Jefferson Runs Away From Mineola in Fourth, 41-22

[By Stephen Amason, special to ETSN.fm]

LONGVIEW – At one point in the fourth quarter, it looked to be anybody’s game.

Jefferson was up on Mineola Yellowjackets by just six points. That’s when Jefferson running back Dee Black broke through the line for a 54-yard rushing touchdown to give the Bulldogs the edge they needed to pull away with a 41-22 win in the 3A Division I Region II bi-district game Friday night.

The Bulldogs have been dominant against other teams all year long, but in the first half they had a tough time slowing down Mineola running back Trevion Sneed as well as trouble in the turnover department.

“They kinda threw us a wrinkle in the first half, it was kinda messing up our linebackers in just how the call the front,” Jefferson coach Antwain Jimmerson said. “They started doing some unbalance things and that was the major thing was just getting that adjusted.

“Then we needed to take care of the ball. We game into this game with only three fumbles over 10 games and we had three tonight so, just being able to care of the football helped.”

Most of the offense for Jefferson in the first half came from the ground game led by Dee Black. Black ran 198 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns.

The first quarter was penalty-filled as both teams had slows starts tonight. Jefferson, put together a solid 88-yard drive before turning the ball over on the Mineola 9 with 5:11 to go in the quarter.

In the second quarter, Jefferson was the first team on the board as quarterback Trey Hodge zipped a 21-yard pass to TQ Jackson for a touchdown with 4:58 left in the second half.

The 'Jackets would answer back with 1:20 to go in the second quarter, going 75 yards and scoring off 7-yard pass from Shaw Franklin to Cameron Bowman even the score at 7-7.

Just before the break, the Bulldogs marched down the field scoring of a 7-yard rush from Black and would take a 14-7 lead into the half.

Mineola tried an onside kick to begin the third quarter, but failed. The 'Jackets had a total of three onside attempts tonight and failed at coming up with all three.

After coming up with the onside kick, Jefferson charged down the field and Hodge would find Jackson for 12-yard touchdown pass putting Jefferson up 21-7 early in the third quarter.

The 'Jackets next points came with 10:53 to go in the fourth when Franklin connected with Wylie Franks for a 14-yard touchdown catch. Mineola went for the two-point conversion and converted, making it 21-15.

Mineola stayed within a score until Jefferson's TQ Jackson scores off a 2-yard run with 4:01 to play in the fourth quarter, bringing the score to 34-22.

TQ Jackson was rock solid on both offense and defense tonight, finishing the night with 128 yards on six catches and three touchdowns. He also had two key interceptions.

Trevion Sneed finished the night with 28 carries for 174 yards.

Jefferson advances to the next round to Malakoff (8-2), date time and place to be determined.