For perspective: Jackets' Quarterback Kevontez Hudson has accounted for nine of Springfield's 10 postseason touchdowns (three passing, six rushing).
SHS' defense has allowed nine touchdowns total over their previous six games, producing a solid 5-1 record over that span.
The Yellow Jackets continued that trend Friday, November 15th with a 31-7 win against the Lexington Tigers. LHS came into this match-up averaging a shade under 22 points per game, and had put up as many as 40 points in a game over the duration of this season.
Hudson and the offense struck first on their opening drive of round two with similar results from game one. The Junior connected with Gabe Kelly for another touchdown, this one from 79 yards out.
Unlike their first round opponent in South Side, however, Lexington would show some fight early in this game. Running Back Jayden Horn would convert a third down inside the ten yard line for a touchdown, knotting the game at 7 with 4:21 remaining in the first frame.
Horn's score would be the only positive for the Tigers' on the evening, as unforced errors plagued the offense throughout: two fumbles in the second quarter turned into ten points, as QB Braxton Grice would cough up the ball at midfield, leading to Kevontez' second score on the evening, a rush from 18 yards away. Grice would lose the football once more, this time on a hand-off in an attempt to go into halftime down one score. The fumble was instead recovered by Junior Kamrin Garrett, giving Luis Díaz-Jijon an easy field goal from 14 yards away as time expired. Lexington would also turn the ball over on downs six times this game, five punts and one failed fourth-down conversion.
"Finish the play and we're going to win the game" said senior Mikie Neal on the importance of finishing on defense. "We prayed to God all week, and that's what He delivered, that's what we delivered."
Head Coach Dustin Wilson made no mistake on finishing in the second half this week, as Springfield's defense continued to stifle the offense of Lexington, and would find the end-zone once again, a patient 19-yard run from Hudson, expanding the lead to 24-7.
Following yet another rushing touchdown from Hudson, the Tigers' would find limited offensive success, commandeering a drive for the next three minutes of game time, yet were unable to convert yards into points, as Gabe Kelly swarmed in on a tackle for loss on fourth down.
The running back committee of Kevontez Hudson and Keontez Woodard would grind out a large portion of the remaining six minutes in the fourth quarter, leaving Lexington with under a minute to orchestrate any offense, thus ending their quarterfinal aspirations.
SHS increased their win total to 9 on the season, now facing a 3rd round battle against Hardin County (11-1) November 22nd. An analysis of common opponents would favor the Jackets' chances come Friday, as Lexington gave the Tigers from Savannah, TN their closest game of the season, a 12-7 loss at HCHS.
-Blaine Kellar is a Broadcasting and Journalism Intern for Social Dweebs, who has covered Jacket athletics since 2018.
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