FLOWOOD — Jackson Prep picked a good night to run the ball.
Behind the running of Wade Smith and Herrin Goodman the Patriots held off a late rally to knock off UMS-Wright (Ala.) 42-35 in the season opener at Patriot Field on Friday night.
“I feel like we did a really good job of running the ball,” said Jackson Prep coach Doug Goodwin. “Our offensive line did well up front and our backs did a great job running. Glad to be 1-0.”
Prep scored on their opening drive of the game as Luke Essary found Asher Reynolds on a 30-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 with 7:12 left in the first quarter.
The Patriots stretched the lead to 14-0 on a Smith 9-yard touchdown run with 1:32 left.
Prep extended their lead to 21-0 with 9:11 left in the second quarter on a Goodman 23-yard touchdown run.
Smith added a 15-yard score with 4:10 left in the first half to give the Patriots a 28-0 lead.
UMS-Wright then began their comeback. The Bulldogs got a 13-yard touchdown pass from Max Fowler to Ty Mabrey to cut the lead to 28-7 with 1:22 left.
After a fumble, Fowler dove into the end zone from three yards out on the last play of the first half to cut the Patriots lead to 28-14 at halftime.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Patriots extended their lead to 35-14 as Essary found Goodman on a 35-yard touchdown pass with 9:28 left in the fourth quarter.
Fowler then found Mabrey from 25 yards out with 6:25 left to cut the Prep lead to 35-21. The two connected again from 11 yards out with 2:25 left to cut the lead to 35-28.
Smith then scampered into the end zone from 31 yards out to extend the Prep lead to 42-28 with 1:33 left.
Fowler found Mabry from 14 yards out to cut the Patriots lead to 42-35 with 49 seconds left.
Prep was able to run out the clock after recovering a squib kick with 44 seconds left.
“We had a great start and had the game under control and let them back in it,” said Jackson Prep coach Doug Goodwin. “It’s the way football goes. Gave them momentum at halftime, but we regained the momentum on a good drive that we scored on. It’s a big win, but a lot to improve on.”
The Patriots (1-0) rushed for 329 yards total.
Smith finished with 188 yards rushing on 31 carries with three touchdowns to lead the rushing attack, while Goodman added eight rushes for 133 yards and two scores.
Essary went 7-of-15 passing for 121 yards with two touchdowns.
“We had them in the first half the entire time, but they stacked the box then we adjusted and in the second half they made some plays, so we had to fight to the end and I’m really proud of how the team played,” Smith said. “We ran straight up the middle to start, then ran outside zone and that really worked for the most part and then went back up the middle to end the game. Proud to be 1-0.”
Fowler passed for 286 yards with four touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown to lead UMS-Wright (Ala.). Mabrey caught six passes for 114 yards and four touchdowns for the Bulldogs (0-1).
“There was so much that went wrong in the first half, but this team we wanted them to experience a game against a really experienced Prep team and they did a really good job, but I’m proud of the kids for staying in it and for fighting to the end,” said UMS-Wright coach Sam Williams. “We got a lot of things to clean up, but it’s the first game you know you have to do that. It’s a team game, it’s team football, and you have to be good on both sides of the ball and we weren’t good enough on either side tonight.”
