By Larnce Barker
Special Contributer
Jarrell: The Salado Eagles (5-3, 3-1) and the Jarrell Cougars (8-1, 4-1) had to adjust their pre-game preparation to beat the weather for a 6:30 p.m. kick-off. Despite the early start, the weather turned out to be fine with only a strong south wind. The pre-game coin toss at mid-field was won by Salado and the Eagles elected to defer their option to receive the football in the second half.
Jarrell Cougars started their first drive at their own 25 -yard line, left hash as the Cougars favored this position throughout the game. The Eagle’s defense was prepared for battle against the dreaded Slot-T for a ground and pound of the play clock. The Cougars would drive the football down to the Eagles 18-yard line. Then Cougars Brayden Henderson would score on an 18-yard TD run at 5:03 in the 1st quarter to take the 6-0 lead. During the point after touchdown, the Eagles got a penalty for offsides and then the Cougars decided to go for the 2-point conversion and was successful with a RB-Joseph Travis run to improve the lead to 8-0.
The Salado Eagles QB Devonte Foster, Luke Bingham, Caine Cruddas and the Salado offense worked the pigskin down field in the first quarter to the Jarrell 23-yard line. Then the “Wiry” Eagles RB-Luke Bingham would maneuver his way to the endzone on a 23-yard TD run at the 2:26 left in the first quarter with great blocking on the drive. Salado kicker Max Gist would add the PAT to make the score 8-7 to cut the Jarrell lead to one point.
The second quarter would be an offensive struggle for both teams hampered with penalties, punts and turnovers. The Eagles and Cougars’ defense, both had a say in the game most of the second quarter. The Eagles would break the ice when Cougars offense fumbled the football deep in their own territory that would set the Eagles with a short field at the 10-yard line. On Offense, Foster would take the football on a 9-yard run to the Jarrell one yard line. Foster would then score from 1 yard out and K-Gist PAT then Salado lead would improve to 14-8 with 1:36 left in the second quarter.
Jarrell would take the ensuing kick-off with 1:36 left to set up their offense with an opportunity for some points. Cougars’ elusive running back Kenneth Johnson would take the handoff and go 42-yards before being tackled by Eagles Dylan Jimenez. The Cougars would get another good run by Henderson when QB Jamari Livsey scored from 1 yard out. K-Caleb Martinez would add the PAT for the Cougars to regain the slim 1-point lead, 15-14, which would be the halftime score.
Salado Eagles received the ball to start the third quarter and the offense struggled on the drive and had to punt the football to the Cougars. Jarrell’s first offensive drive of the 3rd quarter would end with Kenneth Johnson taking the hand-off and going for a 56-yard TD run. K-Martinez added the PAT to bring the score 22-14 Jarrell with 8:22 remaining.
After the Salado Punt, the Cougars’ next offensive drive would see Jaysen Hobbs score on a 5-yard TD run kicker Martinez made the PAT, he score would be 29-14 Jarrell with 0:29 left in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Salado’s offense would find the endzone with a Foster 1-yard run. Foster would connect with Bingham for the 2-point conversion to close the Gap 29-22 Jarrell.
The Eagles would gamble with an onside kick beautifully orchestrated by K-Max Gist for an Eagle recovery to set up the offense at the Cougar 49-yard line.
Salado took advantage of this offensive series and took the football to the Jarrell 9-yard line. WR-Gabrielle Merriman took the hand-off 9 yards to the endzone and with the K-Gist PAT, the score would be tied up 29-29 with 6:50 left to play.
Salado tried another onside kick, but JT Travis for Jarrell would recover the football to set up the Cougars’ offense. Jarrell would drive the football to the Salado 38-yard line when Hobbs would score from 38-yards out Martinez kicked the PAT for a 36-29 lead with 4:04 left.
The Cougars kick-off would set up the Eagles opportunity to answer the Jarrell score. The Eagles offensive series ended with a turnover on downs.
The 13-4A-D2 District minutes would come to light for both teams for seeding purposes. The Jarrell Cougars needed a field goal or touchdown for their cause and the Salado Eagles just needed to keep the Cougars from scoring. Jarrell would take this offensive opportunity to drive the football down the field with the use of their three running backs who had over 100 yards each. Cougars Rb-Johnson would score from 3 yards out and K-Martinez would add the PAT to make the score 43-29 with 0:11 seconds remaining in the game.
The Cougars would squib kick to the Eagles and Jarrell would recover the football. Jarrell then got in Victory formation to run the clock out and the “W”.
Both teams are looking good to be in the top four to punch their ticket to the 4A-D2 Texas State Playoffs. Jarrell has a bye and then plays Gonzales for their last game while Salado will face Gonzales next Oct. 31 and then Smithville on the road Nov. 7.
1 2 3 4 FSHS 7 7 0 15 29
JHS 8 7 14 14 43
Scoring
Jar — Brayden Henderson 18-Yd run, Joseph Travis 2-point conversion.
Sal — Luke Bingham 23-Yd run (Max Gist kick)
Sal — Devonte Foster 1-Yd run (Gist kick)
Jar — Jamari Livsey 1-Yd run (Caleb Martinez kick)
Jar — Kenneth Johnson 56-Yd run (Caleb Martinez kick)
Jar — Jaysen Hobbs 5 -Yd run (Martinez kick)
Sal — Devonte Foster 1-Yd run (Bingham 2-point conv. pass from Foster)
Sal — Gabrielle Merriman 9-Yd run (Gist kick)
Jar — Hobbs 38 -Yd run (Martinez kick)
Jar — Kenneth Johnson 3-Yd run (Martinez kick)
TEAM STATISTICS
Sal Jar
153 Rushing yards 410
77 Passing yards 0
6-14-77-1 Comp.-Att.-Int. 0-1-0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Salado:
Devonte Foster: 6-14-77-1, 14-75 yds rush 2 TDs
Luke Bingham: 17 rush, 69 yds, 1 rushing TD, 1 rec 56 yards,1 -2-pt conv. rec
Gabe Merriman: 1 rush 9 yards- 1 TD, 1 rec, 4 yds
Brayden Dildine: 3 rec, 13 yds
Andrew Benevides: 1 rec 4 yards
Jarrell:
Kenneth Johnson 20 rush-184 yds- 2 TDs
Jaysen Hobbs 19 rush-113 yds- 2 TDs
Brayden Henderson 11 rush- 102 yds- 1 TD
Jamari Livsey 4 rush- 5 yds- 1 TD
Joseph Travis 1rush -6 yds
SHS 9 14
JHS 9 12
Salado ninth grade Eagles beat Jarrell 14-12 Oct. 23 thanks to 2 point conversion on TD.
Slayde Rockwell threw to Case Maryberry for a 17-yard TD in the second quarter. The conversion failed.
Rockwell threw to Zane Dorroh for a 6-yard TD pass. Holt Peterson ran in the 2-point conversion.
Offensive Players of the game were Rockwell, Mayberry, Dorrah, Hunter Harrison and Tristan Hernandez.
Leading the defense were Frankie Soto with a fumble recovery with 2 minutes left to seal the victory; Chase Anderson with a fumble recovery and Brady Bratton and Davin Bair with several tackles each.