There is no such thing as a typical football game. However, Mineola’s convincing 30-14 season-opening win against the visiting Canton Eagles featured many characteristics of Yellowjacket football. 

Trailing 14-7 at the half, the Mineola side made excellent adjustments and came out of the locker room with renewed sense of discipline and vigor. After giving up 231 yards in the first half to a talented and multi-threat Canton offense, the Yellowjacket defense practically shut them down in the second half, holding them to a mere 32 yards – an amazing feat.

Offensively, Mineola also changed their methods and their tempo. From the opening whistle of the second half, the offense was in attack mode and imparted their will on the visitors. This was likewise highlighted on the stats sheet. The Yellowjackets chalked up 221 yards of offense in the second half, after an anemic first half, which saw them total only 85. 

Through the rough first half start, it was timely individual efforts which kept the game close and averted a larger deficit. After giving up a score in the first minute of play, Mineola was forced to punt in their first possession. Punter Dawson Pendergrass speared a high snap from center with one hand and was able to get the punt away, averting a tragic error. 

Minutes later, with Canton on the move in Mineola territory, Yellowjacket Kobe Kendrick sacked the quarterback for a big loss, ending the drive. Kendrick had an outstanding game from his defensive end position.

Two big plays featured in Mineola’s initial scoring drive were a classic Trevion Sneed cutback run for 11 yards, and a T.J. Moreland to Dawson Pendergrass connection on a go route for 36 yards.

Moreland ended the next Eagles possession with an interception of a post route which bounced off the receiver’s hands.

Mineola tied the game early in the second half behind the power of Sneed’s ball-carrying. His 53-yard scoring run was classic Sneed, crashing through the left side and cutting back to slice diagonally across the secondary to the end zone. 

The tie was broken by a safety after a Pendergrass punt trapped the Eagles on their goal line. The Yellowjackets then stretched their lead with a 13-play scoring drive to make the score 23-14 with four minutes to play. The score came on a beautifully-lobbed 25-yard scoring strike from Moreland to Pendergrass.

Sneed, who played at the linebacker position instead of his usual defensive end spot, undercut a Canton slant route on the next series, intercepted the pass and scored. It sealed the win, and demonstrated the running talents of Sneed as he juked, accelerated, flattened a tackler with a stiff arm and sped to the end zone. 

In addition to the more familiar Yellowjackets, center Dawson Elmore had an outstanding game leading the offensive line. Additionally, kick specialists Nathan Rojas (kick-offs) and Gustavo Sanchez (place-kicker and kick-offs) combined for faultless performances. 

Mineola will take heart in how they came back to overwhelmingly win the game against a strong opponent.