Jags drop region contest to Gophers, 52-10
The Hueytown Golden Gophers traveled to The Ridge on Friday night and performed more like badgers, handing the Northridge Jaguars a 52-10 loss in region play. Things were looking good for the Jags with a little under five minutes remaining in the first quarter, with Northridge holding a 10-0 advantage. But the Gophers pinned their ears back and scored 52 unanswered points to drop the Jags to 2-2 in region play.
After failing to get a first down on the opening drive of the game, Caleb Scofield got off a beautiful punt that was called back on a penalty. Scofield followed up with an equally nice punt on the second attempt, but this time the Gopher return man fumbled the punt and Colin Kapilovic recovered the ball at the Hueytown 12-yard line. Unfortunately, the Jags failed to get into the end zone, but Scofield banked in a 30-yard field goal, off the right upright, with 8:12 to go in the first quarter, for a 3-0 Jag lead.
The Northridge defense held the Gophers on their ensuing drive and the Hueytown punt rolled dead at the Jag 38-yard line. Facing a 3rd-and-5, Rowdy Christensen found Brylon Tubbs across the middle and Tubbs outran everyone to the end zone for a 57-yard touchdown catch-and-run. Scofield tacked on the PAT and the Jag’s had a 10-0 lead with 4:57 to go in the first quarter.
Unfortunately, that is the last time we will get to tell you about the Jags scoring for this game.
Hueytown got their first touchdown of the night on their next possession. The score, a touchdown pass, came at the 10:25 mark of the second quarter, pulling the Gophers within three, at 10-7
After a Jag punt, Hueytown added a touchdown run with 1:42 to go in the half. The PAT gave the Gophers a 14-10 lead that they held at the end of half.
Scofield dropped the opening second half kickoff into the end zone. Hueytown’s first play was an 80-yard touchdown run. The added PAT brought the score to 21-10, in favor of the Gophers, with 11:46 on the clock in the third quarter.
Another Northridge punt was followed by the fourth touchdown of the night for Hueytown. The long TD run and PAT increased the Gopher lead to 28-10 with 9:59 to go in the third quarter.
After trading punts, Hueytown added a 33-yard field goal to take their lead to 31-0 with 4:01 to go in the third quarter.
The following Jag possession saw Parker Cline pick up a first down on a fake punt. However, the Jags lost a fumble three plays later. The next play for Hueytown was an 80+ yard touchdown run for the Gophers. The PAT resulted in a 38-10 lead for Hueytown with :27.9 remaining in the third quarter.
Following the next Jag punt, Hueytown added another touchdown run at the 6:18 mark of the fourth quarter. The PAT stretched the Gopher lead to 45-10.
And finally, Hueytown tacked on another touchdown with :34.6 showing on the game clock. The PAT resulted in the final score of the game, 52-10, in favor of the Gophers.
The loss leaves the Jags (4-3) at 2-2 in region play and in the fourth spot in 6A Region 4. Northridge still has Paul W. Bryant and Bessemer City on the region schedule. Bryant is not having a good year, but Bessemer City is 6-1 on the season and in the third spot in region play at 3-1. The Tigers’ loss was to Hueytown, 34-14. Next up, the Jags will travel across town to take on the Stampede (0-6, 0-3).