Palestine Offense Explodes in 56-35 Win Against Jacksonville

[By Larry Krantz, Special to ETSN.fm]

PALESTINE – Quarterback Gee Clark threw two touchdowns and ran for another three as Palestine rang up 613 total yards of offense in a 56-35 win against Jacksonville on Thursday night at Wildcat Stadium.

Clark, who finished the game with 212 passing yards, put the Wildcats (2-0) on the board on the game’s second play with a 66-yard touchdown strike to Jarrell Owens. Clark later threw a 54-yard, catch-and-run score to Sheldon Watson.

Owens, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound TCU defensive end commit, and senior tailback Ben Luckett powered the Wildcats' potent rushing attack, which accounted for 400 yards as Palestine had 14 plays go for 10 yards or more, nine of which went for 20-plus yards.

Jacksonville, which lost its second consecutive game to start the 2013 season, tied the game 7-7 with the first of quarterback Carter McCown’s two touchdowns to senior receiver Tony Lane, who finished with 120 yards on four catches.

McCown, who was pressured most of the night behind an inexperienced Jacksonville line, completed 18 of 37 passes for 264 yards four touchdowns, and an interception. The four touchdown throws tied McCown's single-game career high.

Jacksonville's Jacolby Robinson and Shyler Schreier each caught their first varsity touchdowns in the second half as Jacksonville worked to come back from a 27-point halftime deficit.

The Indians scored on four consecutive possessions in the second half, including a five-yard touchdown run from Datavion Thacker, but managed to only briefly get to within two touchdowns of Palestine before the Wildcats pulled away again as time ran down.

Jacksonville (0-2) continues its tough non-district schedule of strong Class 3A opponents when it hosts No. 3 Gilmer next Friday.