J’ville spanks Bulldogs, 28-10

By Jay Neal

sports@jacksonvilleprogress.com

KILGORE — Jacksonville recorded a four-quarter complete effort for the first time in 2009 in dismantling Kilgore 28-10 in a District 14-4A game played at R. E. St. John Memorial Stadium Friday night.

With the victory, the Fightin’ Indians (7-2, 3-1 in district) sew up a playoff spot for the second-straight season.

Jacksonville returns home this week to engage Lindale for all the marbles — the upstart Eagles ravaged Henderson, 42-28, Friday to move into a tie with the Indians atop the league standings. Lindale is 5-4 overall and is also 3-1 in conference play.

Fightin’ Indian mentor, Steve Wells, stated that while wrapping up a playoff berth is exciting, it’s not the team’s primary goal.

“It (clinching a playoff spot) is great for these kids and for our program, but it is just one of our goals,” he said in a Saturday morning interview. “Hopefully we will be able to take things to the next level with a win over Lindale Friday and bring that gold ball (district championship trophy) back to Jacksonville, that has been our goal from the beginning.”

After each squad went three and out on their first possession of the game, the Tribe broke the ice with just under six minutes to play in the first quarter when Justin Jones surged into the end zone from 24 yards out, running off left tackle.

Following Jeff Landrum’s successful point after touchdown — the senior-place kicker was 4-of-4 on the evening on PAT — Jacksonville led 7-0 in a game they Indians never trailed in.

Jones had yet another phenomenal performance, leading his team in rushing (eight carries for 105 yards) while also registering a team-high nine tackles.

“Justin (Jones) had another great game on both sides of the ball for us,” Wells said.

The Indians, who snapped a six-game losing streak to the Ragin’ Red with the victory, added their second touchdown of the contest with 6:07 to play in the opening half.

That’s when Chris Hall found himself on the receiving end of a 34-yard pass from Ryan Black.

Following the touchdown, Jacksonville led 14-3, with Kilgore getting on the board on a 39-yard field goal by Ryan Bustin on the first play of the second stanza.

Black had the magic again Friday, completing 13-of-26 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown (no interceptions) while also scoring a rushing touchdown form a yard out on a quarterback sneak.

The Tribe took a 14-10 advantage into the dressing chamber as the Bulldogs picked up their lone touchdown of the night with 2:14 t go in the first half.

The Kilgore score came on a 33-yard run from sophomore LaDarius Anthony out of the wildcat formation.

Anthony entered the game averaging 240 yards per game in rushing, but was held to just 100 yards 23 carries by the stingy Tribe defense.

Anthony sustained an upper body — possibly a shoulder — injury around the 10-minute mark of the third frame after receiving a hard tackle by Deveonte Hinton as Kilgore was driving deep in Indian territory.

Despite the plethora of offensive superlatives — the Indians tailed 491 yards of total offense and 19 first downs — perhaps the night truly belonged to Indian-defensive coordinator Mike Baysinger’s boys.

The Tribe defenders first forced Kilgore to punt on their first possession of the final half, holding the ‘Dogs to a minus-one yard loss in the series and then on the next Bulldog series, hammered the stake through the heart of the talented Kilgore offense on an impressive goal-line stand.

With Jacksonville leading 21-10, Kilgore opened up shop on the Indian 31-yard line as Kilgore’s Christian Sibley came up with a timely fumble recovery.

The Indian defense then did their job, forcing the Bulldogs’ Bustin to attempt a 47-yard field goal.

Bustin’s kick was center cut, but about seven-yards short of the cross bar, however, as the Bulldogs were able to maintain possession as the Tribe was whistled for an unsportsmanlike conduct foul for climbing on the back in an effort to block the field goal try.

With a first-and-10 from the 15, Anthony picked up 13 yards up the middle on the first play, setting the ‘Dogs up with a first-and goal from the two.

Kilgore made four attempts to get the ball into the end zone and came up empty as Brody Finch first stopped Anthony for a one-yard loss, JaColby Scott then slammed Anthony’s door shut for a two-yard loss and, finally on a fourth and goal from the one, Jones and Finch converged on Anthony and drove him backwards for a 4-yard set back.

“Our defense really stepped up big on that fourth down situation from the two,” Wells said. “We were able to stop them four plays in-a-row and I think that was the turning point there.”

Several of those involved on the stop were recognized by Wells for the efforts in the game.

“Jones had nine tackles on the night, six unassisted, JaColby Spoon (Scott) had four tackles and two sacks and Brody Finch had some big time stops out there.”

Tribe safety, Duke Hamilton, said the defense’s play was the result of the unit rising to a challenge Baysinger had issued them at intermission.

“Coach Bay (Baysinger) told us at the half to go out there and either put up or shut up, and we choose to put up,” Hamilton said in describing the intensity shown by the Jacksonville defense.

Hamilton went on to say that much of the unit’s ability to stop Kilgore came on the fine job Brandon Perkins did in practice last week, in simulating Kilgore’s running tendencies.

Jacksonville’s final score came with 11:11 to go in the affair and came on a 5-yard run by Garland which culminated a five-play, 95-yard march.

The score was set up by a 63-yard run around the right edge by Jones who shook free of several Bulldog tackles along the way.

Six Indian receivers had receptions in the game with LaVante Franklin leading the charge with five snags for 79 yards.

“I just did what I had to do,” Franklin said moments after the game. “The offensive line did a good job of giving Ryan (Black) more time to throw tonight.”

The Tribe piled up 491 yards of total offense against the ‘Dogs while picking up 19 first downs.

Kilgore drops to 4-5, 2-2 and needs a win in its final regular-season game at Nacogdoches (3-6, 0-4) this week to make the playoffs.

NOTE: Three former Indians, Kelvin Hall, Zavar Jones and T. D. Black, all members of the Kilgore College football team now, were at the game, showing support for the Tribe...Hall and Jones are on the Rangers’ active roster while Black is red shirting this year.

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