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Hawks Blow Past Dragons After Halftime

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By ADAM ADKINS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 4, 2008

Updated: 10/04/2008 12:37 am

SEFFNER - For one half, Jefferson looked like a team determined to pull off a huge upset on the road at mighty Armwood. Unfortunately for the Dragons, the second half was a much different story.

Behind the skillful play of senior quarterback Mywan Jackson and a defense that never broke in the first half and was dominant in the second, the nationally ranked Hawks turned a close game at the half into a 41-0 blowout victory Friday night at Lyle Flagg Field.

"We played them, I think, pretty even there in the first half. We definitely had some opportunities," Jefferson coach Mike Fenton said. "That first half, if we could have taken advantage of our opportunities, who knows what could have happened the rest of the ballgame."

Armwood (5-0) carried a 14-0 lead into halftime, thanks to touchdown passes from Jackson on the Hawks' first and last possessions of the half. In the middle of those two scores, however, the Dragons (2-2) had four good chances to come away with points but couldn't convert and put any pressure on the Hawks.

On three occasions, Jefferson had possession inside Armwood's 25, and on another marched inside the Hawks' 35, but each time the Dragons came away empty. Three of those drives ended with sophomore quarterback Quentin Williams (10-for-23, 103 yards, four interceptions) throwing an interception, and the fourth ended on downs.

After the break, the Hawks wasted little time seizing the momentum. On the Hawks' first offensive play of the second half, Jackson threw a short pass to running back Sherman Jessie, who made a nice move to elude one defender and raced up the near sideline for a 69-yard touchdown.

"That was a big spark, knowing that we were kind of flat," Jackson said.

Things continued to go the Hawks' way, thanks in large part to their senior signal caller. Jackson threw two more second-half touchdown passes and mixed in a 41-yard touchdown run before leaving after the game moved to a running clock early in the fourth quarter. Jackson finished with 320 yards of total offense and six touchdowns (five passing, one rushing). Rob Jones and Jessie each had two touchdown receptions.

The Hawks defense also stepped up in the second half. The unit yielded just 9 total yards after halftime and allowed just one first down after the break, that coming on the Dragons' final drive of the game. Sophomore defensive back Quinton Brown had three of Armwood's four interceptions, with senior linebacker Petey Smith getting the other as the Hawks posted their third consecutive shutout.

"We don't panic," Armwood coach Sean Callahan said of the defense. "Our kids are really good at understanding what we're doing, and they don't give up."

A-Jones 14 pass from Jackson (Grant run)

A-Jessie 69 pass from Jackson (Williams kick)

A-Jackson 41 run (Williams kick)

A-Jones 2 pass from Jackson (kick failed)

A-Jules 9 pass from Jackson (Williams kick)

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