Tigers lose season opener

BRECKENRIDGE – Jacksboro came into Buckaroo Stadium for the second straight year Friday night eager to show what it had in its tank.

While the future is bright with some tweaks, the hosts scored twice in the first eight minutes and rolled from there in a 42-13 win over the Tigers.

Jacksboro moved the ball well at times but simply couldn’t string enough plays together to stay in the game. The Purple turned the ball over on downs on the first six drives of the first half, despite having opportunities.

The squad kept fighting throughout, however, coming through with three interceptions defensively. Cannon Valenzuela’s interception gave Jacksboro great field position at the Breck 33 down just 7-0. The Tigers could get nothing going and a fourth down toss from Lando Belcher to Valenzuela fell short to end the drive. The Bucks took advantage using a 36-yard run by quarterback Chase Lehr to set up a 16-yard scoring pass to Anson Rodgers, his second of the frame, to put the hosts up 14-0 with 3:55 left in the first.

Jacksboro held tough getting runs by Belcher and senior Paul Shackelford along with a Shackelford reception to move the ball close to the 50. A fumble hurt the squad’s chances, however. Belcher’s interception snuffed out another Breck scoring chance.

A 24-yard pass to Luke Sams helped with a 15-yard pass to Valenzuela getting the ball into Buckaroo territory for the first time. That drive also stalled on Jacksboro gave up the ball.

The Tiger defense forced a turnover on downs on the ensuing drive but the Purple was hit by penalties. Breck scored in the waning seconds of the first half but the Purple got across midfield with passes to Garrett Hubble and Kaleem Howard before penalties ended the half.

As it did in the first half, the hosts scored on its first two drives of the third quarter and bettered it with a third score to make the score 42-0. With the game in hand, Breckenridge brought in its subs late in the third quarter.

A 19-yard pass to Tyler Mitchell moved to the ball to midfield on the ensuing drive. Valenzuela’s 12-yard reception ended the third quarter. Belcher’s nine-yard run set up his 33-yard scoring toss to Valenzuela. Randall Bustos was true on the extra point with 11:22 to go.

Following a punt with 8:30 remaining, A pair of Sams runs and a Shackelford reception gave the Tigers the first down out at the Tiger 40. Belcher used a nifty Houdini-like run for a 55-yard TD jaunt to end the scoring with 5:11 to go.

Jacksboro comes home Friday to face Boyd in a 7:30 p.m. kick. The Tigers won last year’s matchup 28-14.