Tigers beat S&S

PONDER – Most fans would take Jacksboro leading 14-0 at halftime Friday night vs. S and S Consolidated, where the Rams were held to 122 yards, as pretty good.

The best was yet to come, however.

Knowing it could do better, the Tiger defense allowed a mere 72 yards in the final two quarters while the offense added three scores, including a special teams one in a 30-0 Class 3A bi-district win at Ponder Field. Jacksboro (10-1) will face Harmony (11-0) Friday at 7 at Ron Poe Stadium in McKinney in the Division II area round with the Rams ending at 6-5.

Senior Hunter Hackley said the guys focus on defense and are proud of their prowess.

“We knew we could do better in the second half ad we went out and did,” Hackley offered.

Ram quarterback Jayce Howard, who rushed for 70 yards on 13 carries in the first two quarters, was held to a minus-14 yards in the second half on seven totes. Much of the negative yards came from sacks from Hackley and fellow senior Hunter Jackson. Jackson’s sack came on the blindside and could be felt by the Tiger faithful who made the trip.

Both seniors made their impact felt early on, with Jackson hauling in a 56-yard offering from Payton Laake on the opening play to put the ball at the Ram 19. A Hackley eight-yard run set up Luke Dixon’s three-yard jaunt around the left side to paydirt. Fernando Piedra was true on the extra point with 2:33 gone.

Following a field goal miss by Consolidated, Hackley broke the game wide open going 82 yards around the left side to extend the lead to 14-0 in the final minute of the first.

Hackley and Dixon had a key fourth down stop on the ensuing drive inside the Tiger 40. S&S again drove late in the half getting a first down at the Tiger four.

Grant Thompson and Jackson had key stops, Jackson’s coming inside the one on fourth down, to thwart the drive.

Jacksboro forced punts on the first two Ram drives of the second half and extended its lead on the second drive. Laake’s 46-yard jaunt set up 1st and goal at the 4 where Hackley finished the job with a laser run to the end zone on his final carry of the evening, capping a 114-yard outing.

The Tigers were far from done offensively but still had some defensive work to do as the Rams once again had a first and goal chance. On fourth down, Laake showed his defensive prowess with a pick in the end zone which he returned to the Consolidated 42.

Jackson’s first 22-yard run of the drive moved the ball inside the red zone to the 18. He finished the job three plays later with another 22-yard run, beating defenders to the pylon for a 28-0 lead midway through the fourth.

Jackson’s aforementioned sack would set the stage for Logan Snider’s blocked punt out of the end zone for a safety with little more than a minute to go to end the scoring.