Polson leads Bob Jones comeback win over Buckhorn

Miles Strickland had a big game for Bob Jones
(Contributed/Tammie Stephenson)

NEW MARKET- With starting quarterback Jeremy Frye lost for the season, Bob Jones needed a big game from sophomore backup quarterback Brady Polson to end a two game losing streak. Polson responded with two touchdown passes leading the Patriots to a 41-33 win over Buckhorn in a key Class 7A, Region 4 showdown.

Polson had been getting reps all season but head coach Kevin Rose gave him his first varsity start after competition in practice.

“He played outstanding, showed a lot of poise, ran the offense, didn’t try to force anything and our offensive line picked up their game and allowed us to run the football,” Rose said.

Polson had lots of help.

Bob Jones was trailing with 5:24 left in the game when Deondre Douglas took a short pass across the middle and shook off nearly every defender on the Buckhorn defense and raced 50 yards for the touchdown that put Bob Jones ahead after Matthew Stephenson’s extra point.

“Deondre wore #9 in honor of Jeremy and we had a wildcat package he ran well and he made a big play to tie the game,” Rose said. “Sometimes you’ve got to have a player step up and make plays. To be a hero and in that moment he was.”

Bob Jones’ defense scored a touchdown to ensure there would be no comeback. With Buckhorn backed up, Trey Lewis sacked Buckhorn quarterback Dalen Morris and knocked the ball loose and Jeffrey Benton recovered the fumble in the end zone to make it 41-33.

For the game, Polson hit 13 of 23 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns. He rebounded from a shaky start in which he threw an interception and fumbled a handoff in the first quarter.

Brady Polson throws a pass
(Contributed/Tammie Stephenson)

Buckhorn struck first on an 84-yard run by Jamar McDonald. Bob Jones answered with Miles Strickland’s 55-yard touchdown run.

Polson was intercepted on a pass to his end zone from 40 yards out. He later connected with Torrey Hunt for a 28-yard touchdown after a Buckhorn fumble to put Bob Jones up 20-7 after the first quarter.

Buckhorn got a 46 yard touchdown pass from Morris to Mackenzie Graham to cut the lead but Polson led a drive with completions to Hunt and Jonathan Rice. Strickland ran 16 yards for a touchdown and Bob Jones led 27-20 at the half.

Strickland led Bob Jones in rushing with 21 carries for 143 yards. Douglas had 12 carries for 44 yards and two catches for 53 yards.

“We don’t have many run plays for him because he is a precision throwing quarterback,” Douglas said of Polson. “We had to step up our game and pick him up early in the game after the two turnovers. He kept playing his game and pulled it out for us.”

Bob Jones is now 4-2, 3-1 in region. If they win out they will finish #2 in the region.

“It feels good to get back in the victory column,” Rose said. “Our effort got better. This is a tough place to play. It’s a big region win, we got a long way to go but we’re gong in the right direction.