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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021
THE JACKSON HERALD
PAGE 5B
Panthers drop region opener at Walnut Grove
Photos by Kyle Funderburk
Jackson County’s defense stops Walnut Grove’s running back for a short gain Friday (Sept. 17) during
the Panthers’ 16-14 loss in their Region 8-AAAAA opener.
By Kyle Funderburk
kyle@mainstreetnews. com
WALNUT GROVE - Jack-
son County cruised downfield
on its opening drive Friday
(Sept. 17) to score an ear
ly touchdown, but it was all
downhill from there.
Walnut Grove won the field
position through the rest of
the first quarter to gain the
lead, and it held on the rest
of the way to defeat the Pan
thers 16-14. Jackson County
head coach Rich McWhorter
missed the game after be
ing ejected against Franklin
County last week. Assistant
head coach, and former Pan
ther quarterback Alex Craw
ford, took his spot Friday.
Jackson County (2-2, 0-1
Region 8-AAAAA) had
the ingredients for anoth
er fourth-quarter comeback
down 16-7 when Connor
Bejon it Jaden Cofer on a
55-yard touchdown pass
with 4:27 left in regulation.
The score cut the lead to 16-
14, and after a quick stop by
the defense, the Panthers re
claimed possession of the ball
at their own 39-yard line with
3:19 left in the game.
However, a personal foul
on a block negated a great
first-down run by Bejin and it
took away Jackson County’s
momentum. The drive ended
when the Warriors stopped
Bejin on a scramble at the 46-
yard line on fourth down. The
Warriors killed the remaining
76 seconds to win 16-14.
"We knew this game would
be similar to Franklin County
in terms of being a physical
game,” Crawford said. “I felt
like there were times where
we really met that challenge,
but if you don’t do it for four
quarters, you’re not going to
win the game.
"Ultimately, we fell short in
some areas. I’m disappointed
for our guys because they did
work hard, they did a lot of
stuff the right way. But it was
a hard-fought game. We gave
ourselves an opportunity, ball
in hand there at the end and
we just didn't get it done.”
The desperate scenario
Jackson County found itself
in at the end of the game was
a far cry from how it started
the game. After opening with
a three-and-out on defense,
the Panthers cruised down
the field with big plays on
the ground and in the air. The
66-yard drive ended with a
12-yard misdirection run by
Cofer which gave Jackson
County a 7-0 lead with 7:01
left in the first quarter.
The game started to shift on
the ensuing kickoff. Walnut
Grove returned the short kick
to its own 41-yard-line. The
Panthers’ defense got another
stop, but the Warriors pinned
Jackson County to its own
5-yard line with a great punt.
The Panthers failed to move
the ball and Walnut Grove
restarted at Jackson County's
46-yard line after a punt.
The Warriors only needed
a few plays to score on a 30-
yard touchdown run. Jackson
County blocked the point af
ter attempt to keep the score
at 7-6 with 32 seconds left in
the first quarter.
The momentum shifted
further into Walnut Grove’s
favor when it recovered a sur
prise onside kick around mid-
field. The Warriors marched
downfield and scored on a
three-yard power run up the
middle to take a 13-7 lead
with 8:09 left in the second
quarter.
“Those were hard to read
just to, but we do have an old
er team,” he said. "They’ve
been through the ups and
downs with everybody. We
truly had to do some soul
searching and refusing be
cause this is one of those
where you saw who needed
to grow up, seniors included.
"We need a kick in the chin
every now and again. That’s
what those moments were”
Jackson County’s defense
kept Walnut Grove’s offense
out of the end zone the rest
of the way, but the Panthers
couldn't find any success
on offense. Tre Ransom had
an uncharacteristically qui
et night on offense, rushing
11 times for 21 yards. The
Warriors negated his impact
which greatly limited the
Panthers' offense.
"[Walnut Grove] made a
couple of good adjustments
on defense,” he said. “When
ever we ended up doing some
different things up front, they
noticed. They really upped
their physicality, to be hon
est. We were the aggressor
that first drive, and they really
turned it on”
Though that nearly
changed early in the fourth
quarter. Jackson County fi
nally started winning the field
position battle in the third
quarter, which led to it taking
over at its own 46-yard line
late in the quarter.
Trailing 13-7, the Panthers
marched downfield until en
countering a fourth-and-two
scenario at Walnut Grove’s
23-yard line. Isaiah Maxey hit
Ransom on a screen pass and
the senior running back used
his agility and power to break
free for a touchdown. Howev
er, despite Ransom catching
the ball in the backfield, the
officials penalized the Pan
thers 10 yards for having an
ineligible receiver downfield.
Jackson County attempted
another fourth-down con
version and nearly scored
another touchdown. But the
pass to Anthony Finley in the
end zone was overthrown.
