Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
It is a tradition among local high school football teams to play in a shortened scrimmage game during the spring in order to give coaches an opportunity to see their teams under game time conditions. It also gives players valuable playing experience and upcoming seniors the opportunity to put their playing skills on film for possible college recruitment. The teams participating in the Spring Jamboree in Perry, Fla., on Friday, May 21, were: Taylor County High School, North Florida Christian School, Jefferson Somerset Academy and Madison County High School. Each team played two different teams for a period of two 12-minute quarters, the equivalent of one half of football.
In their first game, the Cowboys faced an old foe, the Tigers of Jefferson Somerset Academy. The Tigers began the game on offense at their 25-yard line. After going three-and-out, the Cowboys took over on offense near mid-field. The Cowboys proceeded to move the ball down the field and scored a touchdown when Cowboy Delvin Boatman escaped the grasp of a Tiger defender and made his way into the end-zone. The PAT was no good and the Cowboys held a 6-0 lead, with 8:15 remaining in the first period. The Tigers' offense took the field at the 25-yard line, but went three-and-out once again. The Cowboys took over at mid-field and marched down the field again and capped the drive off with an 18-yard run by Jakori Jackson. The PAT was good and the score was 13-0, with 4:38 remaining in the first period. On the Tigers' next drive, Cowboy Orient Livingston picked off a pass and returned it for a pick-six. Following another successful PAT, the score was 20-0, in favor of the Cowboys, with 2:05 remaining in the first quarter. The next Tigers drive went three-and-out from the 25, giving the ball to the Cowboys at the 40-yard line as the first period came to a close.
Early in the second period, Jackson broke through the line and raced down the field 60 yards to pay dirt for another Cowboy touchdown. The PAT was good and the score was 27-0, with 10:48 remaining in the second period. The Tigers again went three-and-out from the 25-yard line. The Cowboys took over at the 42-yard line and drove down the field again. The drive was capped off with a short run by Cowboy running back Mike Mobley. The PAT was no good, and the Cowboys held a dominating, 33-0 lead with 5:12 remaining in the contest. Again, the Tigers struggled to make a first down from the 25-yard line, going three-and-out once more. The Cowboys took over at the 45-yard line and were able to run the clock out from there, sealing a 33-0 win over the Tigers.
The second game against the Bulldogs of Taylor County High School took an unfortunate turn during the first quarter. The Cowboys had begun their first drive on the 25-yard line and were moving down the field when two players became involved in a scuffle that quickly devolved into a brawl. Both coaches decided to call the game to a stop, once order was restored. The score was still 0-0.
The Cowboys will begin their fall campaign at home, against the War Eagles of Wakulla High School, on Friday, Aug. 20. The kick-off time is to be announced.