Sophomore quarterback Chase Jumper accounted for three touchdowns, two of them passing, and sophomore running back Albert George ran for two touchdowns as Jonesboro ripped Jacksonville 40-0 on Friday night at Jan Crow Field in Jacksonville.
"I thought our defense played exceptional," Jonesboro Coach Randy Coleman said. "Getting a lot of three-and-outs, takeaways and points on the board. I can't wait to watch some film on some of the stuff they did.
"Other than the pick in the end zone in the first half, I was pleased with the way our offense played. We've had a little trouble running the ball so far, but four running backs had a really good game for us."
The game was marred by players from both sides getting involved in tussles twice, the second time coming in the fourth quarter with three players (two from Jonesboro) getting ejected for fighting.
The Hurricane (3-2, 2-0 6A-East) took control as soon as the game started, covering an onside kick and scoring eight plays later on a 3-yard run by Jumper. Jonesboro's Bryant Guerra then recovered a backward pass and took it 15 yards for a touchdown, and the Titans (2-3, 0-2) never recovered.
[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Click here for more scores, recaps and photos]
Jacksonville managed to get a first down on its second possession, but it was followed by 18 yards of losses and an incomplete pass to force a punt.
Nine plays later, after a Jumper pass was intercepted then fumbled back to Jonesboro, Dontarius McDonald scored from 9 yards out to increase the lead to 21-0
Two possessions later, Jonesboro's Jamaricus Wright intercepted a Cam Holston pass and returned it to the Titans' 15. George scored on the next play to make it 27-0.
On the first play after the kickoff, Jacksonville lost a fumble at its own 17. Jumper passed to Kendrick Bates for 15 yards to the 2. A face-mask penalty and an offsides call against Jacksonville put the ball 18 inches from the goal from where George ran over for the touchdown and a 33-0 halftime lead.
Seven plays into the third quarter, Jonesboro scored on a 26-yard pass from Jumper to Tate Lutes for a 40-0 lead with 9:15 remaining in the quarter.
Sports on 09/29/2018