The Mineola Yellowjackets cruised to a 50-0 win over the visiting Howe Bulldogs Friday. Mineola scored on seven of its nine possessions and added a defensive score.

The Bulldogs are working through meager times in the football program and were out-muscled and out-played.

Mineola fans may wonder how much more different of a football team they field when Dawson Pendergrass is in the line-up. Friday night answered that question. 

On Mineola’s first scoring drive, Pendergrass accounted for 71 of the 75 yards. On the second possession, he took a handoff five yards deep in the Yellowjacket end zone and sliced straight up the field for a score. The play registered as a 99-yard run.

The talented runner tallied 183 yards on eight carries. Pendergrass simply has a knack for anticipating the gaps in the defense, exploiting them and then running the angles downfield to attain maximum yardage. 

The Yellowjackets scored on their first four possessions, with Pendergrass accounting for the first two.  

The third score came on a 56-yard post route connection between quarterback T.J. Moreland and wide receiver J.J. Gandy. Gandy won the ball, which was well-placed by Moreland and well-defended by Howe, and fought his way into the end zone. 

The fourth score came on a beautifully-executed slant route throw from Moreland to Brady Shrum. Once Shrum secured the catch he turned and split the secondary for 46 yards. 

Howe managed two drives of greater than 40 yards on the night. Their best drive took them down to the Jacket’s 20-yard line. On a third-and-12, the Bulldogs tried a wide receiver screen to the right side. D.J. Newsome pressured the quarterback, and Adam Blalock stepped in front of the pass. He sprinted untouched 75 yards for a score. The play put Mineola up 34-0 at the half.

The game was decided by the half. Mineola played solid football in the second half, gaining the end zone twice more and adding a Christian Martinez 28-yard field goal.

Defensively, the Yellowjackets overcame some less-than-optimal tackling in the first half with very aggressive tackling in the second half. They swarmed to the ball and did not allow themselves to be taken completely out of any play. 

As Jacket fans have come to expect, Coy Anderson, Julian Ramos, Nate Griffin, Moses Medellin, D.J. Newsome, Drew Robertson and Cason Davis all put in excellent showings.  

While Mineola sits in third place in the 5-3A standings, the next two weeks are critical to gain the second season. The Jackets travel to Rains High School Friday and finish the season hosting Commerce Nov. 5.