Jackets pull away from Atlanta in second half

Posted 11/19/20

The Mineola Yellowjackets produced a playoff-caliber performance in their 42-12 bidistrict win over the Atlanta Jackrabbits Thursday. Mineola used a suffocating second-half defense, methodical offense, a defensive touchdown and a special teams score to rout the Rabbits.

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Jackets pull away from Atlanta in second half

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The Mineola Yellowjackets produced a playoff-caliber performance in their 42-12 bidistrict win over the Atlanta Jackrabbits Thursday. Mineola used a suffocating second-half defense, methodical offense, a defensive touchdown and a special teams score to rout the Rabbits.

Atlanta came out fast, hitting a 27-yard corner pattern on their first possession. On the next play, Atlanta threw a flare pass which glanced off the receiver’s hands and was snatched from the air by Dawson Pendergrass. Pendergrass took the interception for a 60-yard score, adroitly avoiding tacklers to reach the end zone. Mineola took a quick 7-0 lead.

Atlanta attacked straight through the middle of the Jacket defense in the next drive. They scored on a 53-yard burst which split the Mineola defense.  In less than four minutes of play the score stood 7-6, Mineola. 

The Jackets burned most of the quarter with a 12-play, 62-yard drive. After a heavy dose of Trevion Sneed, Pendergrass carried the ball around left end on a 13-yard scoring run. 

The second quarter was scoreless but with the Yellowjackets dominating possession. Mineola forced a punt and a turnover on downs, as the defense began to control play. Mineola put together a long 69-yard drive, but a 27-yard field goal attempt went just wide right with 1:47 to play in the half.

At the break, the score was 14-6, Mineola. 

Atlanta had to be encouraged with the scoreboard at half. It was yet a close game. The Yellowjackets quickly took care of that.

Mineola scored on four of their five second-half possessions, while yielding only a single late touchdown to the Rabbits. 

An incredibly tough Sneed run sent the message in Mineola’s first play of the half. Two plays later Pendergrass broke a run through the middle and scored after shucking three tackle attempts as he neared the goal line. Mineola 21, Atlanta 6.

The Mineola defense gave up only 76 yards to a talented Atlanta team in the second half – and only 196 on the night. It was solid team defense punctuated with great individual effort. Once again Kobe Kendrick played lights-out defense. He was joined by Sneed, Pendergrass, Hunter Wright, TJ Moreland, Kejuan Fite and Kaleb Barton. Of note, Jackson Anderson had a big sack for loss in the first half.

With the Rabbits stymied, the Jackets offense just kept rolling. They produced 268 second-half yards and 398 for the game.

A beautiful Moreland interception was indicative of the defensive effort. Moreland dropped far back out of his coverage to intercept a deep corner route. On the play there were four Jacket defenders in immediate vicinity of the ball. 

Mineola converted a fourth-and-2 with a hard Sneed run over the right side on the ensuing drive. After nine plays the Jackets found the end zone again with Sneed on a power lead play. The score stood Mineola 28-6.

Following an Atlanta punt, the Jackets churned out a 12-play, 82-yard effort. Pendergrass scored on a nice cut through the right side. It made the score 35-6 with 7:55 to play.

Atlanta put together its best offensive effort of the night and scored on a beautifully-executed backside wheel route. With the score 35-12 and only two minutes to play, the fans were beginning to head out. 

Everyone got a reminder however that this is playoff football. 

Junior Jaxon Holland fielded the Atlanta kick off near the left sideline. He cut diagonally across the field eventually turning the right corner of the coverage and accelerated for a 60-yard kickoff return score. It was the finishing touch on a solid effort from the Yellowjackets. 

The Yellowjackets rushed 46 times and averaged 6.5 yards per carry. Sneed tallied 184 yards and Pendergrass added 111. The worrisome penalties and mental mistakes seen against Commerce were minimized. The Yellowjackets were focused, aware and they physically dominated play.  

Mineola will face Dallas Madison in the next challenge of the second season Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Princeton. Tickets are on sale via PayK12. Madison defeated Groesbeck 36-29.