Walnut Grove took over at
its own 31-yard field goal
and marched all the way to
the Panthers’ 27-yard line to
attempt a 44-yard field goal.
The attempt was true and the
Warriors led 16-7 with 5:50
left in the game.
Despite having two pos
sessions in the final minutes
of the game, Jackson Coun
ty couldn’t find the winning
score and lost its Region
8-AAAAA opener 16-14.
The Panthers return to
action next Friday at home
against reigning and 19-time
region champs Clarke Cen
tral.
Bailey Hamm congratulates Trey Ransom for a big play on defense Friday
(Sept. 17) at Walnut Grove.
••***«{.. ,
Daniel Stites and Jaden Cofer celebrate after Cofer’s long touchdown catch to
cutthe score to 16-14 against Walnut Grove.
MJ Spurlin bursts through the line for a positive gain Friday (Sept. 17) at Wal
nut Grove.
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pd. 7/22 JEFFERSON
AMERICAN LEGION
* wear blue run to remember
CIRCLE OF REMEMBRANCE
FOR FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS
Post 56 • Meets 2nd Fri., 8:30 a.m.
Joe Ruttar, Commander
Phone (860) 949-4037
309 Lee St., Jefferson, GA
12969 .
Tri-County
J Shrine Club
3rd Thurs. of each month
7:00 p.m.
Rockwell Lodge 191
GAINESVILLE CHURCH
belonging to Christ i5g5o
Meets for Bible study
Wed. 7PM Sun. 9:30AM
Worship Sun. 10:30AM
2815 Wallace Road • Gainesville, GA
Free Home Bible Study • 770-835-4000
For info call (678) 928-9350. GCOC.org
12626
JEFFERSON ROTARY CEUB
Meets Tuesdays 12:30 p.m.
American Legion Post 56
309 Lee St., Jefferson
Les Crane, President
les.crane@bhhsgeorgia.com
fik 15252
sA? HUDSON LODGE
#294 F & A.M.
1364 Hospital Rd., Commerce
1st Thursday of each month
Meeting 7:30 p.m. • Dinner 6:30 p.m.
| Cameron Boswell 706-215-4282
Pilot Club of Jefferson
Meets 3rd Tuesday of
each month, 6:30 p.m.
Jefferson City Clubhouse
706-367-9313 or
706-693-4715 I2625
12971
MADISON COUNTY
DEMOCRATS
Meet Monthly
For Time, Date & Location:
Facebook:
MadisonCountyGaDemocrats
Or mcgademocrats.wixsite.com/mcdp
12 y BANKS COUNTY
jjfl| AMERICAN LEGION
rUpP Post 215
Meets each 3rd Tues., 6 p.m.
In Homer, GAat the
American Legion Building on
Historic Highway 441
~ 12972
J&p ROCKWELL
M LODGE F& A.M.
No. 191, Hoschton, GA
2nd Tues. at 7:30 p.m. • Dinner at 6:30 p.m.
www.rockwelllodgel91.com
Two blocks behind Larry's Garage
West Broad at Hall Street
BANKS COUNTY 13004
HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
Meets first Monday each month
7:00 p.m. in the Banks County
Historical Courthouse at
105 U. S.Hwy 441 North in
Homer, GA
12623
JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB
Meets 2nd & 4th Monday
Jefferson City Clubhouse
6:30 p.m.. (404) 368-4327
Noble (Bo) Jones, President
4660
St. Catherine Laboure
Catholic Church
Mass Schedule: Sat. 4:00 p.m. Sun. 10:00 a.m.
Monday ■ Friday 12:10 p.m, Spanish Sun. 8:00 a.m.
Website: www.stcatherinelabourega.org
706-367-7220
12619
JEFFERSON
UP AMERICAN LEGION
Post 56 • Meets 3rd Tues, 6:30 p.m.
Joe Ruttar, Commander
Phone (860) 949-4037
309 Lee St., Jefferson, GA
BANKS COUNTY
ill AMERICAN LEGION
Np*AUXILIARY - Post 215
Meets each 3rd Tues., 6 p.m.
In the American Legion Building
at 1350 Historic Homer Hwy.,
Homer, GA
JEFFERSON AREA 2620
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
www.jaba-ga.org
Meets 3rd Thursday • 11:45 a.m.
Historic Courthouse
Upstairs in courtroom
Call 706-367-5233
to advertise your
meeting
date, time and place.
KIWANIS 8
OF JEFFERSON
Meetings every 2 nd & 4 th
Monday at Noon
Beef O’Bradys
Contact Darryl Gumz at
770-605-6656 for more info.
11067
JACKSON COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Meetings at 6:30 p.m.
Meets 3rd Thursday of each month
^ Bank OZK
^^1465 Old Swimming Pool Rd.
Meeting is open to all who wish to attend.
www.jcdcga.org