This game will be remembered in Mineola lore for generations. It had to have reawakened the excitement of that magical 2016 championship season. 

On Friday, Oct. 16, the Mineola Yellowjackets defeated the Pottsboro Cardinals 57-49 at Meredith Memorial Stadium. It was a classic in all respects.

There were many angles from which to dissect this game. The prevailing characteristic, however, was the amazing level of proficiency demonstrated by both teams. 

There were only six penalties committed. The technique and execution by both teams was of the highest quality. The game film could be used as a training aid for teams from peewee league to the pros.

Of the 22 combined possessions of the teams, 15 resulted in touchdowns (Mineola eight, Pottsboro seven). There was one lost turnover (Mineola intercepted a pass for a touchdown), three turnovers-on-downs (Mineola one, Pottsboro two), two punts (Mineola), and one missed field goal (Mineola at the end of regulation). 

But this game was not a wide-open jaunt through porous defenses. Both defensive teams played hard and offered formidable resistance. They also played with amazing technique and consistency. The offenses were simply better honed than the defenses. 

Pottsboro ran a fairly balanced attack between passing and running. They did require Mineola to defend the whole field, as their three primary offensive formations had either four or five receivers. 

The Yellowjackets, as expected, ran their power running attack, led by Trevion Sneed – who finished with 283 yards on 32 carries. 

To a casual observer, it might appear that Mineola runs the same running plays over and over, but therein lies some of the genius and beauty of this game. The Yellowjackets may run a half dozen plays to attack a specific gap in the opponents’ defense, but they do so with several different team techniques. Mineola may vary backfield combinations, motion, line alignment, blocking schemes and direction, all to attack the very same point in the defense. 

Both offenses were amazingly efficient, but it was Pottsboro that had the most early success. Scoring on their first three possessions, the Cardinals were up 21-7 at the end of the first quarter. 

Mineola could not keep pace. Although they scored on their initial possession when Sneed broke through the right side for a 44-yard score, their next three possessions were a turnover-on-downs and two punts. 

With Pottsboro up 28-7 Mineola took possession at their own 33-yard line. It was a critical juncture of the game. What followed was a seven-play scoring drive featuring Sneed and halfback Dawson Pendergrass, who scored from 16 yards out. 

On the very next Pottsboro offensive play Pendergrass fell back off of his coverage of the slot receiver to undercut a pass to a Cardinal wide receiver. He returned the interception 35 yards for a score. In a flash Mineola had closed the gap to 28-20.

Each team added a score before the half. At the break, Pottsboro led 35-28.

The second half was Mineola football. Three scoring drives consumed long stretches of game time. The Yellowjackets exploited weaknesses in the Cardinals defense over and over. In their three second-half scoring drives, the Jackets did not throw a pass; they simply wore out the Pottsboro defense.

Mineola took its first lead with 2:30 to play in the third quarter as Pendergrass took a Sneed handoff and flew around the left end for a 27-yard score. 

Pottsboro knotted the score on the last play of the third quarter.  Mineola then burned half of the final quarter on an 11-play, 64-yard drive. It featured two classic Trevion Sneed runs. Each was a mini-highlight reel of its own, as Sneed turned, twisted, bowled over, out-accelerated and generally ripped through the Cardinal defense. 

Pottsboro needed a score, and they proved their mettle. They answered by driving 90 yards and tying the score with 50 seconds left in regulation. 

An excellent last drive by Mineola resulted in a missed field goal. The game went to overtime. 

The Yellowjacket defense had an outstanding series in overtime. They stuffed the initial run of the Cardinals and harassed the quarterback and receivers in the next three passing attempts. Pottsboro was held scoreless.

Three crushing runs by Sneed and Pendergrass put the winning points on the board, and the celebrations began. 

Coach Blackwell summed up the experience to his team, “The effort, the attitude, the toughness, the mindset to do whatever it takes…we fought, we played hard, we picked each other up when we needed to. We did the little things we had to do to give ourselves a chance.  I am awfully proud of you.”

Sneed shared, “It was something else fighting back. It just felt we were deep into it. We really care about this sport.”

The Yellowjackets are on the road Friday to face the Howe Bulldogs.