Picking right up
- Updated: August 22, 2020
2019 state finalists Jacksonville, Piedmont look good Friday night; J’ville wins its season opener in shutout, Piedmont wins a jamboree
By East Alabama Sports Today
JACKSONVILLE – It may be a new season, but Jacksonville started as strong as it was in the old one as the Golden Eagles blasted St. John Paul II 48-0 in the first game on their road back to the Class 4A state championship game.
The Golden Eagles, who lost in last year’s title game, rang up 155 yards of rushing and freshman quarterback Jim Ogle threw for 127 yards and a score in his first varsity start. Jacksonville also scored two safeties, recovered a fumbled punt for a touchdown and scored on the opening kickoff of the second half.
It was the first time they opened the season with a shutout since 1996 when they blanked Pleasant Valley 31-0 and the first time they held a season-opening opponent without a touchdown since 2016 when they beat Trinity 31-3.
Ogle completed 18 of 28 passes. He threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Omarion Adams. Adams had a little further to go on his next touchdown – he returned the second half kickoff 91 yards for another score.
The Golden Eagles used five different runners to replace graduated Ron Wiggins, the county’s single-season rushing leader. JaeTaj Morris was their leading rusher with 88 yards and two touchdowns. Adams caught five balls for 47 yards.
JACKSONVILLE 48, ST. JOHN PAUL II 0
St. John Paul II 0 0 0 0 — 0
Jacksonville 14 15 12 7 — 48
J – Dreylan Fomby fumbled punt return (Mason Terrell kick), 9:54 1Q
J – Omarion Adams 1 pass from Jim Ogle (Mason Terrell kick), 5:28 1Q
J – Safety, Tito Canales tackle in end zone, 8:19 2Q
J – JaeTaj Morris 2 run (kick failed), 3:50 2Q
J – JaeTaj Morris 22 run (Mason Terrell kick), 2:44 2Q
J – Omarion Adams 91 kickoff return (Mason Terrell kick), 11:40 3Q
J – Safety, tackle in end zone, 5:18 3Q
J – Mason Terrell 34 FG, 4:04 3Q
J – Alex Mullins 31 run (91 kick), 4:21
Piedmont 34, Geraldine 13
PIEDMONT – Austin Estes caught five passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns and Jaden Calhoun scored three touchdowns as defending Class 3A champion Piedmont beat Geraldine in a jamboree game.
Quarterback Jack Hayes was on the firing end of both Estes touchdowns and threw two touchdown passes to Calhoun. He was 10-of-14 for 171 yards in the game. Calhoun scored a third touchdown on an 18-yard run as quarterback.
The Bulldogs open their season next week against rival Cherokee County.
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