Jackets advance to area playoff

Posted 11/17/22

The Mineola Yellowjackets used stubborn persistence to capture a bi-district championship Friday, defeating the Jefferson Bulldogs 31-13 at Longview’s Spring Hill Stadium. The win was some sweet revenge for a defeat in the 2018 bidistrict match-up. 

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Jackets advance to area playoff

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The Mineola Yellowjackets used stubborn persistence to capture a bi-district championship Friday, defeating the Jefferson Bulldogs 31-13 at Longview’s Spring Hill Stadium. The win was some sweet revenge for a defeat in the 2018 bidistrict match-up. 

The Yellowjacket attack was relentless. Mineola took 64 offensive snaps compared to 36 by Jefferson. Dawson Pendergrass ran for 222 yards on 41 carries, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. The game unfolded much as Coach Blackwell and his staff must have envisioned – a battle of wills.

The weather fit Mineola’s game plan perfectly. A fresh north wind was blowing at kickoff, and before the first quarter had expired a swirling, rain/mist-laden wind blew steadily and remained throughout the game.  

Mineola wasted no time. The Jackets drove 45 yards on their initial series and took a 7-0 lead after only three minutes of play. Pendergrass carried over the right side from four yards out. 

The Bulldogs came out of District 6-3A as the district champions and they had some talent. On their second snap from scrimmage, the quarterback pulled the ball on an option and raced 42 yards through the weak side for a score. The ledger was tied 7-7 after each team had scored on their opening possession. 

The Yellowjackets used a methodical ground game and a 12-yard in-route completion from Pendergrass to Keke Martin to reach midfield. On a third-and-4, Pendergrass played off some blocks on the edge, turned the corner, and out-raced the Jefferson secondary for a 50-yard score. 

Just as Mineola took a 14-7 lead, the swirling rain began.  

The Bulldogs drove the ball to the Mineola 21-yard line. On a 4th-and-6, the Bulldogs tried the left side of the defensive line. With D.J. Newsome, Luke Bleckley and Isaiah Gardner standing up their blocks, and linebackers Juan Villanueva and Paul Stanley filling the gaps, the runner tried to bounce outside. Defensive end Chris Rossie was waiting. He and three others made the stop. 

It was one key play, perhaps the key play of the game. 

Shortly thereafter, the Jackets committed their only major error on the night. A hand-off exchange on a run option popped out and Jefferson recovered the ball at the Jackets’ 16-yard line. 

It took six plays, but the Bulldogs found the end zone to close the score to 14-13. A low snap on the point after touchdown prevented the kick, and the Jackets retained a one-point edge.

The balance of the time remaining in the half (seven and a half minutes) was consumed on one of those grinding Mineola drives. The Yellowjackets drove 57 yards in 15 plays. Placekicker Noah Turner then slotted a perfect 37-yard field goal to end the half. Mineola led 17-13. 

The tenor of the second half was set on Jefferson’s first snap. Gardner shucked his man, and with Rossie, crushed the Bulldog running back for a loss. The whole Jacket defense stepped up in the second half, limiting Jefferson to only 37 yards from scrimmage. Mineola forced a fumble, two turnovers-on-downs and a punt in the last two quarters.

Following a Bulldog punt, Mineola embarked on a 13-play drive which burned most of the clock in the third quarter. While Pendergrass carried the load on the drive, Braydon Alley was used to great effectiveness as a change of pace. The Jackets ended up turning the ball over on downs at the Bulldog 12-yard line.

On the very next snap, Jefferson put the ball on the turf and Corde Berry recovered at the Bulldog 10-yard line. Two plays later, Pendergrass knifed through the left side for a score.

Having taken a 24-13 lead into the fourth, the Yellowjackets forced yet another turnover-on-downs. They then put together the last scoring drive of the night, a 10-play, 62-yard effort. Alley capped it off with an incredibly strong run off the left side. 

Mineola killed the final Jefferson effort at the Mineola 43. The Jackets took possession with the intent to run out the clock. They completed an unexpected pass – Pendergrass to Martin – on a fourth-and-10 which allowed them to do just that.

For any fans wondering just how good a halfback Dawson Pendergrass is, consider this: Jefferson did a good job shutting down practically all the cut-back lanes which Pendergrass usually exploits. Despite this fact, he still ran for over 200 yards from scrimmage.   

Mineola played a very well-disciplined game, under adverse weather conditions, and in the role of an underdog. They did it with a consistent performance by the offensive and defensive lines, a few new wrinkles in the offense and a palpable desire to win.

They will need that and more as they face the Grandview Zebras Friday at Mesquite’s Hanby Stadium. Kickoff for potentially the best game of the year is 7 p.m.