The Braves come to Jefferson off of a 21-6 win over Crawford County. They are 6-4 overall, and 5-3 in region play.
The Dragons enter play on Friday night having scored 398 points on the year, an average of 39.8 per game, while Heard County has scored 239, an average of 23.9 per game.
The Braves have allowed 211 points scored against them this season, an average of 21.1, while Jefferson has allowed only 130, an average of 13 per game.
Jefferson won the previous meeting of the two teams, which took place back on Nov. 21 of 2003, when the Dragons won 21-13.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Gates open at 5 p.m.
Presale tickets will be available at the Jefferson High School media center on Thursday and Friday for Jefferson fans from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $8. Only GHSA passes are allowed for this and all post-season events.
East Jackson
An estimated crowd of 5,500 people were on hand Friday night for the game, which started off on even ground. Both the East Jackson and Jefferson defense held steady during the first quarter.
Jefferson stopped an early drive, taking over on downs from the Eagles on their own 35-yard line just under four minutes into the game.
Fate would drop the ball back into East Jackson’s hands with just over three minutes remaining in the quarter, but like the Dragons, the Eagles couldn’t make their way into the end zone, carrying a 0-0 score into the second quarter.
After taking possession with less than a minute left in the first quarter, Jefferson wasted no time in the second quarter, as J.J. Damons broke into the end zone just 12 seconds into the quarter. The successful PAT made it 7-0.
East Jackson didn’t wait long to answer, however, as C.J. Allen returned the following punt for 99 yards to score the Eagles’ first touchdown of the night. With just under thirty seconds gone off the clock, the score was tied 7-7.
Jefferson would retake the lead with less than 10 minutes left in the half, as quarterback Darius Minor connected with Tyler Porter on a 47-yard touchdown. The successful extra point gave Jefferson a 14-7 lead.
The Dragons weren’t done yet, however, as Kyle Mosley intercepted an East Jackson pass to give Jefferson the ball on the Eagles’ 16-yard line. Moments later, a pass from Minor to Lucas Redd gave the Dragons a 21-7 lead, which they would carry into the half.
It appeared that East Jackson may have gotten the break that they needed to begin turning the tide of the game when Jefferson fumbled with a little under 10 and a half minutes left in the third quarter.
The Eagles recovered on Jefferson’s 26-yard line. Unable to move into scoring position, the Eagles attempted a field goal, but came up empty, giving Jefferson possession on their own 20-yard line.
Jefferson would add to their lead in the third quarter, as Darius Minor made his way into the end zone on a quarterback keeper. The successful PAT put the Dragons ahead 28-7, and it looked like another Jefferson runaway.
But then came the fourth quarter, and the Eagles came to life.
East Jackson would score their second touchdown of the night with just over seven and a half minutes left in the game, as Deon Sewell scored on a three-yard run. That allowed East Jackson to close to 28-14.
The Eagles then pulled a rabbit out of their hat by pulling off a successful on-side kick to take over on their own 46-yard line.
With just under four and a half minutes left to play, quarterback Evan Williamson connected on a 33-yard pass to Cody Gibbs to score, moving the Eagles to within seven points of tying the game, 28-21.
But with a little over two and a half minutes left to play, the Dragons put the lead further out of reach when J.J. Damons scored again, making it 35-21.
East Jackson would make another strong charge, getting as close as 27 yards out, but Jefferson held them at bay and in the end, it was Jefferson winning 35-21.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Jackson Herald.
