Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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. FOR ONLY $5 PER MONTH you can list your group’s meetings! Banks County News • Jackson Herald Madison County Journal • Braselton News 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