The Dragon Nation saw their hopes for a trip to the Georgia Dome dashed Friday night, as the Dragons fell for the first time all year, losing 34-24 to the Lovett Lions in freezing temperatures.
The Dragons ended their season with an 11-1 overall record, and went undefeated in nine games in region play. Jefferson picked up their first region title since 1977 in their first season of 8-AA play.
Lovett
The Dragons started out by stopping a big drive by Lovett early in the first quarter, taking over on their own 36-yard line on a fourth down conversion with just under nine minutes left in the quarter.
Three minutes later, it appeared that the Dragons would have their first touchdown of the night when Darius Minor ran in on a quarterback keeper, but a holding penalty against the Dragons brought the ball back to the 14-yard line.
The Lovett defense went to work, holding the Dragons at bay, and with 4:51 remaining in the quarter, Lucas Redd kicked a successful field goal to put Jefferson on the board with a three-point lead.
Jefferson again proved their determination early in the second quarter, as Minor broke loose for a 70-yard run just over three minutes in. Less than a minute later, Zach Crosby ran in the Dragons’ fist touchdown of the night, moving Jefferson up 10-0 over the Lions.
But the Lovett offense came to life, and in under two minutes, they had gotten their first touchdown of the night to move to within three points of the Dragons.
The first major problem for the Dragons occurred with just over five minutes left in the half. A Lovett defender slipped through the Jefferson line, sacking Minor, who lost his hold on the ball in the process.
Lovett recovered the ball, taking over on the Jefferson 34-yard line, and scored their second touchdown of the night about one minute later, taking a 14-10 lead over the Dragons.
Jefferson came out in the next play swinging, as Jay Fowler returned the Lovett kick down to the Lions’ 24-yard line.
Moments later, Jefferson re-took the lead with a pass play from Minor to Crosby to put the Dragons up 17-14 with just over a minute left in the half.
But with just under 30 seconds left in the half, Lovett worked into position, broke into the end zone for the third time of the night to retake the lead by a score of 21-17.
For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Jackson Herald.
