Spain parked: BJHS holds off Jaguar comeback
BY STEVEN KILPATRICK / For The Record
Spain Park’s second half surge was not enough Sept. 24 after giving up 28 straight points in the first half, losing to the Bob Jones Patriots 28-21.
It was all Bob Jones in the first half of the game.
The Patriots got off to a quick start with senior running back Collins Moore running back the opening kickoff 99-yards to take an early 7-point lead. The Patriot defense kept the Jaguars off the field, forcing a punt on the first four drives and holding on a short fourth down to get the ball back to their offense. After giving up 28 straight points to Bob Jones, the Jaguars defense would not give up. Senior defensive tackle Emmanuel Cooper intercepted a pass and returned it 36 yards for a Spain park touchdown, their first of the game with a little over a minute left in the in the first half. On the very next drive, the jaguars forced Bob Jones to try for a long field goal and Emmanuel Cooper, again stepped up, and blocked the kick to keep the points off the board. Bob Jones went into the locket room with a 21-point lead.
With an encouraging defensive stand going into halftime, Spain Park came out of the locker room with a great bit of momentum. The jaguar defense forced a punt on the first drive and the offense took the ball 80 yards down the field, capping off the drive with a two yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Kevron McMillan To cut the lead to 14. Spain Park was not done yet. The jaguar defense forced two sacks and recovered a fumbled snap to take the ball back on their own 17. Three plays later, McMillan would put another touchdown on the board with a 5 yard run.
Everything was going Spain Park’s way in the second half play after play. The Jaguar defense forced the Patriots off the field again and took the ball over on their own 9-yard line. Driving the ball down field, McMillan kept pushing for first downs. The patriot defense ended the drive by forcing a fumble on the 13th play of the drive to take the ball back.
After chewing up most of the clock in the fourth quarter on the next drive, Bob Jones was forced to try a 37-yard field goal to put them up by two possessions. After a large cheer from the crowd, the kick was wide left, and Spain Park had 1:50 left to drive 80 yards and tie the game with a touchdown. On the second play of the drive, Bob Jones’ Defensive Back Greg Gilbert intercepted Nick Mullins pass to seal the victory for the Patriots. ╥They took the wind out of our sails early with the big kick-off return early. But, I thought we just came back and played hard.╙ Spain Park interim coach Ben Burgeson said after the game.
Spain Park finished the game with 322 total yards, with 110 of those coming on the ground from running back Kevron McMillan. Bob Jones racked up 425 yards for the game, with 227 of those yards coming from senior running back Trai Ragland.
I am very happy to get a win here. Any time you can beat a Region 6A team down here in Birmingham at their place, you’ve done something special.╙ Bob Jones head coach Kevin Rose said about the win.
