GRIDIRON FINALE
DOUGLAS – Going against an offense that had run all over the opposition all season long and a running back that had stockpiled yards for an undefeated and top-rated team, Jones County gave the Coffee Trojans all that they could handle for a better part of the way on Friday at Jardine Stadium.
The Greyhounds’ defense was able to force the Trojans into multiple three and outs and put themselves into position to rally back, but the Trojans had enough defensive answers. That, combined with leaning heavily on running back Fred Brown, added up to Coffee getting a 45-14 win, padding the final result with a pick six and another late score set up by an interception.
With the loss, Jones County’s senior class will graduate with a record 34-16, a span that has included two region titles, one semifinal appearance, and one quarterfinal berth.
Jones County, which initially trailed 17-0, fought back to be down 24-14 early in the fourth quarter before things went the way of the Trojans.
Jones County wraps up its season with an 8-4 record, while Coffee remains unbeaten and advances to the state quarterfinals against Cass. Of Jones County’s four losses this season, three of them are to teams that will be playing in the quarterfinals this week.
The Trojans led 7-0 with 1:26 left in the first quarter on an 11-yard quarterback keeper by Maurice Hansley, but it was nearly Jones County that led first. On the Greyhounds’ second offensive drive of the night, quarterback Devin Edmonds found Tyler Stewart on a deep route. Stewart hauled the pass in, getting all the way to the Trojans 12-yard line before being pulled down from behind.
The euphoria of a chance to take the lead on road would be quenched shortly thereafter. On a quick run up the middle one play later, one official appeared to designate the ball carrier was down, but the ball was then fumbled loose. The play was ruled a fumble, and the Trojans recovered, going on to lead 10-0 on a 29-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
The slow start for Jones County’s offense, whose ability to execute big plays via the screen pass was limited by the speed of the Trojans on defense, continued when a long pass from Edmonds to Ragins was intercepted with inside four minutes left in the half. Coffee turned that into a 17-0 lead on a 21-yard run by running back Fred Brown.
The Trojans relied heavily on the run against the Greyhounds, passing just eight times on 68 offensive plays. Brown did rush for a season-high 235 yards, but his 33 carries were also the most in a single game this year. Jones County’s defense held him to 4.5 yards per carry, his second-lowest single-game total of the season.
But the Greyhounds, making use of quick offensive tempo, fought back. On third down, Edmonds found Ragins, who was streaking downfield. The speedster hauled the pass in, racing 73 yards for a touchdown to get JCHS on the board.
“They’ve got some really good speed. They pulled everything they could out of the hat there. [Edmonds] is good. They did some good things then they went to that no huddle, and we couldn’t get our blitzes called in,” Coffee head coach Michael Coe told DouglasNow. com.
Jones County had a chance to score again before halftime when Cohen Barfield recovered an onside kick with 40 seconds to go, but Jones County could not take advantage, going into the half down by 10 points.
The Greyhounds nearly made another break of their own coming out of the break, taking another crack at an onside kick. Jones County appeared to recover the ball, but game officials ruled the ball did not travel 10 yards, handing the ball over to the Trojans. Coffee seized the opportunity, needing less than a minute to lead 24-7.
But back came the Greyhounds.
On fourth down from just outside the Coffee red zone, Edmonds found Ragins from 23 yards away, drawing Jones County to within 24-14 with 9:45 left in the third. Ragins had three catches for 102 yards, and Stewart hauled in nine passes for 111 yards. Edmonds was 18-of-36 for 217 yards.
Jones County’s defense stepped up, holding Coffee to one field goal that fell short and another three and out, but in what would be one of defining spans of the night, Jones County’s offense could not take advantage. The Trojans, however, did, going up 31-14 on a run by
