It is safe to assume that the Mineola Yellowjackets will excel in all aspects of the kicking game in district play. That will be thanks to three disastrous plays which cost the Jackets 21 points in Friday’s 48-33 loss to the West Rusk Raiders.

The Jackets couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. They drove 72 yards in five plays for a touchdown. Braydon Alley exploited the weak side of the Raider defense for a 52-yard scamper to open the series. Three plays later he lowered his shoulder, powering his way into the end zone. 

The Jackets had taken all the electricity out of the stadium. West Rusk took it back on the ensuing kick-off.

The Raiders returned it 85 yards by slicing back through the middle of the field. Six Yellowjackets had a chance to attempt a tackle, but each was a step late. The game was quickly tied 7-7.

West Rusk booted a “pooch-plus” kick. The ball descended between the deep return man and the shorter wing man. A communications issue resulted in a collision and a loose ball. The Raiders recovered at the Mineola 33-yard line. 

They took a 14-7 lead three plays later.

In a handful of plays, the Raiders were able to reverse the course of the game. They rode that wave of momentum to a 20-7 lead.

Mineola used their best drive of the night, a 7-play 77-yard effort, to close the score to 20-13 as the second quarter opened. Alley carried over the left side on a lead sweep.

West Rusk added a score and took a 27-13 lead into halftime. The home side had the better of the contest in the first half and had won most of the battles on the line of scrimmage.

A rejuvenated team emerged for the second half.

Mineola stuffed West Rusk’s initial possession and were driving in Raider territory. A fumbled pitch-back flea-flicker torpedoed the drive. 

Two plays later the Raiders cashed in, making it 34-13. Mineola was in danger of letting the game slip away. 

The Yellowjackets rallied in a big way. Leveraging a great punt return, they marched 37 yards. Bryson Myers, Javaryon Brumsey and David Reyes combined to give Alley a nice path to the end zone through the right side.

A perfectly-timed on-side kick gave Mineola the ball back. They drove 42 yards to make it 34-25 late in the third quarter.

The Raiders were not ready to let Mineola back in the game. The teams traded scores in the fourth – West Rusk with a 15-play drive and Mineola courtesy of a beautiful post route from Alley to Ainsley Steward. 

With the clock ticking away, the game remained a two-score margin. A blocked punt which the Raiders covered in the end zone sealed the final score. 

Mineola hosts Bullard in the last warm-up game before beginning district play Sept. 22 at Mt. Vernon.