LOCUST GROVE - The challenge was certainly in front of the Greyhounds defense Friday against Locust Grove and a Wildcats team with a proven record of piling up yards through the air and putting up points to the tune of two games in a row with at least 40 points.
And although Locust Grove was able to move the ball to a degree, the Greyhounds stood tall in the red zone, stopping the Wildcats on fourth down inside the ten-yard line twice. That, combined with the Greyhounds having no trouble putting points on the board with a combined four touchdowns by Zacarri Thomas, who rushed for 90 yards along with Jaivon Solomon’s 140 receiving yards and one touchdown added up to a 48-13 win to wrap up the regular season with an 8-2 record.
“Coach (Will) Conner and our defensive guys, they did a phenomenal job. That was big for them not to score those points there,” Greyhounds head coach Mike Chastain said. “They had been scoring a lot of points, so it was big for us to keep them from scoring as much as they have here lately.”
Now, Jones County has the week off before the start of the state playoffs Nov. 15-16.
The break, put in place to allow other teams around the state to make up games if needed due to Hurricane Helene, gives JCHS time to rest and recuperate.
“It’s important to play well going into the playoffs, it’ll be good for us,” Chastain said. “We can get healthy. We had some people banged up, so giving some of our guys some time off when they are a bit banged up, I think that’ll be really good for us.”
The Greyhounds wasted little time getting their offense going Friday, and it all revolved around their top playmakers.
After a run by Thomas, reverse to Solomon and swing pass to Thomas, a quick one-yard run by Thomas put the Hounds ahead 7-0 less than three minutes into the game. A three and out by Jones County’s defense followed by a blocked punt led to a 14-0 lead with Solomon taking the ball 38 yards off a slant pass from quarterback Devin Edmonds for the score.
Locust Grove would eventually show some offensive muscle.
The Wildcats got their downfield passing game going, getting all the way to the one-yard line before being turned away on fourth down. But even after the Greyhounds led 21-0 on a 15-yard run by Thomas, the Wildcats did not fade, advancing all the way to the JCHS 10-yard line before turning it over on fourth down before getting on the board with 4:29 left in the first half, down 21-6. Jones County answered as Edmonds found Thomas from 55 yards away on a wheel route for a touchdown. Next, it was Edmonds turn as a four-yard keeper was set up by a DJ Ingram blocked punt.
The Wildcats scored as the first half ended to trail 34-13 for their second passing touchdown of the night, but JCHS hit back to start the second half, leading 41-13 on a 41-yard interception return by Zach Hurt for the Greyhounds, who went on to win 48-13.
“We knew had to keep the gas on the pedal with how good they are on offense,” Chastain said. “Their quarterback and the receivers that they have, they can score points quick, just like that.
