make a first down from the 25-yard line, going three-and-out once more. The Cowboys took over at the 45-yard line and were able to run the clock out from there, sealing a 33-0 win over the Tigers.
A final schedule for the Tigers' 2021 football season has yet to be announced.
You must be logged in to post a comment.