Jackson Controls FAC Football Lead In Win Over Miami Trace

Article Presented By McDonald’s, “I’m Lovin’ It!”

A 20-0 run in the second half propelled the Jackson Ironmen to a 43-27 victory over the Miami Trace Panthers Friday at Jackson High School’s Alumni Stadium. The win pushes (3-0/6-2) Jackson to sole possession of the FAC lead with two games to play, while Miami Trace drops to (2-1/6-2).

The game see-sawed back and forth for the first two-and-a-half quarters with the Panthers’ final lead at 21-16 at halftime, then witnessed a complete domination by Jackson’s offense in the second half.

Miami Trace started the scoring when Cooper Enochs scooped up a Jackson fumble and ran 28 yards for the touchdown at 10:05 of the first period. Levi Morrison’s PAT kick put the Panthers up 7-0.

Jackson answered quickly, scoring on their next play from scrimmage on a 70 yard TD bomb from Bodhi Wolford to Ryan Seimetz at 9:48 in the period. Thatcher Brown’s PAT tied the game at 7-7.

The Ironmen grabbed their first lead, driving 10 plays and 55 yards, as Brown kicked a 38 yard field goal for a 10-7 advantage with 9:42 remaining in the second quarter.

The Panthers answered with a 6 play/72 yard scoring drive on their next possession when Trey Robinette connected with Gaige Stuckey on a 34 yard scoring strike at 6:42 of the second quarter. The PAT gave Miami Trace the 14-10 lead.

The final half-minute of the first half proved to be an offensive big play fireworks display starting with an 88 yard touchdown pass from Wolford to Gaven Jones with 37 seconds remaining for a 16-14 lead as the PAT kick was missed. Miami Trace’s Austin Brown then took the ensuing kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown for a 21-16 lead at halftime.

The second half proved to be a complete turn-around as Jackson’s offensive line took control with running back Nolan Johnson shouldering the burden of toting the ball on each play of a 67 yard scoring drive in 9 plays, finishing with an 8 yard TD run. The two-point PAT was missed, leaving the Ironmen with a 22-21 advantage at 8:02 of the third quarter.

Jackson’s next drive went 71 yards in 9 plays as Johnson scored on a 10 yard run for a 29-21 lead with 1:26 remaining in the third period. Getting the ball back after holding Miami Trace to punt, the Ironmen went 50 yards in just 3 plays as Wolford found Jones again on a 45 yard TD pass for a 36-21 margin at 10:13 left in the game.

Miami Trace made a game of it, driving 40 yards in three plays at 6:50 to play, but the PAT kick was blocked, leaving the score 36-27.

Jackson put the game away with 1:51 left on a 19 yard scoring pass from Wolford to Seimetz for the 43-27 final score.

Jackson’s balance offense totaled 485 yards, with Bodhi Wolford throwing 8/10 for 279 yards and 4 touchdowns, while the offense rushed for 206 yards. Nolan Johnson accounted for 167 of that on 31 carries, scoring two touchdowns. Wolford and Johnson were both named Litter Media Radio’s “McDonald’s Players of the Game.”

Miami Trace racked up 251 yards with Trey Robinette throwing 12/21 for 158 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. The Panthers were held to 93 yards on the ground.