Despite a terrific start the Royals lose a tough one to Baker

Royals Defense

Fans celebrate before the game

Royals take the Field

JHS Cheerleaders

Royal Pride Band

JHS cheerleaders

Going for a pass

Royal Pride Band

Royal Pride Band

Kick-off

Alma Mater sang after the game

Ch. Smith talks to players

Go Big Blue!

JHS wins Coin Toss

JHS Cheerleaders

Despite a terrific start the Royals lose a tough one to the Baker Gators 25 to 13.  This contest meant alot to the Royals. ” This is Jay’s First Shot at a brand new season and a brand new start”, said JHS Principal Brad Marcilliat.  And what a great start it was when the Royals won the coin toss and elected to kick the ball to the Gators.  Baker fumbled the opening  kickoff and the very excited Jay Royals recovered the ball on Baker’s 20 yard line.  Jay capitalized on the Baker turnover when Brandon Boutwell had 2 big 4th down runs. And then he went on to score Jay’s first touchdown and Dalton Edwards kicked the point after.  This put Jay on the board with the first points of the game.

Jay’s defense played great on Baker’s first drive holding them to a 3 and out.  Jay’s quarterback Tate Upton came out passing on their 2nd drive but all three passes fell incomplete.  After a great punt by Sammy James, Baker started its 2nd drive on their own 15 yard line.  Tyler Lowe recovered a Baker fumble on the 45 yard line to end the drive.  Jay had two more incomplete passes on their next possession and were forced to punt again with 3:38 left in the first. Baker started another long drive that went into the 2nd quarter but Sawyer Hudson recovered the second Baker fumble and Jay took over on their own 40 yard line.

During the Jay drive players from both teams showed excessive unsportsmanlike conduct.  Flags flew and in the aftermath players from both teams were ejected. Play resumed with the Royals having a first down and then Baker received another flag and moved the ball to Baker’s 33 yard line.  A big run by Ricky Cofield (#4) was called back due to a Jay holding penalty.

Sophomore quarterback Tate Upton led the team with 7:39 left in the first half. On third down  Upton was hit from behind causing Jay’s first fumble.  Baker proceeded to drive the ball down the field and was able to score a touchdown but unable to convert on the PAT and the score was Royals 7 – Gators 6 with 4:22 left in the half.

Baker was successful with an on-side kick and recovered the ball on the Jay 48 yard line. This was the turning point in the game.  Baker scored on this drive and brought the score to 12-7  favoring the Gators.  The 2 point conversion was stopped by the Royals.

Jay tried a long ball at the end of the 1st half with a well thrown pass that fell incomplete.

The Royals received the kick-off to start the second half but fumbled the ball on the 2nd play and Baker took over on the Royals 49 yard line.  Baker drove the ball down and scored making it 18-7.

Baker scored again and was able to convert the point after making the score 25-7.

Ricky Cofield had a 60 yard run in the closing minutes of the third quarter putting the ball on the Baker 9 yard line.  Jay had nothing to show for Cofield’s effort, not being able to put the ball in the end-zone and Baker took over on downs on the 5 yard line with 10:30 left in the game.

Jay stopped the Gators next drive with a quarterback sack for a big loss.  The Royals were forced to punt on their next possession after a Jay quarterback sack.  #3 from Jay, Tristan Pengenika,  recovered a Baker fumble with 3:06 left in the game.

Dakota F. Smith had a big run on Jay’s last drive.  With the seconds ticking off the Royals were able to complete a series of  passes from quarterback Tate Upton  to Tristan Pengenika and  Blake Pilgrim.  The final touchdown pass to Sammy James with 19.4 seconds left in the game made the final score Baker 25-Jay 13.

Athletic Director, Lance Youngblood, said,”this game was a measuring stick to see where we are at and to see what needs to be done as we start the regular season”.  Jay’s next game will be at home in the Merle V. North Stadium hosting  Rocky Bayou Friday, Sept. 2 at 7 pm.

View Photo Gallery all photos by John David Reeder