Jacarius Jordan intercepts a pass in Jacksonville's 46-0 victory over LR Hall.By RAY BENTON
Special to The Leader
Jacksonville got one in the victory column in conference play Friday night.
The Red Devils were expected to beat the winless Hall Warriors, but maybe not in such dominating fashion. Jacksonville showed out for homecoming, hammering Hall 46-0.
“We had to have this one,” Jacksonville coach Mark Whatley said. “We were 0-2 with backs against the wall. We needed to come out and play well and get some momentum.”
The Red Devil defense provided all the momentum the offense would need early in the game. Jacksonville scored touchdowns on its first four drives and led 25-0 at the end of the first quarter.
That was largely because of the field position the defense provided. Hall’s first four possessions ended in two turnovers and two punts, with one of the punts blocked. The Red Devils’ first-quarter scoring drives were 27, 9, 22 and 42 yards, respectively.
“Our defense really stepped up and put us in some good situations,” Whatley said. “They gave us the ball four times on the plus side. You can’t ask for much better than that, and we were able to execute on offense and take advantage of it.”
The Red Devils came out throwing after sophomore linebacker Michael Thornabar got the first of his three fumble recoveries.
Two completions by quarterback Logan Perry went for 26 yards to the Hall 1 and Antwon Mosby ran the final yard for the first of his four touchdowns.
After that, Jacksonville didn’t need to throw very much. Mosby and John Johnson combined for 118 rushing yards in the first half and 202 total yards.
Johnson led the way rushing with 11 carries for 99 yards and a score. Mosby had 10 carries for 45 yards and his four scores and four receptions for 58 yards.
D’vone McClure had a 21-yard touchdown run and Doug Sprouse carried one in from 14 yards out to round out the scoring for the Red Devils.
Jacksonville also had several standouts on defense. Junior Christon Anderson got a sack and three tackles for losses and was in the offensive backfield on almost every play. Sophomore Jacarius Jordan got two picks and the team racked up five total sacks.
Hall finished with just 86 total yards, with 81 of it coming on three big plays. One was a reverse flea-flicker, another was a 28-yard scramble after quarterback Roosevelt Harris was flushed out of the pocket.
About the only positive thing to come out of Hall’s base offense was a 29-yard run down the right sideline by tailback Stephon Watson.
Watson led Hall with 13 carries for 59 yards.
Jacksonville, 2-4 and 1-2 in conference play, finished with 311 total yards as the victory kept alive hopes for a 6A-East Conference playoff berth.
The Red Devils are on the road next week at Searcy before returning home to face Parkview.