DOG BITTEN | Jefferson gets out of Tatum, advances to 3A-DI playoffs; Eagles’ season comes to an end
TATUM – The fourth and final playoff berth in District 8-3A, Division I was decided here at Eagle Stadium Friday night, and unfortunately for Tatum and its fans, it’ll be the Jefferson Bulldogs going to the postseason.
In a game that was win or go home, turnovers forced by the Bulldogs would be the difference, a big difference, and Jefferson left with a 49-14 win.
Jefferson went three-and-out to start the and Korbin Tomlinson’s punt was downed at Tatum’s 49-yard-line.
On first down, though, Grant Adcock’s pass was picked off by Jayson Burton and returned all the way, a 49-yard return for a touchdown. The extra point by Fisher Bradley was good, and a 7-0 Jefferson lead hit the scoreboard with 10:42 in the first quarter.
Adcock hit Logen Tovar and Issac McAlister on back-to-back passes to move it to Jefferson’s 39, and then Adcock found Tovar again to move it to the Jefferson 19.
The score: Adcock to Tucker Anthony, a 19-yard touchdown pass, followed by the extra point by Kody Hines was good, tying it at 7-7, with 4:44 left in the first.
Jefferson broke the tie – for what would be for good – on the next drive. Washington connected with Travis Gray Jr. for a 36-yard touchdown pass. Bradley again got the extra point, and gave Jefferson a 14-7 advantage, still with 1:56 left in the first.
Tatum would look to even it up, but the Bulldogs would force a punt. Adcock’s kick would be downed at the Bulldogs’ 25.
Jefferson added to its lead in three plays. Keiland Williams caught a 7-yard pass, Lemarion Douglas a 14-yarder from Washington, and then Washington broke free for a touchdown run. Bradley’s kick was good, and with 9:20 left in the half, the ‘Dogs had upped their lead to 21-7.
Adcock kept it on the ground for Tatum, but a fumble recovered by Jefferson’s Burton would result in a direct Bulldogs’ score, a 44-yarder returned by Burton for a 28-7 Bulldogs’ lead.
With 5:31 remaining in the half, Tatum took over at its own 31. The drive stalled, though, at the Jefferson 29.
The Bulldogs took over there. After back-to-back runs from Washington, he hit Brayden Ventimiglia at the 21, then Lemarion Douglas for the 21-yard score. Bradley’s fifth extra point of the game made it 35-7 Bulldogs with 45 seconds left in the half, the eventual halftime score.
Tatum got the ball to open to the second half, and Jefferson’s Washington got an interception, returning it 80 yards for the score. This time, the extra point kick was made by Laine Diaz, and put Jefferson up 42-7 midway through the third quarter.
The Eagles would answer with runs from Alijah Williams, Adcock, and Kyson George, but it would be Adcock from 8 yards out that punched it in. Hines was good on the point after, making 42-14 Jefferson with nine seconds left in the third, the same as the end of the quarter.
In the fourth, Tre Moss punched it in from 3 yards out, the final score of the game.