Second-Half Run Propels Harmony Past Jefferson, 49-21

LONGVIEW -- Harmony registered 21 unanswered second-half points and coasted to a 49-21 victory against Jefferson on Saturday night at Lobo Stadium.

Harmony sophomore quarterback Micah Ross completed 15 of 20 passes for a career-best 330 yards and two touchdowns. With the win, Harmony improved to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in District 9-2A Division I play, while Jefferson fell to 4-4 overall and 1-2 in district.

While Ross was almost perfect on this night, it was an errant pass interception by Jefferson linebacker P.J. Laster in the waning moments of the first half that gave the Bulldogs life.

Harmony held a 28-14 lead at the time of the pick. Quarterback Brayden Varnell and Devin Hodge connected on a 25-yard Hail Mary pass as the second-quarter horn sounded to cut Harmony's lead to 28-21 at halftime.

Whatever momentum the Bulldogs had evaporated thanks to the three-touchdown Harmony run in the final two quarters.

Thanks to the big night from Ross, Harmony had a couple of 100-yard pass catchers in junior tight end Hunter Little and senior flanker Jacob Fielden. Each player pulled in five passes with Little totaling 140 yards and Fielden adding an even 100. Junior tailback Juan Montoya contributed 91 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

Harmony gashed the Jefferson defense for 536 yards in total offense, while the Eagle defense held Jefferson to 219 total yards.

A bright spot for the Bulldogs was the play of senior running back Terrance Whitaker, who completed his evening of work with 132 yards on a dozen touches, including an 84-yard scoring jaunt.

Harmony tallied two scores in each of the first three quarters and added a single marker in the fourth. Jefferson packaged all its scores into the second period and never really threatened in the second half.

Montoya got the ball rolling for the Eagles after Andrew Means pounced on a Bulldog miscue. From there it was Montoya rumbling 30 yards to make it 7-0 with 8:06 left in the first. Ross and Little paired up on for 63-yard score to make the score 14-0 with 4:06 to go in the opening period.

The Bulldogs came to life when Whitaker sprinted down the  sideline 84 yards to the house, trimming the score in half at 14-7.

There were plenty of fireworks in the final six minutes of the first half.  Ross and junior Levi Thompson accounted for a 17-yard scoring connection that pushed Harmony back to a two-score advantage at 21-7. Varnell and junior Ty Lafayette capped an eight-play, 46-yard drive with a six-yard scoring toss at 2:25 to make it 21-14. Harmony responded with a 16-yard run by Ross at 1:35 following a 32-yard completion to Fielden.

Harmony hosts Troup on Friday, while Jefferson hosts Tatum.