Turning points happen at many junctions in life. Some can last just seconds.
With Jacksboro holding an 8-6 lead less than five minutes in to its District 5-3A Division II opener with Eastland Friday night, the visiting Mavericks prepared to kick an extra point. As has happened many times this year, the kick was blocked and returned by Kaleem Howard for a safety to give the Tigers a 10-6 lead.
Kasey Swan then delivered the turning point of the game, returning the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a score to extend the lead 13 seconds later. That fired up the Tigers, who would score the next 36 points and not allow another point in a 53-6 victory.
Jacksboro is now 1-0 in the loop and 4-2 overall while Eastland is 0-1 and 0-6.
Swan took the kick and found a seam down the left sideline to pay dirt. Randall Bustos’ kick was true for a 17-6 lead with 7:17 remaining in the first. Just when it had the Mavericks on the ropes, the Tiger defense came through with interceptions from Ryan English and Jackson McComis on the next two drives to put down any thoughts of a comeback.
Jacksboro allowed just 100 total yards for the game, seven in the second half while putting up 448 yards offensively.
The Purple offense was far from done in the quarter alone, adding a Bustos field goal and a Baylor Laake one-yard scoring run, set up by a 44-yard Paul Shackelford jaunt, to take a 27-6 lead with 58 seconds left in the first.
After Jacksboro shut down Eastland inside its 15 early in the second quarter, Jacksboro marched 87 yards in seven plays, quarterback Lando Belcher completed passes to Cannon Valenzuela and Tyler Mitchell. The junior signalcaller ended the drive a 10-yard scoring toss to Valenzuela, who made a nice catch in the back corner of the end zone to extend the lead to 24-6.
It was the first of three touchdown tosses for Belcher, who threw for 298 yards on 17-27 passing. The other two scores were for 30 yards to Howard and a 23-yard strike to Valenzuela, who fought his way into the end zone. Both had over 100 yards receiving on the night (Howard 5-103, Valenzuela 6-115) to help the Tigers take a 46-6 lead four minutes into the second half.
Belcher, who opened the scoring with an 18yard run, ended it with a 9-yard jaunt around the left side.
Jacksboro will close out the three-game homestead Friday night with a 7 p.m. kickoff vs. Comanche, who defeated Millsap in its district opener.
