It wasn’t pretty, actually down right U.G.L.Y., sloppy – both sides; talented – both sides; DOMINATE – Bassfield – without a doubt.

The Bulldogs of Prentiss put forth a valiant effort at times, but for the most part, offensively, they could do nothing.

The YellowJackets had their way throughout the game.  Without the turnovers, this would have been an embarrassment for a much improved Prentiss team.  Several players could start anywhere with any team and some could have a future at the next level down the road with the right guidance, if they can pick up the pieces from this defeat and move forward.

The score of this game (44 – 16) was no real indication of the outcome.

In the first half the Bulldogs total offense mustered a mere 22 yards rushing and 17 yards passing.  The second half was no better rushing, 21 yards total.  The passing game got better as the Dogs were able to pass for 70 yards – the problem – the quarterback was crushed a total of 9 times as the sacks just kept coming and coming.   A total of 130 yards – add in the penalties and you end with a net of 64 yards (12 penalties for 66 yards).

For all you Monday morning quarterbacks – what would you have done if you coached Prentiss – kept passing and getting sacked, or rush the ball?  The Bulldogs averaged 1.29 yards per carry.  Passing average was 14.5 yards per pass (6 of 17 for 87 yards).

The Jackets on the other hand, ran at will for the most part.  Bassfield tallied a total of 309 yards offense (221 rushing and 78 passing) on 46 plays.  5.5 yards per rush and 13 yards passing per pass.  While a solid game, far below the Jackets average – kudos to the Bulldog defense.

This game is best analyzed quarter by quarter instead of drive by drive.

The fans that were there have already experienced the boredom that a lot of this game brought, reading about it could be just painful, so I’ll spare you the agony.

THE GAME

FIRST QUARTER – The Prentiss Bulldogs took the opening kickoff after the YellowJackets deferred to the second half.  It took only one play before the Dogs turned it over to the Jackets at their own 38.  Prentiss showed some signs of aggression and put the Jackets offense right back to the bench.

De Quan Jefferson showed the fans that he had come to play in this game.  After sitting out the entire season of 2013 with a bad leg, he has been waiting for this year with baited anticipation.  Blocking the Prentiss punt, Jefferson gave the Jackets their first best scoring opportunity.

As fate would have it, Jefferson became a running back tonight for the first time and on his first touch after four previous runs, Quan took the rock to pay dirt from 24 yards out.  The Jackets decided to forego the kicking game tonight and go for two – T Rod did not disappoint scoring on the three yard run – Jackets up 8 – 0.

Prentiss three and out – Jackets take over at the 42 and with 4 runs and 2 passes, T Rod finished the drive from 1 yard out scoring his 8th touchdown of the early season.  Ron Thompson completed the series with the two point conversion – Jackets up 16 – 0.  The first quarter had ended and this score came 26 seconds into the 2nd quarter.

Prentiss kept the ball for the next two series after a punt and a second week in a row fumble of a punt by Jamal Peters.  The Jackets defense held Prentiss on both drives combined for 11 yards in 8 tries – you don’t win games that way.

The Jackets took the field almost where the whole debacle started – this time 4 straight runs by power house running back Troderick Daniels – 66 yards and his 9th touchdown of the season – two point conversions seemed to work so for the third time, a third back scored this time De Quan Jefferson did the honors – Jackets lead was now 24 – 0.

Bobbled snap on the punt by the Bulldogs, sack by the Jackets, and the offense of Bassfield was back on the field.  Not for long though, the 3rd one play drive of the season by the Jackets was completed by Kevin McNair from 33 yards out.  The two point conversion was no good this time but Jackets lead had expanded to 30 – 0 and this game was headed just as called.

The Jackets attempted to put the final nail in the preverbal coffin (little good it did for Prentiss to have a burial service of the Jackets – looks like they buried the wrong casket – Again!) but there was life left in the Bulldogs – as the end of the half horn sounded, Timothy Arnold threw up a fly ball to center field that was caught, this time by a Bulldog – Javonne Walker – 75 yards later, the defense of Prentiss did what the offense could not do – score a touchdown.  Two point conversion was good and Jackets blow out was put on hold for at least now – end of half Jackets lead now 30 – 8.

The third quarter was so awful for both teams that we will just say that it happened – full of penalties, fumbles, sacks, and just God awful football!

Bulldog fans showed some life, as the Jackets football team, still asleep from half time seemed to have handed the ball off to the wrong team – 45 yards later and a good two point conversion and the Jackets lead was cut in half – 30 -16!  Could this be the year, could it finally happen – NOT A CHANCE!

It took the Jackets offense exactly 2 plays to put the lead back where it was with a 1 yard run.  The drive began with a good return by Sanchez Berry down to the Bulldogs 5 yard line – Cason Sims finished from 1 yard – 2 point conversion failed – Jackets lead back to 3 scores 36 – 16.

T-Rod needed to get that 10th touchdown of the season, but not to be as Jamal Peters got back in this one with a highlight catch and score with 3 defenders around him – T-Rod got the 2 point conversion and this one was in the books 44 – 16.

My prediction was 47 – 0, offensively I was very close, because offensively it was 44 – 0.  The Bulldogs defense made the prediction a little off – the jest of a blowout was still there.

The Jackets have its’ toughest game of the season thus far coming up this week against a tough rival in the Collins Tigers.  Collins has a record of 1 – 2 but don’t let that record fool you.  The Tigers are a solid team and will give the Jackets all they can handle – especially if the play as a TEAM does not improve.  As one player told me, he feels we have a lot of individuals playing an individual game.

Keys to victory this week over the Tigers – control the game offensively – score on every opportunity and play defense when scoring is a long shot.  The defense must play as they did against FCAHS only better.  The offensive line MUST block and control the line of scrimmage or it will be a long night.

Most importantly – WILL A LEADER PLEASE STAND UP!

Final score prediction as stated earlier in the year – 27 – 21 – Jackets win with a touchdown in the fourth quarter, I’ll stick with that and pray that it is not that close – a win is all we want – however it comes!

The Jackets moved up to #12 in the State as of 9/2/2014  and still # 1 in 2A.  Taylorsville is a close second, and after this week, may move to #1 in 2A – new rankings come out every Tuesday.

Game time 7:00 p.m. at Willoughby Field in Bassfield.

T-Rod Daniels 120 yards on 15 carries 2 TD’s, 2 two point conversions, 2 sacks

Ron Thompson 4 carries 28 yards, 1 two point conversion, 2.5 tackles

Kevin McNair 1 carry 31 yards 1 TD 

Jamal Peters 3 catches 50 yards, 1 TD, 4 tackles

Timothy Arnold 5 for 6 – 78 yards 1 TD 1 INT, 2 tackles

Racheem Booth 8.5 tackles, 1 sack

And my MVP of the game, not just for yards, tackles, sacks, but for his attitude and performance all around on the field:

De Quan Jefferson – 5 carries for 73 yards, 1 TD, 1 two point conversion, and 3 tackles all sacks!  An MVP performance.