Royals Swat the Hornets
The Jay High Royals went on the road to face the Cottondale Hornets Friday night. The cheerleaders and the band brought fly swatters which they all waved to start the game encouraging the team to swat the Hornets. The Royals did just that easily winning 32-12.
Jay opened the game with good field position after Cottondale tried an onside kick. The up man on the kick off smartly called for a fair catch, he was interfered with and the proceeding penalty advanced the ball to the Cottondale 37 yard line. Several positive runs by #32, Dakota Smith brought the ball to the 4 yard line. But the Cottondale defense stiffened and Jay turned the ball over on downs. The Hornets failed to move the ball on their possession and had to punt.
Jay’s quarterback, Tate Upton, came out throwing. With two quick completions to #14, Dalton Lambeth and a 44 yard touchdown strike to #2, Sammy James. Connor Weekes kicked the extra point and made the score 7-0.
On the next scoring drive the Royals kept the ball on the ground. Dakota Smith had runs of 19 and 11 yards, then punched the ball in with a 6 yard run with 32 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Hornets started their next possession with a long return but found it hard to move the ball on the Royals defense. Cottondale went for it on 4th down and but failed to convert and Jay took over on their own 42, and drove the ball to the Cottondale 15, where quarterback, Upton, scored when he scrambled out of the pocket and ran the ball in for the touchdown. The PAT failed making the score 20-0.
The game looked to be under the control of the Royals but Cottondale scored with 6:15 left in the first half, when #4, Sheldon Vann, went 78 yards to score. The Hornets tried for a 2 point conversion but failed.
Jay’s next drive stalled but a spectacular punt pined Cottondale down one foot from the goal line. The Hornets moved the ball up the gridiron to the 25 yard line where they threw an interception to Jay’ s Tate Upton. Jay fumbled the ball on the very next play. Cottondale was able to capitalize and scored a touchdown on a 15 yard pass with 16 seconds left in the first half , again the 2 point conversion was stopped by the Royals, bringing the score 20-12.
Jay kicked off to Cottondale to start the second half. The Royals defense stood strong even though the Hornets drove to the 6 yard line. Another exciting play came when Jay punted and Cottondale’s receiver muffed the reception. Jay’s #15, Eddie Agait recovered the ball giving the Royals a first down. Jay passed to #2, Sammy James for long yardage but the play was called back by a penalty. The drive culminated on a 4th and goal from the 5 yard line with a pass from Upton to Allen Perry, #42. The score was now 26-12.
The Hornets answered with another run from #4, Vann, that left the ball at the 12 yard line. A great effort by the defense came when Cottondale tried to score on two passes into the end zone that were broken up by Sammy James. Again Jay took over on downs ending the threat.
Jay’s final points came when sophomore, Allen Perry received a hand off and tenaciously powered the ball 4 yards on a 4th and 2 at the 5 yard line then punched it in on a one yard run. The final score was 32-12.
The Royals travel again next week to meet Baker in the war of Hwy 4.
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| Jay vs. Cottondale |
