Defending champs too much for Jackets

Posted 10/17/24

alakoff Tigers, came to town Friday and defeated Mineola 47-10.  

Malakoff has an excellent team with some significant talent in many positions, offensively and defensively. They are what …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Defending champs too much for Jackets

Posted

alakoff Tigers, came to town Friday and defeated Mineola 47-10. 

Malakoff has an excellent team with some significant talent in many positions, offensively and defensively. They are what one would expect from a reigning state champ.

It would take 48 minutes of something really special for the 2024 Yellowjackets to defeat them. That was not at hand, but the Mineola faithful learned a lot about this year’s team.  

First thing they saw was a team that had a lot of fight. Regardless of the situation, the Jackets never backed down in the face of their opponents. In fact, Mineola got the better of the Tigers in the opening quarter, out-hustling and out-competing the visitors. 

That commitment did not yield. An example was the last two minutes of the half. Mineola had the ball near midfield, and Malakoff was anxious to get the ball back and score before halftime. The Jackets needed a first down to get to halftime. 

They got the first down – four yards at a time – right into the teeth of the Malakoff defense. 

There were notable individual efforts as well. 

Great pressure from Yellowjacket defenders Eddrick Irving, Kipton Neighbors and Noah Turner forced fourth down in the Tigers’ opening possession. 

Malakoff got a first down on a penalty on the punt and scored on the next play, a 61-yard run through the left side. 

Mineola answered. On a third-and-1, Aidan Shepherd took the ball behind a nice screening block by David Reyes and sprinted 58 yards to the Tiger’s 6-yard line. He scored two plays later over the right side behind lead blocks by Jose Silva and Austin Blalock.

River Strange provided the next highlight moment. After snapping the ball on a Mineola punt, Strange accelerated downfield untouched and made a tremendous tackle to stop the Tiger returner in open field. 

Malakoff scored on a beautifully-executed inside screen pass, making the score 14-7.

The Jackets added a field goal just before the quarter expired after Zane Strange hit Colton McMahon on a 44-yard go route. Turner made the field goal three plays later. 

After Mineola forced a turnover on downs, the Yellowjackets stalled. Malakoff scored twice more before the half – on a long run around the right edge and a reverse. 

The Jackets managed four first downs late in the half but could not threaten to score. 

The game went to halftime 26-10, Malakoff. 

Mineola could not keep up the pressure in the second half. Malakoff benefitted from having distinct offensive and defensive lines and wore down the Jackets.

Malakoff shut down the Yellowjackets in the second half and added three scores.    

Mineola put-in a yeoman’s effort and did themselves and their families proud. It was a brave effort.

Mineola travels to Commerce Friday.