Jackets stymie Winnsboro for district victory

Posted 10/1/20

The Mineola Yellowjackets were spring-loaded for the Winnsboro Red Raiders last Friday and came away with a 20-6 win. 

There was no hesitation in the Jackets’ play, no second-half surge …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Jackets stymie Winnsboro for district victory

Posted

The Mineola Yellowjackets were spring-loaded for the Winnsboro Red Raiders last Friday and came away with a 20-6 win. 

There was no hesitation in the Jackets’ play, no second-half surge required. The Yellowjackets used focus, finesse and energy to build a 14-6 first quarter lead. They added a score mid-way through the second quarter to conclude all scoring.

Fortuitously, the Winnsboro kickoff return team fumbled the opening kick-off and the Yellowjackets started their initial drive on the Raiders’ 44-yard line. Six straight runs by Trevion Sneed, who ran as hard as he ever has, put Mineola on the board. Sneed’s longest run was a 19-yard gain on a draw over the left side.   

Winnsboro put together a nice drive for their only score in the game. Using misdirection, they broke a long run through the middle to get into the red zone and scored on a well-designed trap play over the right side. The extra point faded right, and Mineola held a 7-6 advantage.

With the Raiders keying on Sneed, Mineola leveraged two nice pass plays – an out route and a wide receiver screen – to gain the Raiders’ 23-yard line.  Quarterback T.J. Moreland then connected with Dawson Pendergrass on a beautifully-executed short post route for a touchdown.  

After giving up that initial 67-yard drive, the Yellowjacket defense stonewalled Winnsboro, giving up a meager 82 yards for the remainder of the game. While Winnsboro also put in a solid defensive game, holding Mineola to 217 yards total offense, it was the Jacket defense which dominated play. 

Mineola took possession deep in Raider territory following a muffed punt snap midway through the second quarter. Three straight direct-snap runs by Sneed advanced the ball to the 6-yard line. Pendergrass then easily scored through the left side as the Raider defense reacted to Sneed’s initial step to the right.   

The Yellowjackets recovered the ensuing on-side kick off, but they fumbled the ball away on the next offensive snap. 

Mineola put together a nice drive to open the second half. Sneed ripped through the Raider defense for a 15-yard gain on the first offensive snap of the half. The drive, however, stalled at the Winnsboro 26-yard line. 

The Yellowjackets threatened once more late in the third quarter. Sneed’s 28-yard ramble through the Raider defense moved the ball to the 6-yard line. Two successive penalties and an interception ended the drive. 

Winnsboro began to move the ball early in the final quarter, but a sack by Jackson Anderson stopped the Raider threat. 

The Yellowjackets played aware and relentless football for 48 minutes. A punt coverage play late in the game is indicative of the Jackets’ effort. Coy Anderson flew down the field covering a Jacket punt. He just missed the punt returner but was able to pivot, pursue and make a hard tackle nonetheless.

Meanwhile, Winnsboro was seemingly expending every bit of their energy tackling, or trying to tackle, Trevion Sneed.  Sneed carried 33 times for 137 yards. Tackling Sneed once is a challenge, tackling him 33 times is punishment for the defense.

Mineola could not be happier at the outcome. Avenging the team which ended their season one year ago and doing it on the same field must have provided an emotional lift to the Jackets. It was not emotion which won this game, however, but focus and intense effort.

The Jackets host the Bonham Warriors Friday and will be at Mt. Vernon Oct. 9.