Jackets can’t capitalize early in loss
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The Commerce Tigers used constant pressure to defeat the Mineola Yellowjackets, 38-7, Friday in Hunt County.
It can be tough to dissect a game which appears very one-sided on account of the …
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Jackets can’t capitalize early in loss
The Commerce Tigers used constant pressure to defeat the Mineola Yellowjackets, 38-7, Friday in Hunt County.
It can be tough to dissect a game which appears very one-sided on account of the final score. Sometimes a scoreline can be astonishingly accurate and at other times, it can be somewhat deceptive.
Last Friday’s game turned on a couple of early plays. The first of those plays came on the second snap from scrimmage.
Two Yellowjacket receivers were split out wide right – only one was covered. The defensive misalignment was simply missed, and an early chance for a big play was unrealized.
Three plays later the Commerce defense ripped the ball away on an off-tackle run and took over at the Mineola 35.
The Tigers had to work hard for their first score. Among others, Yellowjackets Steven Reyes, Juan Villanueva, Blaine Harris, Eddie Guerra and Gabriel Thompson made a series of smart, tough tackles.
Commerce did eventually score, after a scrambling 8-yard toss.
The teams exchanged punts and Mineola forced a turnover-on-downs with Reyes tipping away a fourth down pass attempt.
The Jackets began to move with Kipton Neighbors churning out hard-won yardage. A go route from mid-field bounced off a receiver’s chest and the Mineola drive stalled.
Commerce took over and went 54 yards in 11 plays to score. They began to exploit the edges of the Jacket defense.
Braelyn Geremonte fielded the deep ensuing kickoff, took a jab step to his left, then cut right and accelerated up the right sideline to give the Jackets great field position.
Three strong runs by Colton McMahan carried the ball down to the Tiger’s 11-yard line. On a third-and-10, McMahon was the target of a pass which was undercut by a Tiger defender. It was returned for a 102-yard touchdown.
Going into half the score was 21-0, but for a handful of plays, it could have been much closer.
The second half was a different game altogether. The size, speed and most importantly the fresh legs of Commerce wore down the Jackets.
Commerce reached the end zone twice in the second half and they did it largely on the ground. The Jackets could muster the energy for some timely tackles – such as the combined tackle by Villaneuva and Eddrick Irving on a third-and-goal late in the game – but Commerce consistently won the line of scrimmage.
Mineola managed a 10-play, 52-yard scoring drive late in the third quarter. Running duties were split between Neighbors and Geremonte. The score came on a 35-yard deep ball from Neighbors to McMahon. The pass was perfectly delivered, and McMahon made a classic over the shoulder catch deep in the end zone.
Commerce added a late field goal to conclude scoring.
Mineola has a bye week and will welcome Eustace to Meredith Memorial Stadium Nov. 1. They conclude the regular schedule Nov. 8 when they face the Rains Wildcats in Emory.