By By Adam Robinson
sports editor
The Jackson Aggies came into W.S. Neal stadium Friday night knowing the only way the could have a shot at making the playoffs would be to defeat the Eagles.
Consider Friday nights 30-0 win over W.S. Neal a check as the Aggies used 187 yards passing from quarterback Darius Austin and a stiff defense that held W.S. Neal to 116 yards of total offense and only three first downs.
With the win Jackson improved to 3-5 overall and 3-3 in region play while W.S. Neal fell to 4-4 overall and 3-3 in region play.
W.S. Neal is in a must-win situation next Friday against rival T.R. Miller in the Battle of Murder Creek. Miller improved to 5-3 overall and 4-2 in region play with a win over Hillcrest.
Jackson was able to strike early and often as the Aggie offense was quick to get on the board as it only took four plays for them to score. Quarterback Darius Austin connected with Corey Besteda on a 60-yard touchdown for the first offensive score of the night as Jackson took a 6-0 lead after a failed PAT with 10:30 left in the first quarter.
After a W.S. Neal punt on their offensive series, Jackson took aver at the their own 41-yard line. After a negative rush on first down and an incomplete pass on second down, Jackson was able to pick up nine yards on third down to set up and fourth and two at the 49-yard line. After lining up in punt formation, Andrew Ezell took the fake punt and went seven yards to the Neal 44. Ten plays later Austin connected with Tony Ivory for a touchdown to extend the Aggie lead to 12-0 with 4:23 left in the first quarter.
After alternating punts on their next two offensive series, W.S. Neal set up at their own 11-yard line after and Aggie punt. After a 4-yard run by Jeremy Nicholson moved the ball to the 15-yard, a bad snap was recovered in the end zone by Blue Eagle quarterback Donald Peacock for a safety to make the Aggie lead 14-0 with 7:13 left in the second quarter.
After the free kick by Neal, Jackson moved the ball to the 14-yard line where John David Mitchell connected on a 31-yard field goal with 4:11 left to make the Aggie lead 17-0.
Jackson would add another touchdown seconds before the half when Austin had a 1-yard keeper to put the Aggies up 23-0 with 15.9 seconds left in the half.
W.S Neal came out of the second half needing to make something happen and running back Akeem Green did that as he picked up the first Blue Eagle first down in the game on the first play from scrimmage with a 28-yard run to the 41-yard line. After moving the ball to the 50-yard line, W.S. Neal faced a fourth and one and turned the ball over on downs as Peacock was sacked for a 7-yard loss giving the ball back to the Aggies.
After holding the Aggies to a punt, Neal took over at their own 1-yard line. After a 1-yard gain on first down, Brad Chancey intercepted Peacock on the next play at the 16-yard line. Jackson then scored the last offensive points of the night for either team with a 8-yard touchdown by Ezell to make the lead 30-0 with 4:07 left in the third quarter as Jackson went on for the win.
W.S. Neal will face off against T.R. Miller this Friday night at home at 7 p.m.
If W.S. Neal beats Miller and Jackson defeats Hillcrest, it will set up a three-way tie. If Miller defeats W.S. Neal in next wee’s game, W.S. Neal is out of the playoff race.