EAST JACKSON trailed region-leading North Oconee 22-0 after the first quarter and the scenery never changed as the Eagles were handed a 57-0 loss Friday at home.
The Eagles dropped to 0-8 overall and 0-5 in region play.
“They’re as good as we all thought they would be,” East Jackson coach Brian Smith said. “There’s no doubt. They were excellent and they played like it.”
The Eagles were shut out for the second time this year and were held without a touchdown for the third time this season.
The ninth-ranked Titans limited the Eagles to just 99 yards and seven first downs.
They led 36-0 at the half and a 50-0 after three quarters. The Titans finished with 499 total yards as East Jackson gave up a season-high 57 points.
The Eagles finished with 75 yards on the ground. Austin Beauchamp ran for 39 yards on 14 carries but left the game in the second quarter with a stinger and didn’t return. Brodhi Strong played the rest of the way.
Beauchamp’s injury was one of several for the already-shorthanded Eagles.
East Jackson lost linebacker-running back Davante Gresham in the second quarter. Gresham had been battling knee and hamstring injuries and was “really gimpy” in the first half, according to Smith.
Defensive back Tyrek Shelton exited in the third quarter with a shoulder injury. Receiver Casey Reed was lost in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury as well.
Smith is still mystified by the number of injuries that has struck the team this year.
“It still does,” Smith said. “I still think it can’t get worse and it does.”
