The Mineola Yellowjackets provided the homecoming crowd with a reason to celebrate, as the Jackets stormed the visiting Eustace Bulldogs 56-13 Friday.  

On a near-perfect night for East Texas football, the Yellowjackets came out steaming and never let up.  

Mineola scored on seven of their ten possessions, rolling up over 450 yards of offense. Most notably, however, was the attacking nature of the whole team. They stayed focused and energized the entire game. 

The Jackets haven’t spent a lot of time in the end zone this season, hence it is worthwhile to document all scoring. In sequential order, Mineola scored as follows:

Quarter/time/scorer/play

1/7:35/Braelyn Geremonte/5-yard run off left tackle

2/11:54/Braelyn Geremonte/15-yard run

2/9:02/Kipton Neighbors to Colton McMahon/41-yard screen

2/7:17/Braelyn Geremonte/46-yard ramble through the right side

2/5:00/Zane Strange to Ainsley Steward/28-yard go route

3/8:40/Kipton Neighbors/28-yard quarterback option

3/6:45/Kipton Neighbors/14-yard untouched through right side

3/5:40/Ainsley Steward/36-yard fumble return

Noah Turner was a perfect 8 for 8 on points after touchdown.

Neighbors struck the first telling blow for the Jackets when he picked off a post-route on Eustace’s first drive. His return set the Jackets up at the Bulldog 22-yard line. They scored four plays later.

Eustace came right back and tied the score with an 11-play, 70-yard drive. The game was knotted at 7 after one quarter.

Mineola scored on the first play of the second quarter after moving 69 yards in 8 plays.

The Jackets then stuffed the Bulldogs on the ensuing possession. On fourth down, as the Eustace punt-snap skidded back to the punter, Noah Turner was closing the punter like a rocket off the right edge. It appeared the punter may have panicked. He abandoned the punt and tried to run for the sticks. 

Mineola tackled him short and took over possession. They scored two plays later when McMahon took a wide-receiver screen the distance – breaking three tackles on the way.    

McMahon’s scoring catch and run seemed to break something in the Eustace side. 

In the next possession, the Mineola defense teamed up for a truly amazing play. On a third down from the Mineola 41-yard line, the Bulldogs sent out a four-receiver combination route. The ball went over the middle to a skinny post being run by the slot receiver. 

Linebacker Blaine Harris – dropping back in coverage – just managed to get his left hand on the pass and tipped it slightly. The trajectory took it just past the receiver where Neighbors, playing the over coverage from his safety position, reached the pass with his right hand to tip it back upfield. Linebacker Eddie Guerra who was closing the play from his linebacker position was able to corral the twice deflected pass. 

It was a memorable, highlight reel type play. 

It was also not the only time that defensive alertness played to Mineola’s advantage. Steward’s scoop and score, which concluded the Jackets scoring, was another case where multiple Jackets were involved in a tackle. Steward immediately snatched the loose ball from the pile and sprinted down the northeast sideline untouched.

Playing in a district with two dominating teams (Malakoff and Winnsboro) and with Commerce already secured in third place, it is hard to think about playoffs. However, should Mineola defeat Rains Friday, and Commerce defeat Mt Vernon, three teams (Mineola, Mt. Vernon and Rains) would be tied at 2-4 for the final playoff spot. 

It should make for some great football Friday.