This past Friday night the Enterprise Bulldogs, followed by the Enterprise faithful, took their 12-0 record down Hwy. 84 over to Prentiss High School to watch their Dawgs do battle with the homestanding Jeff Davis County Jaguars. Jeff Davis is the product of the consolidation of the old Bassfield and Prentiss High schools. Jeff Davis was the number 1 seed out of 3A Region 8. The Jaguars and the Dawgs were two of the four teams left playing in 3A south this year. The other two teams, also number one seeds out of their regions, were Raleigh and Tylertown.
In a standing room only atmosphere, Enterprise received the ball first, and after failing to gain a first down, Wilkins punted away to Jeff Davis. The Jaguars started on their own 47 and took only five plays to go 53 yards, scoring on a 28-yard jet sweep off the left side. The extra point was true, and the Jags led 7-0.
Jeff Davis kicked the ensuing kick out of bounds giving Enterprise the ball on their own 35. Enterprise failed once again to gain a first down and had to punt the ball away. Wilkins pinned the Jags deep in their own territory on their own 1-yard line after a booming 67-yard punt. Jeff Davis went 99 yards in 12 plays, with the scoring play being a 15-yard run through the heart of the Bulldog defense. The extra point was wide this time leaving the score 13-0 Jeff Davis.
Blake Wilkins fielded the Jaguar kickoff on his own 29-yard line and rambled 41 yards to the Jaguars 30. The quarter would end with the Bulldogs sitting on the Jeff Davis 35 after being penalized. The second quarter would bring continued woes for the Bulldog offense as this drive continued to see them go backwards, eventually having to punt from the 50. The Bulldog defense stiffened up and held the Jags to a three and out, forcing a Jeff Davis punt. Enterprise, after converting a fourth and one play, saw their drive bog down and would be forced to punt. Jeff Davis fair caught the punt at their own 15. It only took the Jaguars one play to find pay dirt as their back gutted the Bulldog defense for an 85-yard scoring scamper. The try for two was stuffed, and the Jags led 19-0.
The next drive saw the Bulldogs punt again after just three plays. Jeff Davis took the punt at their own 30. The Bulldogs forced a Jaguar fumble on the Jeff Davis 19 that was recovered by Jake Shelby. Two plays later with 2:14 left in the half, Enterprise found the endzone for the first time of the evening, but the TD was called back because of a block in the back. Then on third down Derryon Gray’s pass was picked off in the endzone, killing the drive. Jeff Davis was unable to move the ball, and the half ended with the Jags on top 19-0.
The third quarter started with Enterprise attempting an onside kick and what seemed like a recovery by Jake Williams; however, it was later ruled that Williams fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Jeff Davis at their 34. The Bulldogs defense really stiffened up, holding Jeff Davis to a three and out and forced a punt. Unfortunately, the Bulldog offense could get nothing going and was forced to punt again after a three and out. The Jaguars let the punt hit and roll and took over on their own 19. One play later, the Jaguar QB and RB had a bad exchange, and the Bulldogs found themselves in business on the Jeff Davis 16 after the fumble recovery.
The Bulldogs took just four plays to find the endzone with Gray doing the honors from 2-yards out. The extra point was good, and the Jaguar lead was cut to 19-7.
Photo by Anita Jones-Lowery
