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May 27, 2009

J’ville outlasts Rusk in 7-on-7 feature

By Jay Neal

sports@jacksonvilleprogress.com

As anticipated, the Jacksonville versus Rusk 7-on-7 football game proved to be highly competitive.

Indians quarterback Ryan Black hooked up with three receivers for scoring strikes in the second half as the Tribe edged Rusk 26-20 in the first meeting between the two schools during league play — the Indians and the Eagles are slated to meet once again Monday when loop action is contested at Palestine Westwood.

Jacksonville displayed a potent offensive attack as the Indians hammered Crockett 46-13 in the nightcap to go 2-0 for the day.

Meanwhile, The Eagles also had little trouble in collecting a victory over the Bulldogs, scoring a 32-20 decision over Crockett in their second game of the day.

Palestine Westwood did not participate Monday due to a prior school function.

All four clubs will be back on the field Monday at Westwood with the Eagles taking on Crockett and the Tribe meeting Westwood at 5 p.m. In the second game of the night, Rusk and Jacksonville will collide, while Crockett and Westwood face off at the same time.



Indians 26 Eagles 20

Black zeroed in on Chris Hall, who was 3 yards deep in the endzone to cap the Tribe’s first possession of the game.

Hall was unable to get a handle on the pigskin, but was able to tip the ball into heavy traffic and Brandon Orr coming up with the touchdown catch to put Jacksonville up 6-0 (the conversion try was unsuccessful).

That turned out to be all the scoring until late in the first half, which was dominated by strong defensive play.

Rusk tied the game with just over 3 minutes to play in the first half. Eagle quarterback John David Beard threaded the needle, hitting Michael Katon amidst heavy traffic in the endzone from about 5 yards out. The Eagles’ conversion attempt failed, making the score 6-6 at the break.

After Rusk was unable to mount a sustained drive on its opening possession of the final half, Jacksonville struck swiftly. Black tossed a touchdown pass to LaVonte Franklin that covered 30 yards. Black made good on a short-range shovel pass to Kendrick Hatton on the conversion that gave the Indians a 14-6 lead.

Rusk then came right back on its next possession as Beard dialed up T.J. Carter for 6 points from about 25-yards out on a crossing route. Following a conversion by Katon, the Eagles had trimmed the Jacksonville lead to a single digit, 14-13.

The Tribe doubled up the Eagles (26-13), scoring on an 8-yard touchdown catch by Orr on a toss from Black on a sideline route and then again as Hall reeled in a Black pass in triple coverage from about 15 yards out.

Hall’s score came with about 4 minutes left in the game.

The Eagles fought until the end as Beard found Katon alone in the endzone from 8 yards away with 1:30 to play in the game, trimming the Indian lead to 26-20, which turned out to be the game’s final score.

Defensively, Stacey Whitaker came up with a pass interception for Jacksonville, and Katon notched a pick for the Red and Black.

Eagles 32 Bulldogs 20

After a short break, Rusk returned to the field to collect an easy 32-20 win over Crockett

The Bulldogs had trouble early finding their groove as Carter came down with an interception for the Eagles to halt Crockett’s first drive.

Rusk’s first score of the game when Beard found the wide-bodied Taj Cleaver — Cleaver’s primary duty for the Eagles is along the defensive line — for a 9-yard touchdown. The conversion attempt was no good.

Rusk added another score to go up 13-0 at the break when Beard connected with Carter from 10 yards out. The Beard to Katon conversion try was also successful.

Beard wnt on to hit Carter for two more touchdowns in the final 20 minutes of play (from 25 and 20 yards away) while also finding Cleaver, of all people, this time from 22 yards out.

The Bulldogs added a couple of touchdowns late in the game to make the final margin a bit more respectable.

After two weeks of play, the Eagles now stand 2-2.



Indians 46 Bulldogs 13

The final game of the night saw Jacksonville score early — the Fightin’ Indians drew first blood on a 5-yard Black to Orr scoring toss on their first possession — and often as Jacksonville led 26-7 at the break in route to their 33-point victory.

Black and Hatton teamed up on scores from 20 and 18 yards away while Black also hit Franklin for a 23-yard touchdown during the first 20 minutes of play.

Corey Hamlett had a big second half for the home team, catching a 4-yard touchdown from Black and hauling down an interception as well.

The remaining Indian scores came when Black drilled Justin Davis from just inside the 5-yard line and on a 28-yard Black to Orr touchdown play.

Tiburious Snead also had an interception for the Indians.

Jacksonville sits atop the league standings at 3-1, while Crockett (0-4) is still looking for their first win.

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