(ROCKWALL, TX – September 19, 2015) Solid play on both sides of the ball for the Rockwall Yellowjackets led them to a 47-20 victory – their first of the season – in Friday night’s home conference game against the North Garland Raiders (2-2).
Rockwall (1-3) got its offense rolling early with a 20 yard touchdown pass from Will Reed to Sam Crawford with the extra point attempt no good to put the Jackets up by six. Reed would find Crawford again on a dump-off pass that went for a 42-yard score on Rockwall’s second drive of the game. A fake field goal pass attempt failed and the Jackets went up 12-0 with around five minutes left in the opening quarter.
Great pressure from the Jackets defense on the ensuing drive – including a five yard sack by senior Luke Termin – led to another three and out for the Raiders.
Caleb Broach used some shifty moves to take the punt back 58 yards for another Rockwall touchdown and a 19-0 lead by for the Jackets at the end of one.
Two bobbled snaps saw North Garland forced to punt inside its own five yard line, and the Jackets took advantage of the great field position with a 30-yard hookup from Reed to Tamba Juanah for another score making it 26-0.
A holding call on the Jackets’ next drive brought back what would’ve been a 45-yard touchdown toss from Reed to Broach, but Rockwall capitalized anyway with a 25-yard pass caught by Jake Hyvl for a touchdown and a 33-0 lead.
A hands to the face penalty on the defense converted a third and one for North Garland, and quarterback Zach Duffey found an opening along the sideline for a 30-yard touchdown run for the Raiders first score of the game with 2:50 left in the third.
The Jackets offense once again proved too much for the North Garland defense as Reed found a wide-open Crawford down the middle thanks to a beautifully run slant route for a 40-yard touchdown and a 40-7 lead.
Not to be shown up by the offense, the Jackets defense came up with a big play the following drive with a sack-fumble created by senior linebacker Chib Ihediwa and recovered for a scoop- and-score by fellow senior defensive lineman Kenneth Tobias. That final scoring play would be all the Jackets needed to finish off the Raiders and grab victory number one of the year at home.
The Jackets look for their first road win next week in a conference game against the Lakeview Centennial Patriots (3-1, 2-0 at home). Kickoff begins at 7:30 next Friday, Sept. 25.
Story and photos by Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News staff writer.
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Final score 47-20, Rockwall wins first game of the year added by Editor on
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