Jackets whip Raiders 37-0

Jeff Davis High got its 3rd shutout of the season last Friday night against Bacon County with a 37-0 Homecoming victory.
The win gave the Yellow Jackets a 6-0 overall record, and a 2-0 Region 1AA mark.
This Friday night, the Jackets face what may be their toughest test of the season as they make the long trip to Thomasville to take on 6-1 Thomasville. The Bulldogs are 3-0 in the region and last week downed Fitzgerald 24-21 on the Hurricanes’ home field.
After opening the season with a 36-14 loss to Class 4A Cairo, the Bulldogs have run off 6 straight victories — 45-21 over Class 4A Bainbridge, 30-16 over Class 3A Worth County, 42-6 over Class A Seminole County and region wins over Berrien 56-21, Brooks County 38-7 and Fitzgerald 24-21.
Cairo is now 7-0 and ranked No. 4 in Class 4A.
Friday night’s Jeff Davis win over Bacon County was a dominating performance as the Yellow Jacket defense was too quick for the Raider offense to deal with.
On the opening kickoff, the Yellow Jackets’ Josh Worthington streaked down the field untouched and nailed the Raider return man at the Bacon 11 yard line.
On the 1st play from scrimmage, Bacon’s quarterback mishandled the snap and Worthington raced in from his linebacker position to drop the quarterback at the one. Two plays later, linebacker Kobe Hill bulled his way between two blockers and nailed the quarterback in the end zone for a safety and the Jacket defensive dominance was quickly established.
On the ensuing free kick, Garrison Coleman fielded the ball at midfield and returned it to the Raider 38.
On the Jackets’ 3rd snap of the game, Hill took a handoff up the middle, darted upfield to the 15, then broke tackles and drag tacklers all the way to the 3. But a flag put the ball back at the 22 and, 2 plays later, Mark Durden threw to Jacob Laney at the 7 and Laney carried the ball into the end zone for a quick, 8-0 lead. David Calderon kick the P.A.T. and JD led 9-0.
A sack by Zan Coney stopped the Raiders’ next possession and after the punt, the Jacket offense started again at their own 33.
Durden kept for 10, Braylon Varnadore ran for 5 and Durden scrambled out of the pocket for 7 more to the Bacon 45. As the 1st quarter came to an end, Hill powered his way to the Red Raider 25.
On the 1st play of the 2nd quarter, Durden faded back to pass, was flushed to his left and he weaved his way 23 yards to the Bacon 2. After a penalty, Hill went into the end zone standing up from a yard out. Calderon kicked the extra point and Jeff Davis led 16-0.
The Jackets’ next possession began at their own 30. Coleman quickly picked up 10 and Durden kept on an option left for 17 more to the Bacon 43. After JD moved the ball to the 33, things slowed down and, on 4th-and-3 from the 26, the Jackets drew the Raiders offsides for a 1st down at the 21. Two plays later, Durden made perfect pass to Varnadore who caught the ball between two defenders at the 2 and fell into the end zone for another score. Calderon’s kick made it 23-0.
After Bacon returned the kickoff to the JD 43, the Raiders got to the Jeff Davis 22 with time running short. On the next play, Worthington picked off a pass at the 11 and returned the ball to the 27 where Durden knelt on the ball to run the final seconds of the first half off the clock.
The Jackets took the 2nd half kickoff and scored in 7 plays, helped along by a couple of flags against the Raiders. Durden scored on a quarterback sneak from a yard out and Calderon kick the extra point to up the tally to 30-0.
With the mercy clock running, the 2nd half went by fairly quickly. The Jeff Davis defense continued to hold Bacon at bay and, late in the 3rd quarter, Calderon tried a 44-yard field goal that was plenty long enough but tailed off to the left.
The Raiders ran off much of the clock with a 12-play possession that reached the Jeff Davis 28. But a Jaiden West quarterback sack on 3rd down and a Jaiden King interception on 4th down killed the drive. King returned the interception 79 yards to the Bacon end zone but a penalty brought the ball back to the Bacon 45.
Three plays after the turnover, Kailyn Biggins got loose around the right side and carried 22 yards to the Bacon 24. On the next play, Cam Vann took a pitch and sprinted into the end zone. Calderon’s kick upped the score to 37-0.
Durden ran 17 times for 114 yards and a touchdown and was 2-for-3 passing for 40 yards and 2 scores. Hill rushed 6 times for 46 yards, Laney 5 times for 42 yards, Coleman 7 times for 24 yards, Vann and Biggins had 1 run each for 24 and 22 yards, and Varnadore ran 2 times for 3 yards. Laney had a 20-yd. touchdown reception and Varnadore caught one pass for 23 yards and a score.
Marigus Sampson had 4 tackles and 2 assists, Jaiden West had 3 tackles, Hill had 2 tackles and 5 assists, Jeremiah Davis had 1 tackle and 2 assists, and Worthington, Vann and Sawyer Brewer each had 1 tackle and 1 assist. Worthington and Jaiden King both had interceptions.
STATISTICS
JD Bacon
1st Downs 18 10
Rush Yds. 275 67
Pass Yds. 40 18
Total Yds. 315 85
Turnovers 0 2
Score by quarters:
BCHS 0 0 0 0 – 0
JDHS 9 14 7 7 -37
JD – Kobe Hill tackle quarterback in end zone. 2-0.
JD – Jacob Laney, 20-yd. pass from Mark Durden. David Calderon kick. 9-0.
JD – Hill, 1-yd. run. Calderon kick. 16-0.
JD – Braylon Varnadore 23-yd. pass from Durden. Calderon kick. 23-0.
JD – Durden 1-yd. run. Calderon kick. 30-0.
JD – Cam Vann 24-yd. run. Calderon kick. 37-0.