Tigers defeated in playoffs

Rick Patrick
ECB Publishing, Inc.

The Jefferson Somerset Academy Tigers were desperately seeking to chalk up their first win of the season when they traveled to Perry, Fla. on Thursday, Nov. 12. A win over the long-time rival would have moved the Tigers further into the Class 1A playoff picture. However, when the final buzzer sounded, it was the Bulldogs who would be moving on to the Region Two semi-final game. The Tigers were defeated, 28-6, in a hard-fought contest.
The Tigers received the opening kickoff near midfield when the Bulldogs attempted an onside kick to begin the game. A special teams Tiger player alertly fell on the ball at the Tigers' 48-yard line. The Tigers began to move the ball, but the drive was cut short when they turned the ball over on downs at the Bulldogs' 29. The Bulldogs didn't get far before Ja'quan Coasey intercepted a pass to bring the Tigers' offense back onto the field near the midfield mark. The Tigers were unable to capitalize and turned the ball over on downs at the Bulldogs' 45-yard line. The scoreless first quarter ended with the Bulldogs moving the ball.

In the early moments of the second quarter, the bulldogs struck first with a 15-yard touchdown run, followed by a successful two-point conversion. The score was 8-0, with 11:04 remaining in the firsthalf. The Tigers quickly responded when Jazavius Hawkins caught a pass from Tyler Wilson and raced to the end-zone for the 60-yard touchdown pass play. The Tigers' point-after-touchdown (PAT) kick was short and the score was 8-6, with 10:38 remaining before intermission. The Bulldogs' next drive started at the Tigers' 43-yard line and ended at the Tigers' 10-yard line when Coasey dove on a fumble, giving the ball back to the Tigers. That drive stalled at the Tigers' 20-yard line. The remainder of the half saw both teams unable to move on the other team's stingy defense. The first half ended with the Bulldogs holding a slight 8-6 lead.

The Bulldogs opened the third quarter with a 60-yard touchdown drive. The Bulldogs' two-point conversion attempt failed and the score was 14-6, with 9:36 remaining in the third quarter. The remaining minutes of the third quarter were very reminiscent of the closing of the second quarter, with neither team able to score. The score was still 14-6 as the third quarter drew to a close.

The final period of the contest opened with the Bulldogs scoring another touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion. This put the score at 22-6 with 11:53 remaining in the game. The Tigers went three-and-out on their next drive and the Bulldogs had the ball at the Tigers' 45-yard line. The Bulldogs moved the ball down the field, but the scoring threat was thwarted by Coasey's second interception of the game at the Bulldogs' 10-yard line. The Tigers turned the ball back over with an interception, which the Bulldogs turned into a touchdown. The Bulldogs' two-point conversion attempt failed and the score was 28-6, with 41.8 seconds still to play. The Tigers attempted to make the most of those remaining seconds, but were not able to move the ball much beyond midfield.
The Tigers ended the season with an 0-9 record.