JEFFERSON HAS BIG NIGHT VS. SABINE | Bulldogs get seven TDs from QB Taylor in win
By JEREMY NEWLIN
JEFFERSON – Some nights are a little more tough than others, and Sabine had a tough one here Friday night, facing state-ranked Jefferson.
Jefferson had a huge night from quarterback Thimyus Taylor – five passing touchdowns and two rushing scores – and four players with at least two touchdowns in a 74-12 win over the Cardinals in District 8-3A, Division I.
Sabine dropped its seventh straight game, unfortunately for the Cardinals and their fans, and it now looks like they’ll be at home for the UIL’s Class 3A playoffs: that loss dropped them to 0-5 in district play with just one regular season game left: at home against Liberty-Eylau, also state-ranked, on Nov. 8 – Sabine has a late-season open date next weekend.
Jefferson and L-E, meanwhile, both unbeaten in district, will face each other next Friday night at L-E’s place, in Texarkana.
Jefferson attempted an onside kick to open its game against Sabine.
The Cards recovered but were stopped by the Bulldogs’ defense and forced to punt.
Jefferson used the ground game led by Kamran Williams. He rattled off 9 yards, followed by 18, moving into Cardinal territory. Then Taylor found Travis Gray for 11 yards.
The drive was capped off with Taylor running the final 7 for the score, and after Ethan Maxwell’s extra point, an early 7-0 lead.
Sabine’s second drive began with Cason Patterson breaking through the middle of Jefferson’s defense for a 26-yard gain. On third and 8, quarterback Hudson Mcnatt found Lincoln Royce for 7 yards, bringing up fourth down.
The Cardinals were in field goal range, but with kicker Jovany Jaimes on the sideline injured, the Cardinal offense remained on the field.
It was a good decision.
McNatt took the snap and went around the right side, where he sprinted 30 yards for the score. The two-point conversion failed, though, leaving the Cards behind by one, 7-6.
That score was short lived as after a failed onside kick, the Bulldog offense had a short field.
After a false start penalty moved the ‘Dogs back, Taylor found Chris Love open for a 58-yard touchdown pass. With the extra point, the Dogs lead was upped to 14-6. The Cardinals were able to have two more possessions in the quarter, but both resulted in four-and-outs.
Jefferson started the second quarter after the punt and kept to the ground. Williams ran for 12 yards and Gray caught a pass for 17.
After an 11-yard run by Jeramaine Hopkins, Taylor took the final 2 for the score. The missed extra point left the score Jefferson 20, Sabine 6.
The offense for the Cardinals was still struggling to find a rhythm and again punted. This time, the Bulldogs took two plays to score, as Taylor found Love for a 33-yard touchdown. A second missed extra point left the Bulldogs in front, 26-6.
A breath of life came on the Cardinals next possession as on second down, McNatt found an opening on the left side and hugged the sideline for a 68-yard scamper and score, his second touchdown of the game, and cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 26-12.
Jefferson’s offense wasn’t done in the half, though, as they moved down the field again with Taylor connecting with Gray for a 51-yard score.
A bright side on defense was Warren Royal intercepting a Taylor pass, but they were not able to move the ball and punted it away. This gave the Bulldogs just enough time for Taylor to find Gray for a 23-yard touchdown pass and a 40-12 Jeferson halftime lead.
The second half wasn’t any better for Sabine, as its onside attempt failed and the Bulldogs moved quickly downfield.
Taylor found Hopkins for a 13-yard touchdown, and shortly, a punt by the Cards put the ball back in the hands of the explosive Bulldogs’ offense. A 15-yard run by Jacoby Morrow down to the 1 left Taylor to punch it in for the score and a 54-12 Jefferson lead.
Going to the air, McNatt saw his pass bounce off of Daniel Smith of the ‘Dogs and fall into the arms of Love, who took it in for the pick-six, an interception return for a touchdown. The third quarter ended with Jefferson’s backup quarterback, Chance Washington, finding Hopkins for a 44-yard touchdown pass, leaving the score at 68 – 12.
With the clock running, the fourth quarter saw much of the same. Two possessions by the Cardinals saw two punts. The only time Jefferson had the ball they moved down field and Washington kept the ball for a 28-yard score, the final of the night.
Offensively for the Cardinals, McNatt had 91 yards on the ground and the two scores. For Jefferson, they were led by Williams, with 99 yards on the ground; Taylor had 174 passing yards and five touchdowns and added the two rushing scores.
Gray had 117 receiving yards and two scores. Love added 97 and two touchdowns and Hopkins had two scores as well, and 57 yards.
