Longhorns struggle in loss to Eagles

 

Jackson – After an emotional week involving the loss of two students, the Jackson Academy Eagles proved ungracious hosts as they scored 34 points and gave up none to the visiting Marengo Academy Longhorns Friday night. The hot and humid night also saw a good number of cramps for both teams. Whatever the contributing factors, the Longhorns were held scoreless in their second game of the year and fell to the Eagles by a score of 34-0.

After receiving a short opening kickoff, the Longhorn offense was held by the hosting Eagles and was forced to punt. On their second offensive play, the Eagles cashed in with an 86-yard touchdown run and completed a 2-point conversion to gain an 8-0 lead. With 8:18 to go in the first quarter, the Eagles had the only points of the game they would need to defeat the Longhorns.

On their second possession, the Longhorns needed about a foot to convert on a fourth down attempt. The Eagles denied that foot and took over on downs. After moving steadily down the field, the Eagles punched it in on a 23-yard touchdown run and tacked on another 2-point conversion. With 6:20 to go in the first, the Eagles took a 16-0 lead over the Longhorns.

The Longhorns’ third possession of the first quarter saw them make another attempt on a fourth down, only to be stopped again. The first quarter ended with the Eagles leading 16-0. Later in the Eagles’ possession, Longhorn Jay Wilkinson recovered an Eagles’ fumble, only to see the Eagles defense hold again and force another Longhorn punt.

The Eagles next possession had a touchdown run called back on a holding penalty and the Longhorns held on a 4th-and-7 conversion attempt by the Eagles. With only 46 seconds to go in the half, the Longhorns were unable to move the ball and the first half ended with the Eagles leading the Longhorns 16-0.

The Eagles received the opening second half kickoff and didn’t waste any time getting back to the end zone. On the first play from scrimmage, the Eagles put another six points on the board with a 58-yard touchdown run. After a failed 2-point conversion attempt, the Eagles lead stretched to 22-0 with 11:39 to go in the third quarter.

The Longhorns next possession saw a pass fall incomplete on a 4th-and-7 play. The Eagles took over on downs, but the Longhorn defense held on a 3rd-and-22 and forced an Eagles punt. The Longhorn returner fumbled the punt, but was able to make the recovery. Later in the drive, a Longhorn runner fumbled and the ball was scooped up by an Eagle defender. As the runner broke into the open for an apparent touchdown, the old football player nemesis, Cramp, made the tackle. Unfortunately, two play later the Eagles punched it in again. After another failed 2-point conversion attempt, the Eagles held a 28-0 lead with 1:36 to go in the third quarter and that is how the quarter would end.

The fourth quarter would see the Longhorns hold the Eagles on a 4th-and-8 to take over on downs, but would also see the Longhorns turn it over on downs. With 2:46 to go in the game, the Eagles inflicted a little more damage with a 41-yard touchdown run. The 2-point conversion pass was picked off by Dylan Thompson. The Eagles lead stretched to the final count of 34-0.

Longhorns head coach David Akins praised a Jackson Academy squad that had seen the loss of two of its students earlier in the week due to a vehicle accident. “First off, congratulations to Jackson. They overcame adversity and played their guts out tonight. I applaud them for their effort. We didn’t play well, and they had something to do with it.” Akins noted a number of mistakes that were made but that they were things that could be fixed. When you make those mistakes, “You get beat by a better football team, especially when they have something to play for. They (the Eagles) played with a lot of energy and a lot of effort tonight. And I applaud them for doing that.”

As noted, Jackson Academy lost two students in a vehicle accident earlier in the week. The Longhorn cheerleaders passed out red and black ribbons before the game. There was also a moment of silence before the game and balloons were released by students and parents of both schools.

The Longhorns (0-2) will travel to Clarke Prep School in Grove Hill next week.