Mineola turnovers aid West Rusk comeback win

Posted 9/16/21

Football fans across East Texas eagerly anticipated the Mineola vs. West Rusk game. Two quality programs with teams that have big aspirations met in New London last Friday. It did not …

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Mineola turnovers aid West Rusk comeback win

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Football fans across East Texas eagerly anticipated the Mineola vs. West Rusk game. Two quality programs with teams that have big aspirations met in New London last Friday. It did not disappoint. 

The Raiders came away with the win, 24-17, in a game which Mineola surely will feel like they gave away. No doubt, most will point to the two late back-to-back turnovers as tilting the whole game toward West Rusk, and that would be a correct assessment. 

But the game was much more. It was a very closely-matched affair. The statistics tell the story well. Mineola tallied 357 yards from scrimmage, while West Rusk generated 335.

The Yellowjackets had 11 possessions, the Raiders 10. Each team punted four times and turned the ball over on downs once.  

The two longest drives of the game were the last two. West Rusk drove the ball 81 yards in 14 plays in the fourth quarter to end the scoring in the game with a field goal. Mineola then took the ball 71 yards in eight plays but could not punch it into the end zone. The Yellowjackets turned the ball over on downs at the Raiders’ 10-yard line.  

The teams are polar opposites in offensive schemes. The Raiders are a passing team that also runs, while the Jackets are a running team that occasionally throws.

The Yellowjackets definitely built momentum throughout the first half. After giving up a productive initial drive to the Raiders, the Yellowjacket defense clamped down and forced three consecutive punts.  

Meanwhile, Dawson Pendergrass was getting warmed up. He crushed for 129 yards in the first half on 11 carries. Two of his best efforts of the first half – a 37-yard slicing run and a 20-yard carry around right end which included a jump step and great acceleration – led to a Mineola field goal.  

At the half, Mineola led 3-0. 

On Mineola’s second snap of the second half, Pendergrass cut through the right side and split the Raider secondary. He found the sideline and won the sprint to the end zone. It was a 69-yard scoring run and gave Mineola a 9-0 lead. Christian Martinez added the PAT.

The teams exchanged punts and field advantage swung to the Jackets’ favor when Coy Anderson downed a Pendergrass punt at the 3-yard line. On a fourth down and one at their own 22-yard line, the Raiders gambled. Anderson cut through the line and took the quarterback down for a big loss, thereby forcing a turnover-on-downs.

It was a gift, and the Jackets made them pay. Pendergrass played off a nice Bryson Myers block, cut back against the grain and scored on the next play. Mineola was up 17-0, halfway through the third quarter.

Suddenly the West Rusk offense woke up. They went 64 yards on 12 plays and scored on a slant route toss from four yards out. Twice during the drive, the Raider quarterback was able to scramble for first downs.  

Momentum had shifted. On the next offensive snap, Mineola fumbled the ball away. West Rusk added a score on a 12-yard quarterback draw, and the score became 17-14.

On the second play from scrimmage on the Jackets next possession, the ball was put on the turf again. West Rusk promptly capitalized with a score on a nicely-designed combination route to the corner of the end zone. Mineola 17, West Rusk 21. 

Mineola was forced to punt on their ensuing possession, and West Rusk embarked on their long field-goal scoring drive. 

With the clock running down, the Jackets trailed by seven and had the ball on their own 19-yard line. Pendergrass then ripped off 56 yards through the left side. Mineola was in business at the Raider 25. A short out route took the ball down to the 15-yard line.  

Three successive carries trying to turn the Raider right end resulted in only five yards. A fourth down pass attempt was defended away. West Rusk ran out the clock.

The two late turnovers certainly hurt Mineola’s chances of coming home with the win. Yet, they still had a great opportunity, first-and-10 from the Raider 15-yard line, but couldn’t rally for that last push. It is anticipated that this will be a special area of focus before opening district play. 

Three games into the season, the leaders of the 2021 Yellowjackets have made themselves known. Dawson Pendergrass – who had 301 yards on the night – is a stand-out athlete and will be the mainstay of this year’s Jackets. Defensively, Coy Anderson has distinguished himself as one of the most active linebackers in East Texas, while it is worth the price of admission to come to the game just to watch how quickly Nate Griffin closes across the line. His line play has been consistently excellent in the early season. 

Buckle up for a great run. The Jackets open district Sept. 24 at home against Winnsboro.