Tigers win District 5-3A DII opener over Merkel, 30-13

MERKEL – Landon Davenport had finally had enough.

The normally soft spoken senior had seen his teammates battle the pesky Badgers with his squad leading 23-13 with just under three minutes to go Friday night. Using every bit of strength he had left he dragged defenders and himself into the end zone with a 14-yard run that helped the visitors pull away in a 30-13 win in the District 5-3A Division II opener for both schools.

Jacksboro is now 4-2 with Merkel, which missed a game two weeks prior due to COVID, slips to 2-3.

The Tigers did what they’ve been doing all year to start, letting several running backs handle the ball and see who looks best. Quarterback Jordan Yount opened the game with a 14-yard run on the second play from scrimmage and capped it with a 17-yard scamper, beating defenders to the promised land for a 7-0 lead barely five minutes into the fray.

The squads traded interceptions, Jacksboro’s coming from sophomore Paul Shackelford, but it was a short punt that helped the Badgers tie the game midway through the second. Isaac Sebastian went 37 yards on the first play from scrimmage, an extra point finishing the job with 5:32 left in the first half.

Jacksboro then marched 62 yards in a bit under five minutes to take the lead for good. Davenport and Yount got some backfield help from Gage Owen, Baylor Laake and Trey Laake to set up Davenport’s 3-yard run with 51 seconds left to give the Purple a 14-7 lead at the half.

Merkel continued to hang around to start the second half; a five minute drive, going 11 plays and 80 yards with Devonte Hill going the final yard on fourth down . On this time, the kick was off the mark, keeping the hosts down 14-13.

It would be the final time Merkel would score, Jacksboro taking advantage of 20 yards in Badger penalties score on a 14-yard Baylor yard touchdown run by Baylor Laake.

In the fourth quarter, Randall Hamilton tackled a runner in the end zone for a safety to extend the lead to 10 to set the stage for Davenport’s clinching score.

Jacksboro returns home to face Dublin after more than a month on the road Friday. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.