BROOKLET — In four region games heading in to Friday night’s tilt against Southeast Bulloch, the Jenkins Warriors’ defense had allowed a grand total of 15 points.
So it wasn’t a surprise when they held the Yellow Jackets to 104 total yards and three points as SEB fell to Jenkins 34-3.
“They’re a good football team,” said SEB Head Coach Barrett Davis. “They’re physical and they didn’t make many mistakes or miss many tackles. They made us earn every inch.”
For a half, the Yellow Jackets were able to stay close to the Warriors, trailing only 13-3 at halftime.
Jenkins jumped out to an early lead on a 36-yard touchdown run by Damazzio Harris on the Warriors’ second drive of the game.
From there, however, the Yellow Jacket (3-3, 2-2 Region 3-AAA) defense stiffened, until the first play of the second quarter. Facing a fourth and four, Jenkins (6-1, 5-0) rolled the dice and decided to forgo the field goal. Quarterback Patrick Blake found Kyree McLean in the endzone to put Jenkins up 13-0.
Southeast Bulloch responded with their best drive of the night, marching 40 yards down to the Warriors’ 25-yard line. Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets, the drive stalled and Jonah Jones came in to connect on a 42-yard field goal to trim the deficit to 10.
Harris scored his second touchdown of the night midway through the third quarter on a 31-yard run to give Jenkins a 21-3 lead. Harris finished the night with 131 yards on 12 carries and two scores.
The Warriors added two short touchdown runs in the fourth, one by Ronald Cooper and one by Donavin Hall to cap the scoring.
On the night, Jenkins ran for 268 yards and added another 111 through the air.
Despite the score, Davis though his team played well and fought hard.
“I thought both our offensive and defensive lines played well tonight,” he said. “They have some guys over there that are getting division one scholarship offers and you can see why tonight. They’re a tough, physical team.”
Offensively, Ethan Shannon led the way for the Yellow Jackets with 42 yards rushing on 11 carries. The SEB offense did manage nine first downs on the night, but many of those were as a result of penalties.
Jamari Daniel added 26 yards and Adrian Taylor rushed for 23 as well for the Yellow Jackets.
As the game wore on, both teams lost their cool a time or two with personal foul or unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
Even with the loss, the Yellow Jackets remain in the playoff hunt. They have a week off before facing the other dominant team in the region, Benedictine, on October 25, also at home.
“We still have a chance to make the playoffs. We just have to keep working hard and getting better,” Davis said. “I’m proud of our guys. They never quit.”
