Tigers use big 2nd half to overtake Cherokee

Cody Frie had a big game defensively Friday.

The Tiger defender had a fumble recovery, an interception and a touchdown vs. Cherokee. The kicker to all of this is it occurred in the final quarter of a 27-14 victory on Senior Night at Tiger Stadium.

Jacksboro goes to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in District 5-3A Division II. The Indians drop to 7-2 overall and 2-2 in district.

Frie was soft-spoken about his big finish to the game, which helped shut down two Indian drives. It was the interception that set up the insurance touchdown as the Tigers marched 20 yards in five plays to get a insurance touchdown with just over two minutes to go.

“I just got lucky,” Frie explained. “I thank my coaches for putting me in the right place at the right time. The Good Lord had this planned for me.”

It was the third touchdown pass of the game from freshman Lando Belcher, in his first varsity start. He was moved up to varsity the Sunday before the game and admitted having some nerves before the game.

“My heart was racing and pumping through my chest during the national anthem,” Belcher said with a chuckle. “It finally started calming down when I hit my first third down pass.”

It was a big one too, a strike to Jordan Yount in front of a Cherokee defender. The senior then put the Tigers on the board with a four-yard run to end the drive with 6:09 left in the first quarter.

Cherokee scored late in each of the first two quarters to take a 14-6 lead.

Belcher showed veteran leadership in the final 30 seconds of the half. Sitting at his 24, he fired a 72-yard strike to Yount, who motored down to the Cherokee four. With time running out in the half, the neophyte found senior Landon Davenport in the near corner of the end zone for the final four yards.

The conversion run was true and the game tied at 14 at the half.

Jacksboro Coach Brannon Rodgers said the defense, which allowed 144 yards in the first half, tightened up in the final two quarters to allow just 38 yards.

“We tightened up out DB alignments and got more aggressive with the run. Lando did a great job in connecting with his WRs in key moments. Jordan (Yount) had his biggest impact on a game on both sides.”

The defensive backs showed the improvement just two plays into the third quarter with sophomore Paul Shackelford coming through with an interception.Following a punt, the Tigers went 33 yards in five plays, the final 18 coming on a strike to Davenport, who tacked on the extra point for a 21-14 lead.

Jacksboro plays at Millsap Friday. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.