Royals Fall to the Bulldogs
Jay’s post season hopes were dashed after the lost to Freeport. The team ended the season with a 3-7 record overall and o-3 in district play. Jay was trying to get into a shootout for second place in the district. The squad played well in the first half but the wheels sort of fell off in the 2nd. The hopes for this year’s season were diminished by the numerous injuries that weakened the Royals.
Jay kicked off to Freeport to open the game. After a good defensive play by Sawyer Hudson, it looked like Jay was going to snuff out Freeport’s first drive, but on 3rd and long the Bulldogs broke loose for a 58 yard touchdown run. The point after was blocked by #3, Tristan Pengenika. The Royals went 3 and out and had to punt on their first possession. Then Freeport took the ball down the field on a 10- play drive and ran the ball in from 5 yards out, to make the score 13-0. Jay quickly answered when #42, Allen Perry had a 31 yard run to the Freeport 19 yard line. A personal foul penalty against Freeport put the ball on the 9 yard line. Two plays later Tate Upton found #2, Sammy James in the endzone for a touchdown. The PAT failed and that made the score 13-6 in favor of the Bulldogs with 2:01 left in the first quarter.
The Royals have had trouble in the second quarter this year but not in this game. As the second quarter started Jay’s defense got it’s first stop thanks to big plays by Blake Pilgrim and Sawyer Hudson. The Royals first second quarter possession had two topnotch runs by Tristan Pengenika . But unfortunately Penalties killed their chances so Freeport was able to come back out on offense. With 8 minutes left in the second quarter, Jay pinned Freeport down deep in their own territory and made them punt. The center’s snap went through the legs of the punter and into the endzone. Freeport’s punter wisely kicked the ball out of the endzone to give Jay 2 points on a safety. Making the score 13-8.
With 4 minutes left in the 2nd quarter Jay started a drive from their own 19 yard line and after 4 plays scored the go ahead touchdown. The drive had two terrific pass plays both from Upton to James, one pass for 27 yards that set up the 40 yard touchdown pass. The Royals went for a two-point conversion and failed bringing the score 14-13 in favor of Jay.
Jay fans had a short time to relish this lead because Freeport answered just 2 minutes later in the game, on a pass from 10 yards out. The Bulldogs added a 2 point conversion and went to the locker room at half leading the Royals 21-14.
The tables turned from a good 2nd quarter to a dreadful 3rd quarter for Jay. The Royals committed three turnovers and Freeport scored three more times, advancing their lead to 41-14. The fourth quarter was uneventful with neither team scoring.
The Royals are a young team, with most of the players from the sophomore class. The future looks bright down the road for Jay as the team matures.
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| Jay vs Freeport |
