GREYHOUND FOOTBALL
With strong execution in multiple phases of the game, the Greyhounds took care of Dacula in Friday’s home opener at Greyhound Field, winning 44-19.
Two areas where Jones County was unable to get much traction in the season opener against Northside were very present against Dacula. The Greyhounds rolled up 212 rushing yards, nearly twice last week’s number, and also forced six turnovers, four of which came in the first quarter as three Falcons miscues were converted into a 19-0 lead less than eight minutes into the contest.
“I felt like our guys played hard. The big goal this week was to be a lot more physical, and I think the guys answered the bell,” Greyhounds head coach Mike Chastain said. “It showed in all phases of the game.”
Jones County will look to carry that momentum into Friday’s game at Perry. The Panthers offense appears to again be one able to put up plenty of points, losing last week’s season opener to Houston County 42-35.
“They’re probably the best team we’ve played in the season. Coach (Kevin) Smith and those guys do a phenomenal job,” Chastain said. “They’re playing hard, and we’ll have to match that intensity and play as hard as we did against Dacula. If we can match the intensity that we had against Dacula, it’ll be good for us.”
One key on Friday will likely be success on the ground similar to what JCHS was able to do against Dacula. The Greyhounds’ Andrew Mullis, David Little and Jalyn Dekle carried a bulk of the weight of the running game. Taking advantage of offensive line play in front of them, the three accounted for 25 of the carries among the Jones County’s running backs with Dekle rushing 10 times for 110 yards, Little gaining 49 yards on seven carries and Mullis having a workman-like night between the tackles, rushing eight times for 28 yards.
“He got some tough yards,” Chastain said of Little. “He broke tackles and ran it really tough, physical and hard.”
Chastain pointed to the offense being prepared by offensive line coaches Trent Cook and Daniel Brinson as well as running backs coach Jay Jones and tight ends coach David Denson as keys for success on the ground.
“Coach Brinson and Coach Cook, they really got those guys fired up and Coach (David) Denson with the tight ends and Coach (Jay) Jones with the running backs, they did a really good job of putting a good run plan in.”
All of that freed up Zion Ragins to make plays either on the edge or on intermediate passing routes, and he took advantage with four catches for 99 yards, two being touchdowns.
Quarterbacks Judd Anderson and Devin Edmonds again alternated drives, but Anderson had a more productive night, going 10-of-15 for 174 yards and four touchdowns. Edmonds, who at the helm was able to drive the offense into Dacula territory multiple times, was 3-of-8 for 33 yards.
Dacula had a severe case of turnovers early on Friday, and the Greyhounds feasted on the offering. Already up 7-0 after a 20-yard touchdown on a screen from Anderson to Ragins with 10:18 to go in the first quarter, Roderick Freeman came up with an interception, and his second of the night with 3:58 left in the first was returned 19 yards for a touchdown. That came right after a 23-yard pass to a leaping Tyler Stewart in the back of the end zone was set up by a fumbled pitch by Dacula.
After Dacula got on the board with a 30-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, the Greyhounds answered with a scoring drive that ended on a six-yard run by Anderson for a 26-7 advantage that would shrink to 26-13 at the half.
Dacula being within close touch of the lead did not last. Thanks to offensive line play and a defense that only allowed one more touchdown and a 33 percent third-down conversion rate, Jones County pulled away.
“We’re really proud of our defensive staff for being able to hold those guys to (that many) points,” Chastain said. “All of those guys had their position group ready to play hard.”
The second-half offensive surge started with an electrifying 68-yard slant from Anderson to Ragins. A sustained drive early in the third quarter ended on a two-yard run by Anderson, who also hooked up with Jaivon Solon for an eight-yard score in the fourth quarter. The touchdown capped off an active night for Solomon, who had five catches for 50 yards.
